The North East Innovation Lab is expanding its portfolio and focusing its expertise in developing diagnostic tests for patients with autoimmune disease. The laboratory, part of Newcastle Hospitals, is working with the ‘golden triangle’ of industry, academia and the NHS to bring new and improved tests to market for inflammatory conditions.
Diagnostic tests are also being developed to allow people to better monitor their own health. Dr John Tyson (pictured above), head of the North East Innovation Lab, which celebrated its third birthday in January, said: “We’ve begun expanding our portfolio and focusing our expertise in developing diagnostic tests for patients with chronic long-term conditions, as well as tests people can administer themselves, giving them more control over their healthcare. Our focus remains on accelerating new tests through the development pathway.
“A large part of innovation is widening access which is as important as bringing out something brand new. We want to enable as many people as possible to access diagnostic tests, which are a vital part of healthcare systems. Examples of products which are widening access are QuantumDx and Microbira. These devices aim to reduce the level of resources required to deliver accurate diagnostics, enabling wider use.”
A current area of focus for the laboratory is supporting more and more developers in meeting the European Union’s InVitro Diagnostic Medical Device Regulation (IVDR) which continues to roll out. The laboratory is working with small to medium-sized companies with limited resources to help them meet the stringent regulatory process required under the new law. Dr Tyson comments: “We want to continue to push forwards and expand our services even further, so we can support even more IVD products coming to market, for patients in this country and beyond. Our team offers a range of responsive specialist services covering everything needed to scientifically evaluate and validate diagnostics for regulatory approval.”
The North East Innovation Lab has a team of nine scientists and is based in state-of-art facilities in The Biosphere, part of the life science quarter Newcastle Helix. The laboratory provides a range of specialist services including an extensive biobank of tissue and liquid samples, diagnostic performance evaluation, and laboratory services.