RECENT NEWS

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.

Alpha Laboratories has entered into a strategic partnership with Clinical Design Technologies to market and support that company's digital closed urine testing system. This innovative technology offers unmatched clinical efficacy, simplicity, and accuracy, setting a new standard for urinalysis at the point of care.

Roche has recently announced the completion of the acquisition of LumiraDx’s point-of-care technology, following the receipt of all required antitrust and regulatory clearances. Roche will now embark on the full integration of the company’s innovative multi-assay point of care platform and the related R&D, operational and commercial sites into its global organisation.

Scientists at the University of Warwick have made a breakthrough which could help find new treatments for a deadly infection that can affect up to 40% of hospital patients using mechanical ventilators.

New data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) highlights a rise in antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea infections in England.

The latest issue of Pathology in Practice is now available to read online.

The Medical Research Council (MRC), in collaboration with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), has provided £28.5 million in funding to establish the Human Functional Genomics Initiative programme. It aims to advance our understanding of how genomic variation influences human physiology and how it changes over time and in disease.

Stago UK is introducing a unique autotransfusion system, able to preserve functional platelets as well as red blood cells. It offers a safer alternative to scarce, risky and expensive blood transfusion products. Stago UK has partnered with i-SEP, one of France’s most innovative MedTech companies, to distribute its novel ‘same’ system.