Industry collaboration secures over £2.5m to detect and treat illness
- Advancing diagnostic tests and shaping the most effective treatment has taken a step forward for patients thanks to a £2.56m award for a collaboration between industry, Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle University.
- A partnership between Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle University and the North East Innovation Lab (NEIL) provides independent expert support to the health technology industry.
- The NHS and academic partners who work together under Newcastle’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) HealthTech Research Centre (HRC) have supported innovators to secure £2.56 million funding to continue to develop two key projects to diagnose a wide range of illness and identify the most effective antibiotic treatment.
Secretary of State commits to first ever men’s health strategy
- Secretary of State Wes Streeting confirms plans for a men’s health strategy at Men’s Health Summit with Movember and Premier League.
- Strategy will address biggest issues affecting men of all ages that are costing lives.
- This could include heart disease and strokes, prostate cancer and testicular cancer, as well as mental health and suicide prevention.
Lung cancer ‘could be detected by world-first urine test’
- Scientists have created a world-first urine test that could indicate the first possible signs of lung cancer.
- Many lung cancer cases are diagnosed at later stages, meaning the disease can be harder to treat. But researchers hope that early detection could mean that patients get treatments sooner, giving them a better chance of overcoming the disease.
- The pioneering test looks for so-called “zombie” cell proteins that could indicate a patient has lung cancer in its earliest stages. It has been tested successfully on mice and scientists are hoping to start in humans soon.
UK & Switzerland deepen science ties with £16 million backing
- UK and Switzerland update science and research partnership to focus on some of today’s most pressing challenges, from healthcare to green energy.
- £16 million joint funding includes backing to support UK-Swiss clinical trials that could help unlock new treatments and diagnoses for a range of diseases.
- Funding also supports UK-Swiss work on novel joint replacements that resist infections, quantum sensors, and more.
World leading NHS trial to boost health and support people in work
- The effectiveness of health measures in getting people back into work or keeping them in work will be trialled by the NHS in the coming months.
- Backed by £45 million from the autumn Budget and supported by the government, the world leading trial will see the NHS create ‘Health and Growth Accelerators’ in South Yorkshire, North East and North Cumbria, and West Yorkshire – parts of the country most affected by economic inactivity driven by ill health.
- The three areas will look to boost people’s health alongside tackling the conditions that most impact people’s ability to work – ranging from cardiovascular problems and diabetes to back pain and mental health issues.
WHO announces first prequalification of a tuberculosis diagnostic test
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted prequalification to the molecular diagnostic test for tuberculosis (TB) called Xpert® MTB/RIF Ultra. It is the first test for TB diagnosis and antibiotic susceptibility testing that meets WHO’s prequalification standards.
- WHO prequalification of this test is expected to assure quality of diagnostic tests used to improve access to early diagnosis and treatment.
- It complements WHO’s endorsement approach, which is grounded in emerging evidence, diagnostic accuracy, and patient outcomes alongside considerations for accessibility and equity, with prequalification requirements on quality, safety, and performance.
