Can you help future pharmacists with access to tests? Teesside University’s Sam Weston explains:
“In vitro diagnostics (IVDs) are revolutionising the field of pharmacy by enabling early disease detection, personalized medicine, and precise healthcare interventions. These diagnostic tools, which include reagents, instruments, and software, are used to examine specimens such as blood and tissue, providing critical insights into a patient’s health status. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased public awareness and appreciation of IVDs, highlighting their importance in early diagnosis and treatment.
Looking ahead, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and molecular diagnostics into IVDs is set to transform pharmacy practice. AI-powered IVDs can analyse complex patterns and improve diagnostic accuracy, leading to earlier disease detection and better treatment decisions. Additionally, the rise of point-of-care testing (POCT) is bringing diagnostics closer to patients, enabling rapid and accurate testing in near-patient settings. This shift towards decentralised testing is expected to enhance patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs, in alignment with the NHS paradigm shifts of moving from ‘treatment to prevention’, ‘acute care setting to care at home’ and increasing the use of digital technologies to improve rate of access to care opportunities.
At Teesside University, we are committed to equipping our MPharm students with the latest knowledge and skills in IVDs. To achieve this, we are seeking support from industry partners and members to supply IVD tests for our MPharm course. By providing these tests, you will help us train the next generation of pharmacists in cutting-edge diagnostic techniques, ensuring they are well-prepared to meet the evolving needs of healthcare, whilst familiarising them with your products. These future pharmacy graduates will be instrumental in forging the direction of healthcare, and that familiarisation allows you to play a major part in improving global health outcomes in the future.
We invite you to collaborate with us in this endeavour and contribute to the advancement of pharmacy education. Your support will make a significant impact on the future of healthcare and the wellbeing of our communities.”
If you can assist, please contact Sam Weston at S.Weston@tees.ac.uk.
