Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, transport, and place leadership, has today announced the opening of applications to join the next cohort of innovators developing their solutions as part of the Station Innovation Zone. Now in its third year of operation, the Station Innovation Zone is a partnership between Connected Places Catapult and Network Rail, supported by Great Western Railway and funded by Innovate UK. It creates an environment for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop technologies that have the potential to improve the passenger experience. To date, the Station Innovation Zone has supported 17 innovative firms develop their ideas, with 6 undertaking live trials.

The field of gene therapy is witnessing unprecedented advancements, marked by innovative treatments and expanding possibilities. As we navigate this dynamic landscape, it is crucial to centre our efforts around the very individuals these therapies aim to benefit—the patients. We recently attended the Royal Society of Medicine’s (RSM) “Unveiling Gene Therapy: Transforming medical practice through ATMPs” event. In this blog, Dan Gibson, Head of Collaborations at the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, reflects on his thoughts following the meeting, exploring how patient-centric approaches are not just a moral imperative but a scientific necessity for the future of gene therapy.