Our AHSC application
The new Trust and Imperial College London formed a unique partnership and together they became the UK's first AHSC.
On 9 March 2009 we received official recognition as an AHSC from the UK government. You can read more about the designation process below.Formal AHSC designation process
In 2008 the UK government announced a process for official AHSC recognition. An international panel of experts would recommend which NHS and university partnerships should be awarded formal AHSC status, based on an application and interview process. The panel included representatives from existing AHSCs in the US, the Netherlands and Sweden.To be officially recognised as an AHSC we needed to demonstrate our excellence in research, patient care and education. We also needed to communicate the vision for our partnership, setting out how we plan to take new discoveries and promote their application in the NHS and across the world.
Read more about our vision and mission
The Department of Health held an open morning on 15 October 2008 for all partnerships interested in applying for formal government recognition as an AHSC. The deadline for the first stage of applications was 16 January 2009.
We submitted an application and on 2 February were informed we have been shortlisted for the second stage of the process. This involved an in-depth interview with the AHSC panel in early March.
The successful AHSCs were announced on 9 March 2009. Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Imperial College London received official recognition as an AHSC.
