RECENT NEWS

Quest Diagnostics has launched a novel prostate cancer biomarker test through its subspecialty pathology business, AmeriPath, in collaboration with Envision Sciences. The new, tissue-based test service is intended to address the pressing clinical need for tests to help identify and differentiate potentially aggressive cases of prostate cancer in men.

To extend the benefits of genomic testing research for reproductive health laboratories, Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched two new next-generation sequencing-based options to support preimplantation genetic testing-aneuploidy (PGT-A) used commonly to inform in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) research.

New HIV transmissions in England have fallen by almost a third since 2019, while fewer people remain unaware of their HIV status as a result of increased testing across the country, according to an update on the HIV Action Plan for England published recently.

Lonza has launched the TheraPRO CHO media system, a new cell-culture platform that simplifies processes and optimises productivity and protein quality when used with GS-CHO cell lines. The launch supports pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies manufacturing therapeutic proteins to further improve product quality while streamlining time to market.

Thermo Fisher Scientific has introduced Diomni Enterprise software to address challenges with manual molecular testing workflows, with the aim of helping streamline routine diagnostics testing for standardisation and faster results.

Global health science solutions company Revvity has announced the establishment of a Scientific Centre of Excellence in Cambridge, UK. Focused on driving genomic insights to accelerate therapeutic discovery, Revvity’s Scientific Centre of Excellence supports the company’s commitment to expanding boundaries in pursuit of a better future for human health.

Orgenesis, a global biotech company working in cell and gene therapies (CGT) at the point of care, has announced the name change of the POC Services business from Morgenesis to Octomera, effective 30 June 2023, to reflect the growth and focus on providing advanced CGT services, facilities, and technologies.

A new Corporate Plan, setting out how the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) plans to keep patients safe by enabling access to innovative, safe and effective medical products over the coming three years, has been published.

The Microbiology Society has welcomed the opportunity from the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee to respond to the inquiry on emerging diseases and lessons learned from COVID-19. The Society consulted with its members that were directly involved in the national response to the pandemic to co-ordinate its response.

NK:IO, a leader in NK cell biology applied to the development of exceptionally potent, off-the-shelf cell therapies targeting solid tumours, has been awarded £1.6 million in grant funding from Innovate UK’s New Cancer Therapeutics programme.

UK immersive technology company FourPlus, along with collaborators Holosphere and the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, has been awarded funding from Innovate UK to create and test a mixed-reality training platform that enables customised training delivery for pharmaceutical companies and healthcare.

An expansion of virtual wards will see up to tens of thousands of children able to receive hospital-level care at home, NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard has announced on the 75th anniversary of the NHS.

Diagnostics firm Novacyt has agreed a takeover of Yourgene, a genomic medicine company based in Manchester, in a deal worth £16.7 million.

A new platform will bring together UK strengths in rare diseases research to improve diagnosis and treatment through better understanding of the disease. The UK Rare Disease Research Platform has been established with a £14 million investment over five years by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Single cell analysis company Sphere Fluidics has announced updates to its flagship platform, Cyto-Mine, enabling it to be compliant with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations enforced by the US FDA. By meeting these legally mandated, quality requirements, the company now provides a solution to increase efficiency and productivity of cell line characterisation and selection within drug manufacture workflows.

Alpha Laboratories launched its new website, which has been designed to offer scientists and clinicians easier access to a wealth of information, across its laboratory and diagnostics supplies, services and solutions.

Torrey Pines Scientific has launched its new EchoTherm high capacity hot plates and digital stirring hot plates.

Following the legislation introduced during May to extend the acceptance of CE-marked medical devices on the Great Britain market, the MHRA has further updated its future plans

Biotium has announced the release of its latest product, Mix-n-Stain CF Dye IgM Antibody Labelling Kits. These kits are able to enhance the labelling process for IgM antibodies, enabling researchers to easily obtain high-performance fluorescent IgM conjugates with minimal hands-on time and no purification after labelling.

Visitor registration is now open for Lab Innovations, the UK’s largest trade exhibition for the laboratory industry. This year’s show, taking place on 1-2 November, 2023, at the NEC, Birmingham, is set to be the biggest Lab Innovations yet, with the show expanding its floorplan following the success of 2022’s show, which saw the highest attendance rate in the show’s history.