MHRA to establish Northern Ireland hub for life sciences sector
pharmafile | May 13, 2026 | News story | | MHRA
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is establishing a new hub in Northern Ireland aimed at strengthening engagement with the region’s growing life sciences industry.
The hub, which will be hosted by Invest Northern Ireland in Belfast, is intended to provide closer access to regulatory expertise for organisations working across healthcare, medtech and life sciences. Companies and researchers will be able to book in-person sessions with MHRA specialists to discuss areas including innovation pathways, clinical investigations and regulatory support during product development.
Northern Ireland’s life sciences sector includes around 250 businesses, supporting approximately 18,000 jobs and contributing £1.1bn to the local economy.
The initiative follows a series of stakeholder engagement events launched earlier this year at the HIRANI Health Tech Spring Conference in Belfast. According to the MHRA, future events will focus on issues relevant to organisations operating within Northern Ireland’s healthcare and life sciences sectors.
The agency said the increased local presence is intended to support clinical research and help accelerate development of medicines and medical technologies. It also builds on discussions held during an MHRA board meeting in Belfast in late 2025 involving MHRA chair Professor Anthony Harnden and Northern Ireland Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Professor Cathy Harrison.
Work has also begun to expand use of the MHRA Yellow Card safety reporting scheme across Northern Ireland, with the aim of strengthening post-market surveillance and improving early detection of safety issues.
Professor Harrison said the new hub reflected “the strong collaborative relationship and sustained engagement” between Northern Ireland agencies and the MHRA.
MHRA Chief Executive Lawrence Tallon highlighted Northern Ireland’s position as a gateway to both UK and EU markets, as well as its established links with the US. He said the region’s life sciences sector was already contributing to economic growth, employment and health outcomes.
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