Latest news with #MattLoose
Independent Singapore
3 days ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Cheaper brain cancer test provides more accurate results in just 2 hours
UK: A cheaper and faster brain cancer test developed by UK researchers can now identify the type of brain tumour in just two hours, offering more accurate results than current methods, PA Media reported. Patients typically wait six to eight weeks to determine the type of brain tumour they have, as samples are sent to central laboratories for genetic analysis. Experts said this long wait can be 'traumatic' and delay treatment like chemotherapy or radiotherapy. With the new test, diagnostic results can be ready in under two hours after surgery, with detailed tumour classifications available within minutes of sequencing. Researchers from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) have developed a new method called ROBIN, short for rapid nanopore brain intraoperative classification, which assesses the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from a tumour sample. The test was applied to 50 patients and was in concordance with the standard of care in 90% of cases, according to findings published in Neuro-Oncology . Dr. Matt Loose, a professor of developmental and computational biology at the University of Nottingham, developed a method to sequence specific parts of human DNA using portable sequencing devices from Oxford Nanopore Technologies, which offers real-time analysis. Now, the team has used it to test brain tumour samples genetically. NUH neurosurgeon Dr Stuart Smith said, 'Patients find waiting many weeks for results extremely difficult and this adds to the anxiety and worry at what is already a very difficult time.' Meanwhile, NUH consultant neuropathologist Dr Simon Paine said that the method will be a 'game changer,' pointing to the speed at which results will be available and the degree of accuracy of the diagnosis. Dr. Simon Newman, Chief Scientific Officer of The Brain Tumour Charity, added that the new method will be 'transformative for all patients' as it ensures rapid access to an optimal standard of care and, crucially, removes the uncertainty patients face in waiting weeks for their diagnosis and prognosis. /TISG Read also: New white paper warns of the cost of inaction on youth mental health across APAC
The Star
4 days ago
- Health
- The Star
New brain cancer test speeds up results to just hours from weeks
The significant reduction in waiting time for brain tumour results also helps lessen the mental and emotional burden from uncertainty that patients face. — dpa Scientists have developed an 'ultra-fast' test that can slash the time patients have to wait to find out what type of brain tumour they have. Patients usually wait six to eight weeks to find out their brain tumour type. But the new 'game changer' tool, which assesses the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) from a sample taken from the tumour, can achieve this in around two hours, experts found. They said that this means patients can start treatment faster and the test may even help surgical teams while they are performing operations to remove tumours. Researchers from Britain's University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) assessed the new test on 50 patients. Publishing their findings in the medical journal Neuro-Oncology , the research team said the new test was 'in concordance with standard of care' for '90% of cases'. They said that the new test can provide diagnostic results in under two hours from surgery, and detailed tumour classifications within minutes of sequencing. Usually, doctors have to send samples away to central lab facilities for genetic analysis, with patients facing long waits to find out what type of tumour they have. This long wait is 'traumatic' for patients and can delay chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the experts said. But the new method, called ROBIN (rapid nanopore brain intraoperative classification), can potentially eliminate this delay, according to the research team. University of Nottingham professor of developmental and computational biology Dr Matt Loose developed a method to sequence specific parts of human DNA at 'higher depth' using Oxford Nanopore Technologies portable sequencing devices. The team have now used this method to genetically test brain tumour samples. 'Not only is the test more accurate and quicker, but it is also cheaper than current methods,' said Prof Loose. NUH neurosurgeon Dr Stuart Smith added: 'Traditionally, the process of diagnosing brain tumours has been slow and expensive. 'Now, with this new technology, we can do more for patients because we can get answers so much more quickly, which will have a much bigger influence on clinical decision-making, in as little as two hours. 'Patients find waiting many weeks for results extremely difficult and this adds to the anxiety and worry at what is already a very difficult time.' He said the test was so rapid that it could even help surgeons during any operation to assist with their 'surgical strategy'. NUH consultant neuropathologist Dr Simon Paine added: 'This new method of diagnosing brain tumours is going to be a game changer; it really is revolutionary. 'It not only increases the speed at which the results will be available, but the degree of accuracy of the diagnosis as well is incredible.' The Brain Tumour Charity chief scientific officer Dr Simon Newman commented: 'The delivery of an accurate diagnosis within hours of surgery will be transformative for all patients, ensuring rapid access to the optimal standard of care and – crucially – removing the uncertainty patients face when having to wait weeks for their diagnosis and prognosis. 'The potential to combine so many separate tests into one and deliver at a localised level is a game changer for driving equity of access to rapid and accurate molecular diagnosis.' – PA Media/dpa
Scottish Sun
21-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Breakthrough ultra-rapid test that can diagnose brain tumours in just two hours could be rolled out on NHS in a year
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SCIENTISTS have created an "ultra-fast" test which can slash the time it takes to diagnose brain tumours. At the moment, patients usually wait six to eight weeks to find out the type of brain tumour. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 A new method for diagnosing brain tumours could cut the time patients wait for treatments by weeks to hours Credit: Getty But the new "game changer" tool, which assesses the DNA from a sample taken from the tumour, can achieve this in around two hours, experts found. They said this means that patients can start treatment faster and the test may even help surgical teams while they are performing operations to remove tumours. Researchers from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) assessed the new test on 50 patients. Publishing their findings in the journal Neuro-Oncology, the research team said the new test was "in concordance with standard of care" for "90 per cent of cases". Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme, experts said they hoped the test would be rolled out on the NHS 'as soon as possible' — potentially "within the next year or so". They said the new test can provide diagnostic results in under two hours from surgery, and detailed tumour classifications within minutes of sequencing. About 740,000 people around the world are diagnosed with a brain tumour each year, around half of which are non-cancerous. Traditionally, samples of tumours are extracted during surgery to be taken away, tested, and examined under a microscope in a pathology lab. While the process is mostly accurate, it can take up to eight weeks to definitively diagnose the type of tumour. This long wait is also "traumatic" for patients and can delay chemotherapy and radiotherapy, they experts said. But the new method, called ROBIN (rapid nanopore brain intraoperative classification), can potentially eliminate this delay, they added. Man, 64, plays guitar while having a brain tumour Professor Matt Loose, from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nottingham, developed a method to sequence specific parts of human DNA at "higher depth" using Oxford Nanopore Technologies portable sequencing devices. The team have now used this method to genetically test brain tumour samples. "Not only is the test more accurate and quicker, but it is also cheaper than current methods," he said. "Our calculations stand at around £450 per person, potentially less when scaled-up. "Most importantly, it delivers results to the patients when they need them." 'The degree of accuracy is incredible' Neurosurgeon Dr Stuart Smith, from the University's School of Medicine and NUH, added: "Traditionally, the process of diagnosing brain tumours has been slow and expensive. "Now, with this new technology we can do more for patients because we can get answers so much more quickly which will have a much bigger influence on clinical decision making, in as little as two hours. "Patients find waiting many weeks for results extremely difficult and this adds to the anxiety and worry at what is already a very difficult time." He said the test was so rapid that it could even help surgeons during any operation to assist with their "surgical strategy". Dr Simon Paine, a consultant neuropathologist at NUH, added: "This new method of diagnosing brain tumours is going to be a game changer, it really is revolutionary. "It not only increases the speed at which the results will be available, but the degree of accuracy of the diagnosis as well is incredible." Commenting, Dr Simon Newman from The Brain Tumour Charity, said: "The delivery of an accurate diagnosis within hours of surgery will be transformative for all patients ensuring rapid access to the optimal standard of care and - crucially - removing the uncertainty patients face when having to wait weeks for their diagnosis and prognosis. "The potential to combine so many separate tests into one and deliver at a localised level is a game changer for driving equity of access to rapid and accurate molecular diagnosis."
Glasgow Times
21-05-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
‘Game changer' brain tumour test set to improve care for patients
Patients usually wait six to eight weeks to find out the type of brain tumour. But the new 'game changer' tool, which assesses the DNA from a sample taken from the tumour, can achieve this in around two hours, experts found. They said this means that patients can start treatment faster and the test may even help surgical teams while they are performing operations to remove tumours. Researchers from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) assessed the new test on 50 patients. Publishing their findings in the journal Neuro-Oncology, the research team said the new test was 'in concordance with standard of care' for '90% of cases'. They said the new test can provide diagnostic results in under two hours from surgery, and detailed tumour classifications within minutes of sequencing. Usually medics have to send samples away to central analysis facilities for genetic analysis, with patients facing long waits to find out what type of tumour they have. This long wait is 'traumatic' for patients and can delay chemotherapy and radiotherapy, they experts said. But the new method, called ROBIN (rapid nanopore brain intraoperative classification), can potentially eliminate this delay, they added. Professor Matt Loose, from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nottingham, developed a method to sequence specific parts of human DNA at 'higher depth' using Oxford Nanopore Technologies portable sequencing devices. The team have now used this method to genetically test brain tumour samples. 'Not only is the test more accurate and quicker, but it is also cheaper than current methods,' he said. 'Our calculations stand at around £450 per person, potentially less when scaled-up. 'Most importantly, it delivers results to the patients when they need them.' Neurosurgeon Dr Stuart Smith, from the University's School of Medicine and NUH, added: 'Traditionally, the process of diagnosing brain tumours has been slow and expensive. 'Now, with this new technology we can do more for patients because we can get answers so much more quickly which will have a much bigger influence on clinical decision making, in as little as two hours. 'Patients find waiting many weeks for results extremely difficult and this adds to the anxiety and worry at what is already a very difficult time.' He said the test was so rapid that it could even help surgeons during any operation to assist with their 'surgical strategy'. Dr Simon Paine, a consultant neuropathologist at NUH, added: 'This new method of diagnosing brain tumours is going to be a game changer, it really is revolutionary. It not only increases the speed at which the results will be available, but the degree of accuracy of the diagnosis as well is incredible.' Commenting, Dr Simon Newman from The Brain Tumour Charity, said: 'The delivery of an accurate diagnosis within hours of surgery will be transformative for all patients ensuring rapid access to the optimal standard of care and – crucially – removing the uncertainty patients face when having to wait weeks for their diagnosis and prognosis. 'The potential to combine so many separate tests into one and deliver at a localised level is a game changer for driving equity of access to rapid and accurate molecular diagnosis.'
South Wales Guardian
21-05-2025
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
‘Game changer' brain tumour test set to improve care for patients
Patients usually wait six to eight weeks to find out the type of brain tumour. But the new 'game changer' tool, which assesses the DNA from a sample taken from the tumour, can achieve this in around two hours, experts found. They said this means that patients can start treatment faster and the test may even help surgical teams while they are performing operations to remove tumours. Researchers from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) assessed the new test on 50 patients. Publishing their findings in the journal Neuro-Oncology, the research team said the new test was 'in concordance with standard of care' for '90% of cases'. They said the new test can provide diagnostic results in under two hours from surgery, and detailed tumour classifications within minutes of sequencing. Usually medics have to send samples away to central analysis facilities for genetic analysis, with patients facing long waits to find out what type of tumour they have. This long wait is 'traumatic' for patients and can delay chemotherapy and radiotherapy, they experts said. But the new method, called ROBIN (rapid nanopore brain intraoperative classification), can potentially eliminate this delay, they added. Professor Matt Loose, from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nottingham, developed a method to sequence specific parts of human DNA at 'higher depth' using Oxford Nanopore Technologies portable sequencing devices. The team have now used this method to genetically test brain tumour samples. 'Not only is the test more accurate and quicker, but it is also cheaper than current methods,' he said. 'Our calculations stand at around £450 per person, potentially less when scaled-up. 'Most importantly, it delivers results to the patients when they need them.' Neurosurgeon Dr Stuart Smith, from the University's School of Medicine and NUH, added: 'Traditionally, the process of diagnosing brain tumours has been slow and expensive. 'Now, with this new technology we can do more for patients because we can get answers so much more quickly which will have a much bigger influence on clinical decision making, in as little as two hours. 'Patients find waiting many weeks for results extremely difficult and this adds to the anxiety and worry at what is already a very difficult time.' He said the test was so rapid that it could even help surgeons during any operation to assist with their 'surgical strategy'. Dr Simon Paine, a consultant neuropathologist at NUH, added: 'This new method of diagnosing brain tumours is going to be a game changer, it really is revolutionary. It not only increases the speed at which the results will be available, but the degree of accuracy of the diagnosis as well is incredible.' Commenting, Dr Simon Newman from The Brain Tumour Charity, said: 'The delivery of an accurate diagnosis within hours of surgery will be transformative for all patients ensuring rapid access to the optimal standard of care and – crucially – removing the uncertainty patients face when having to wait weeks for their diagnosis and prognosis. 'The potential to combine so many separate tests into one and deliver at a localised level is a game changer for driving equity of access to rapid and accurate molecular diagnosis.'
