Simon Ellison's Biography

Simon Ellison, Commercial Manager, NHS Blood & Transport

Simon Ellison is developing strategies that are enabling the National Blood Service to utilise its technical skills, GMP facilities, and clinical contacts to provide contract manufacturing services to the growing cellular therapy field, under the brand of Clinical Translation Partnerships (CTP). Simon has an MSc in Environmental Science from Newcastle University and subsequently an MBA from Oxford Books University focusing on the management of innovative collaborations.

Simon’s career started with Sartorius, managing both national and international commercial channels, and launching new products into emerging markets. He has since worked in a variety of bio-pharmaceutical markets ranging from antibodies to ultra-pure water, delivering novel strategies to take companies forward. Simon now brings these commercial skills into the not-for-profit sector, initially as Commercial Director for the National Pharmacy Association, managing a partnership based turnover of £7m and developing innovative partnerships with Santander and Learn Direct. He now sits on the BIA’s Cellular Therapy & RegenMed Industry Group Advisory Committee, and works within the National Blood Service driving strategies to utilise their clean rooms, skills, knowledge and logistics to help regenerative medicine companies translate their research into commercially viable treatments.

Clinical Trial Partnerships (CTP) enables companies, academics and clinicians to develop their production into GMP systems, optimise the processes, and develop viable cold supplies chains in partnership with the National Blood Service. This gives the cellular therapy market access to a unique skill set built within the NHS and currently delivering over 2 million cellular therapies annually.