Diagnostics North East has launched a platform that will support researchers, clinicians and industry to position the region at the forefront of technology and innovation in medical diagnostics.
The platform aims to support both industry and academia and addresses the need for robust research, development, evaluation and adoption when it comes to the introduction of new patient diagnostic tests and devices. Diagnostics North East is a collaboration between the Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria (AHSN NENC), Newcastle University, and The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
More than 200 industry representatives and healthcare professionals attended the platform’s launch to hear of the exciting new initiative, which is unique in providing concentrated expertise across all key elements of the diagnostics pathway – discovery, development, evaluation, adoption into the NHS, and advanced horizon scanning for future opportunities.
Professor John Simpson, Dean of Translational Research & Professor of Respiratory Medicine at Newcastle University, said: “The unique diagnostics infrastructure in the region allows us to address every requirement in bringing better diagnostic tests to patients more rapidly. Our joined up approach in a single region provides industry and academia with unrivalled access to diagnostics expertise tailored to their individual needs.
“Our strong collaboration, allied to first class clinical facilities and a strong culture of clinical research, is ideally placed to accelerate the pathway from innovation through to patient benefit.”
Dr. Michael Wright, Deputy Medical Director of Newcastle Hospitals, said: “We welcome this very exciting initiative which will help us to provide even better services for patients in the North East and across the whole of the NHS. This will help us to develop even stronger collaborations with colleagues in Newcastle University, the AHSN NENC and industry.”
