RECENT NEWS

A lung cancer patient at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) is the first to receive a novel cancer vaccine that primes the immune system to recognise and fight cancer cells.

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) has launched its revised standards of conduct, performance and ethics, which came into effect on 1 September.

NHS patients will have earlier access to new treatments and the UK will become the home of cutting-edge health research as the UK government launches a joint public-private investment programme worth up to £400 million.

Indica Labs, a provider of computational pathology software, and AI technology firm Paige have formed a non-exclusive partnership aimed at integrating Paige’s diagnostic AI models into Indica’s anatomic pathology workflow management software, HALO AP.

SYNLAB, has been chosen as the preferred supplier for the delivery of a single, outsourced pathology service to the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust. Used by all GPs in the region as well as Southend, Basildon and Broomfield hospitals, this service will include blood, tissue and other sample testing as well as the operation of phlebotomy clinics.

Clinical microbiology diagnostics firm QuantaMatrix has announced the development of 'uRAST' (Ultra-Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing), the world’s fastest all-in-one antimicrobial testing technology.

StatLab Medical Products has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Diapath, an Italian manufacturer of histology and cytology products and equipment.

A $5.8 million grant led by Adrie Steyn PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) in Durban, South Africa, will provide user-requested infected human lung tissue and analytical services to tuberculosis researchers worldwide.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan to stop outbreaks of human-to-human transmission of mpox through coordinated global, regional, and national efforts. This follows the declaration of a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO Director-General.

Scientists at the University of Nottingham are scaling up the development of a new Zika virus DNA vaccine thanks to a new collaboration with specialist company Touchlight, which will provide new technology to produce large quantities of the DNA vaccine at speed.

Blood packs have been successfully flown by drone in a series of ‘beyond visual line of sight’ flights, for the first time in the UK. This is the first in a series of NHS trials as part of a study to ascertain the feasibility and safety of delivering medical supplies via drone.

PreciseDx, a leading innovator in oncology diagnostics leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for new, morphology-driven disease analysis, has announced that it has raised $20.7 million in Series B funding, bringing its total funding to date to $31.5 million.

Alpha Laboratories has launched its new Amplify Rigid PCR plates, designed to set a new standard in laboratory efficiency and reliability. These innovative plates feature a rugged polycarbonate frame, providing a solid and flat surface that ensures seamless interaction with automated liquid handling platforms.

Roche has said that it is supporting the international response to the mpox global health emergency with its diagnostic tests developed for mpox, formerly known as monkeypox.

Digital pathology and AI firm Paige has announed the launch of OmniScreen, a pioneering AI-driven biomarker module capable of evaluating over 505 genes and detecting 1,228 molecular biomarkers from routine H&E-stained digital pathology slides.

Visitor registration for Lab Innovations 2024 is now live. The UK’s largest annual exhibition for the whole laboratory industry will take place at the NEC, Birmingham, on 30-31 October, featuring engaging talks and exhibitors that will showcase innovation and champion sustainability.

Pathology services provider Synnovis has recently confirmed it has rebuilt its core IT systems following the cyberattack on 3 June. It has now resumed testing services for GPs in Bexley, Lewisham and Greenwich, three of the six boroughs it serves.

A new study has found that most routine laboratory tests are not reliable for diagnosing Long COVID, also known as Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC).

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has determined that the upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing number of countries in Africa constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations.

The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) has submitted evidence to Lord Darzi's review of the NHS outlining the challenges and opportunities facing pathology services.