Media Monitoring: 4/2 – 11/2

US research director appointed first chief executive of Advanced Research and Invention Agency

Dr Peter Highnam to head up the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) as its first CEO
Backed by £800 million, it will empower exceptional scientists to focus on high-risk projects at the frontier of discovery and innovation that could transform people’s lives for the better, maintaining the UK’s position on the international stage as a science superpower

Health and Social Care Secretary to launch new 10-year ‘national war on cancer’

A new call for evidence to inform an ambitious 10-Year Cancer Plan to make the country’s cancer care system the ‘best in Europe’
As the NHS tackles the COVID-19 backlog, renewed focus will be placed on innovative cancer treatment and early diagnosis as part of a national war on cancer

NHS staff delivered 120,000 more diagnostic tests and checks in December, as the Omicron variant struck, compared to the same month last year, new figures show
An even more remarkable feat considering the NHS also saw the highest number of staff absences for any winter on record over December and January with almost 5.8 million staff sick days
Almost 27,000 people started treatment for cancer in December. Annual figures also show that the number of people getting checked for cancer increased by over half a million (512,110) in one year between December 2020 and December 2021

Preventing pandemics saves more money than spent combatting infectious diseases

Study provides a blueprint for controlling emerging infectious diseases and future pandemics by preventing “spillover” of diseases from animals into humans
Prevention techniques include better surveillance of pathogens, better management of wildlife trade and hunting, and reduced deforestation

UCL researchers develop test to detect risk of four cancers in women

Samples from more than 3,000 women from 15 European centres were evaluated during the research
Researchers from University College London’s (UCL) Institute for Women’s Health are developing a new test that can detect breast and ovarian cancer from a single sample collected during a routine cervical screening
UCL stated that the test may detect up to 30% more women with a high risk of ovarian or breast cancer, compared to existing genetics-based tests

Data analysis to help improve diagnosis of ovarian cancer

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has received a grant from Imperial Health Charity which will enable a team of doctors to explore a new approach to data analysis which could lead to more effective diagnosis and treatment for those with ovarian cancer
The new methods will aim to analyse data that is already hold on the system, to establish a trend which could be key in providing vital information in how patient care pathways can be improved

AI diagnostic tool may enhance detection of oesophageal cancer

Scientists have created a novel Artificial Intelligence (AI) diagnostic tool that may advance the detection of oesophageal cancer for people with a condition known as Barrett’s oesophagus
Whereas the Seattle biopsy protocol includes using four-quadrant biopsies of the oesophagus, the CDx method uses a unique brush instrument that locates more at-risk mucosa

Patients to receive better care as NHS and social care systems link up

Government’s new Integration White Paper will bring the NHS and local government closer together to improve care for all and value for money
Joining up services will help deliver a world-leading health and social care system working together as part of the wider reform and recovery agenda

Bolton NHS Foundation introduces new blood test for pregnant women

The new blood test will help RhD negative people avoid having the antenatal anti-D injection if their baby also has RhD negative blood type
The mother may produce antibodies against the RhD positive cells, called anti-D antibodies, which then attack the red blood cells of the baby