Highlights

The Northern Irish election results, which have given Sinn Féin the most seats at Stormont for the first time, have prompted speculations around the UK Government’s next moves on the Northern Ireland Protocol. The Times reported on Tuesday that the UK foreign secretary Liz Truss will unilaterally scrap key parts of the Protocol removing the need for checks on goods…

On Tuesday, Neale Hanvey MP’s adjournment debate on the “UK Diagnostics Industry and COVID-19 Recovery” was held in the aftermath of discussions concerning the Queen’s Speech. Mr Hanvey has long been a strong supporter of our industry and we thank him for bringing this important debate to the attention of the House. BIVDA would also like to thank members who…

A new life-saving test which detects eye cancer in babies is being launched across England by the NHS this week. Developed at the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, the test will be able to spot the rare cancer retinoblastoma while babies are still in the womb. By spotting the cancer sooner, the babies can be treated earlier, thus…

In what is a record-breaking statistic for the NHS, almost three million people have been referred for lifesaving cancer checks over the last 12 months. This represents a 10% increase in checks compared to before the pandemic. Cancer awareness campaigns – which have had their funding doubled – have been credited with encouraging people to come forward to be checked.…

Birmingham researchers unveil new test for bladder cancer A highly sensitive liquid biopsy test will be used to identify the many genetic mutations which are associated with bladder cancer DNA from tumour cells present in urine will be analysed In the test study, the test had 87% accuracy across 165 people with blood cancer who had blood in their urine…

In a move which strengthens the UK’s position as a leading global science superpower, Genomics England have committed to developing the world’s largest cancer research platform. By processing large amounts of data, researchers will be able to create improved cancer treatments and provide better patient care. Health data is often dislocated in the NHS, held within many different systems and…

Machine learning can help identify antibiotic-resistant bacteria University of Nottingham researchers have created software which can identify antibiotic-resistant bacteria transmitted between humans, animals and the environment The research is crucial in examining the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria in spaces in which humans and animals coexist or share closely, such as livestock farming This bacteria can infect humans and render…

In the largest ever study of its kind, Cambridge-based scientists have discovered 58 new mutational signatures in the DNA of cancer patients, which suggests that there are causes of cancer which are not yet understood. The landmark study consisted of 12,000 NHS cancer patients. The study provides incredible insight into the extent of damage caused to the DNA of each…

The UK Government announced new trade measures to support Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. These include: The removal of tariffs on all goods from Ukraine, providing economic support; New export ban on products and technology that Russia could use to repress the people of Ukraine. These could include interception and monitoring equipment; These tariff measures are part of broad…

The Health and Care Bill has finally been made law in the biggest shake-up of the NHS since the Lansley Reforms in 2012. The Bill has many implications which affect several different areas of the UK’s health landscape and fundamentally changes the principles by which the NHS seeks to deliver care to patients. This is chiefly derived from the increased…