Latest news with #InventionforInnovation
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Birmingham firm secures £1 million to develop STI rapid test
Birmingham-based Linear Diagnostics has secured £1 million in funding to develop the technology, which could deliver results in less than 20 minutes. The funding comes from the NIHR Invention for Innovation programme and will support a three-year project to finalise the test and prepare it for clinical trials. Dr Jean-Louis Duprey, head of research and development at Linear Diagnostics, said: "We are developing a near patient device that will overcome this conundrum." The company is working with the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre and the North East Innovation Lab to deliver the project. Dr Jana Suklan, senior methodologist at the HRC, said: "The NIHR HRC in Diagnostic and Technology Evaluation is delighted to be collaborating with the North East Innovation Lab to support Linear Diagnostics with their exciting technology. "Our research involves analysing unmet needs, examining current practice and identifying the most promising point in the patient pathway for implementing the technology." The test uses Linear's Exponential Amplification (EXPAR) technology, which detects bacterial DNA within minutes. The company has focused on STIs such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis, where rapid diagnosis is essential to prevent further transmission and begin treatment immediately.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Progesterone delivery device nets £1m funding from UK's NIHR
The UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has awarded £1m from its Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme to a team of scientists who have developed a device designed to improve the delivery of progesterone for women experiencing threatened miscarriage. The team at London's Calla Lily Clinical Care will use the funds to initiate a clinical trial of Callavid, a small, tampon-shaped device, inserted vaginally, that holds in place as progesterone is absorbed. Progesterone is commonly administered in the form of pessaries to women who experience bleeding in early pregnancy, with the hormone preparing the uterus for implantation, and suppressing uterine contractions to avert miscarriage. However, research by the London School of Economics' Care Policy and Evaluation Centre (CPEC) indicates that across the UK National Health Service (NHS), leaky progesterone pessaries result in £236m in avoidable costs per year. Led by miscarriage and preterm birth specialist Siobhan Quenby, the team at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust's Clinical Trials Unit will launch a study this month to ensure Callavid's use is well-understood by prospective users. This will be followed by a clinical feasibility study, due to begin in the second half of 2025. A subsequent pivotal bioequivalence trial is planned for 2026, with the team intending to file for device approval with the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) thereafter. If approved, Callavid would become the first drug-device combination product in the UK to be approved for the treatment of threatened miscarriage. Siobhan Quenby stated that pessary leakage is a 'recurring issue' among her patients, with new methods to reduce additional psychological anxiety 'badly needed' in the field. Dr Lara Zibners, chair and co-founder of Calla Lily Clinical Care, commented: 'Excessive leakage causes so much additional and unnecessary distress. 'Our device has significant potential to improve women's quality of life; improving their experience of administering progesterone and playing a role in tackling threatened miscarriage.' Venture capital investment in women's health startups is lagging, despite the fact there is a clear business case, given that women make up 51% of the global population. In addition, a research collaboration between McKinsey & Company and the World Economic Forum found that while women live longer than men, they spend 25% more of their lives in debilitating health. Despite the evidence, women's health is still often viewed as a 'niche' market. Pushing back on the perception at the Royal Society of Medicine's Innovation in Women's Health and Femtech meeting in London on 3 March 2025, Lesley Regan, women's health ambassador for England, said: 'Whenever anyone says that you just have to shout at them. How can 51% of the population be a niche market?' "Progesterone delivery device nets £1m funding from UK's NIHR" was originally created and published by Medical Device Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
