RECENT NEWS

Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have created a CRISPR-based rapid molecular diagnostic for two forms of leukaemia that are driven by mutations that involve gene fusions. The technology accurately detects the presence of these gene fusions in acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) and chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in patient samples.

Genomic sequencing company PacBio has agreed a new Research Collaboration Agreement (RCA) with the National Cancer Centre of Singapore (NCCS). This collaboration aims to accelerate cancer research by leveraging PacBio’s advanced sequencing technologies, including the Onso short-read sequencing platform, to profile the genomic landscape of prevalent cancers in Asia.

South Korean molecular diagnostics firm Seegene has announced the completion of a partnership agreement with diagnostic company Werfen, for a new technology sharing initiative. Under the agreement, Seegene and Werfen will establish a NewCo in Spain, Werfen-Seegene.

CPI, a leading technology innovation centre, and the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) have joined forces to deliver the MedTech Accelerator: Rapid Regulatory Support Fund (MARRS) a £5 million programme funded by UK Government aimed at supporting and enabling growth in the vital UK MedTech industry.

Clinical trials firm Clario has entered into a new strategic partnership with PathAI, to offer a single-vendor solution for efficient anatomical pathology services and next-generation video endoscopy analysis.

A team of researchers from UCLA has introduced a deep learning-enhanced, paper-based vertical flow assay (VFA) capable of detecting cardiac troponin I (cTnI) with high sensitivity. The innovative assay holds the potential to democratise access to rapid and reliable cardiac diagnostics, particularly in resource-limited settings.

A nationwide team of universities, hospitals and industry led by the Francis Crick Institute and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, have launched a new platform to understand immunotherapy response and side effects in cancer, with the National Pathology Imaging Co-operative playing a critical role.

Proteotype Diagnostics Ltd, in collaboration with the University of Southampton, has been awarded £1.5 million in funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Office for Life Sciences (OLS). The grant will support clinical validation of Proteotype's novel Enlighten multi-cancer early detection test, a revolutionary approach to detecting early-stage cancers by focusing on the body's response to tumour development.

A new partnership between Roche Diagnostics UK and Ireland, Newcastle University and The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, will play a key role in developing cutting-edge medical diagnostics.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has announced almost £11 million of new funding for projects which aim to help increase the early detection and diagnosis of cancer.

The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) is marking International Pathology Day this year on Wednesday 6 November with a day-long virtual conference looking at the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The final stages of recovery following the cyber attack on pathology services provider Synnovis in June are almost complete, which means nearly all services are now up and running.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has launched its ambitious new business plan for 2024/25, setting out the agency’s core focus of enabling access to innovative healthcare products while ensuring delivery for all who need its services – patients and the public, healthcare professionals, researchers and developers.

Italian microsopy manufacturer CrestOptics and Leica Microsystems have announced a new collaboration, bringing CrestOptics’ CICERO spinning disk unit technology to Leica Microsystems’ new THUNDER Imager Cell Spinning Disk system.

Netherlands-based diagnostic firm QIAGEN has announced the launch of the QIAcuityDx Digital PCR System, a new addition to its digital PCR portfolio which is expanding into clinical diagnostics. The new system streamlines clinical testing by providing highly precise, absolute quantitation of target DNA and RNA, supporting applications with less invasive liquid biopsies.

Clinicians working at five of the six NHS Trusts in the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT) can access pathology and other diagnostic test results from across their network, following a summer roll-out of Clinisys’ ICE OpenNet.

Digital pathology firm Proscia has announced the launch of Concentriq Embeddings and the Proscia AI Toolkit, enabling life sciences organisations to accelerate the discovery and development of novel therapies and diagnostics.

Hundreds of babies have begun to be tested for over 200 rare genetic conditions as part of a world-leading study in NHS hospitals that aims to screen up to 100,000 newborns in England.

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences has announced the appointment of Joe Fox as President of the company, effective immediately.

A new white paper report commissioned by Abbott seeks to provide a constructive contribution to ongoing policy and legislative developments for medical devices and diagnostics. Its release comes as the new UK Government looks to refocus healthcare more towards prevention and closer to home through the use of the latest innovative technologies, and with a focus on regulatory innovation.