New partnership drives further diagnostic innovation in the North East

The partnership strengthens the collaboration between NHS, academia and industry, with the aim of revolutionising how diagnostics, including tests and scans, can transform healthcare and treatment outcomes.

Benefits for patients would include faster results, easier access to tests, tailored and personalised treatments and improved health.

Led by Roche Diagnostics, the partnership benefits from the north east’s infrastructure and expertise in diagnostic development, finding new ways to deliver innovative diagnostics, including in-vitro tests, digital solutions and high quality, fast, laboratory-based systems.

Priorities will focus on a number of key clinical areas, including cancer, rare disease, liver and cardiovascular disease, infectious diseases, neurodegenerative disease and women’s health.

Much of the partnership’s work will take place at Newcastle University’s evolving Health Innovation Neighbourhood, which will provide the infrastructure to upskill and train diagnostic developers, and support education opportunities, including:

• Mentorship
• Skills and training
• Secondments for students and staff
• Outreach programmes
• Future research

Driving advances in diagnostic development and innovation

The north east is primed to support diagnostic development. With an accredited academic health science centre, known as Newcastle Health Innovation Partners (NHIP), the region has a demonstrable track record of excellence in health research, education and patient care.

Diagnostics North East, which sits under the umbrella of NHIP, has already forged strong collaborations to drive advances in diagnostic development and innovation.

And with a history of joint working, Roche, Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals have already partnered to address a range of challenges in the health and care sector, including developing a rapid test for diagnosing childhood respiratory virus; to adult SMA REACH, a data collection study to improve care and treatment for adults with spinal muscular atrophy.

Newcastle University's Prof David Burn, Director of NHIP, said: “The NHIP structure has provided the perfect foundation for building this strategic partnership between Newcastle University, Newcastle Hospitals and Roche Diagnostics. We are thrilled to be given this opportunity to collaborate and co-create new diagnostic innovations, to meet the unmet needs of our patients, and promote the North East of England as a leader in this field.”

Commenting on the new agreement, Dr Victoria McFarlane-Reid from Newcastle Hospitals said: “We are delighted to further strengthen our partnership with Newcastle University and Roche Diagnostics, to create more opportunities for delivering cutting-edge treatment and care, research, education, and innovation. We see this partnership as key to transforming diagnostic techniques, including genomic medicine, delivering faster diagnosis and treatment, as well as developing truly personalised medicine, with treatment options determined by an individual’s DNA.”

Chris Hudson, Director of Access and Innovation at Roche Diagnostics UK and Ireland, said: “We are very proud to be partnering with Newcastle University and The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to develop diagnostics solutions for patients across the country.

“This collaboration is a testament to the existing infrastructure and expertise in the north east life sciences sector, enabling us to work together to deliver new innovation in areas such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and women’s health. Through sharing perspectives and resources, partnerships like this are key to making a positive difference to patients – now and in the future.”