Media Monitoring: 1 – 7 August

• A new blood test for Alzheimer’s shows promise in detecting amyloid plaques and tau proteins, key indicators of the disease.
• The test could potentially allow for earlier and more accurate diagnosis compared to current methods like PET scans and lumbar punctures.
• Researchers are optimistic but emphasize that further validation and regulatory approval are needed before it can be widely used in clinical practice.

Third of people fear AI could lead to medics missing errors, poll suggests

• People are concerned that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the NHS could lead to clinicians missing errors, according to a new survey.
• Almost two thirds of NHS workers also voiced worries that using AI will distance them from patients.
• The technology could play a “significant role” in easing pressure on the health service, according to think tank The Health Foundation, which carried out the poll, although “some remain unconvinced”.

£28.5m in funding for Human Functional Genomics Initiative – UKRI 

• UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has allocated £28.5 million to the Human Functional Genomics Initiative.
• This funding aims to advance understanding of human biology and disease through genomics research.
• The initiative will support large-scale studies to investigate genetic and environmental factors affecting health.

Is Brexit Britain about to turn into Switzerland — without the fondue? – POLITICO 

• The UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU may increasingly resemble Switzerland’s sector-by-sector agreements.
• Labour’s government is pursuing specific agreements on food safety, chemicals, and professional qualifications.
• Unlike Switzerland, the UK will not adopt the EU’s free movement of people, complicating comprehensive market access.

AI system could detect infertility in men without semen testing

• Scientists say they have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system that can predict male infertility risk with about 74% accuracy.
• The model works by measuring different hormone levels in the blood sample that are associated with sperm production.
• It is also able to predict a severe form of infertility known as non-obstructive azoospermia – where sperm are not present in the semen – with 100% accuracy, the researchers said.

Blood test for over-40s could save the economy £12bn a year if offered on NHS, report claims (paywall)

• The test, which detects common cancers, would cost £650m annually but ‘pay for itself’ by improving the nation’s health, say its supporters.

New research networks will tackle antimicrobial resistance – UKRI