RECENT NEWS

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has launched AI Airlock, its new regulatory sandbox for AI as a Medical Device (AIaMD). This initiative aims to address challenges for regulating medical devices that use AI.

The Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) has published its manifesto which articulates a clear and actionable 10-point programme for government. This strategic blueprint is designed to harness the full potential of the sector to benefit patients, clinicians, and the UK economy.

The government has announced its new national action plan on antimicrobial resistance to protect people and animals from the risk of drug-resistant infections. The new document builds on the progress made in the previous five-year national action plan and supports the 20-year vision to contain and control AMR by 2040.

Working towards a multidisciplinary approach to navigate the future of infectious diseases was a key theme at the 34th European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Global 2024 congress.

Researchers have developed a vaccine that has been shown in mice to protect against a broad range of coronaviruses with potential for future disease outbreaks. This is a new approach to vaccine development called ‘proactive vaccinology’, where scientists build a vaccine before the disease-causing pathogen even emerges.

BBI Solutions a trusted expert provider of end-to-end solutions for the development of high-performance assays, has signed a partnership agreement with BioAgilytix, a leading global bioanalytical laboratory. The partnership will integrate BBI’s ability to produce high-quality custom antibody reagents for a variety of testing applications with BioAgilytix’s bioanalytical testing services.

Broken String Biosciences, a genomics company driving development of cell and gene therapies, has announced it has entered a research collaboration with the Francis Crick Institute, to further understand the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

QuidelOrtho has announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Brian J Blaser as President and CEO. In addition, Mr. Blaser will also join the Board later this month as it expands from ten to eleven members.

Geneoscopy, a life sciences company focused on developing diagnostic tests for the advancement of gastrointestinal health, has announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its non-invasive colorectal cancer (CRC) screening test, ColoSense.

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new device for taking blood samples. It works according to the leech principle and is less invasive than taking blood from the arm with a needle. It is also easy to handle and can be used by people without medical training.

A new £42m trial called TRANSFORM is aiming to find the best way to screen men for prostate cancer and is co-funded by Prostate Cancer UK and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Thousands more men could be saved every year as the new trial aims to double the efficacy of prostate cancer screening.

Quest Diagnostics, and PathAI have announced a multi-faceted collaboration designed to accelerate the adoption of digital and AI pathology innovations to improve quality, speed and efficiency in diagnosing cancer and other diseases. Under the terms of a definitive agreement, Quest will acquire select assets of PathAI Diagnostics, the business of PathAI that provides anatomic and digital pathology laboratory services.

The Institute for Biomedical Science (IBMS) has revealed the shortlists in 12 categories for its inaugural awards. Over 100 entrants have been narrowed down to just over 50 exceptional nominees, showcasing the immense talent within the biomedical science community.

Bio-Rad Laboratories has further expanded its range of StarBright dyes, now totalling 32 spanning multiple lasers. The range expands translational and immunological research capabilities by providing greater choice and flexibility in conventional and full-spectrum multicolour flow cytometry panels.

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences has entered a collaborative partnership with Watchmaker Genomics, an expert in genomics tools development for high-stringency clinical and translational applications, to deliver automated liquid handling solutions that enable laboratories to streamline operations and generate consistent results.

A recently completed study indicates that circulatory protein levels can provide important information for increasingly accurate diagnoses and personalised care in patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma.

The IBMS has unveiled its new look for Harvey’s Gang, after taking over the initiative last year. Going forward the new name will be Harvey’s Lab Tours, but the mission to educate and inspire young patients through interactive laboratory tours remains unchanged.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published its strategic approach to artificial intelligence (AI) which aims to ensure patient safety and industry innovation into 2030.

Launch Diagnostics recently celebrated its new office premises in Dartford with an official opening ceremony. It comes at a time of growth for the company which has also recently established a new subsidiary based in Germany.

Biomedical scientist and Scientific Officer at Pro-Lab Diagnostics Dr Neil Bentley OBE completed the London Marathon during April, raising funds for WaterAid.