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Transforming our future

Diagnostics: Building capacity and capability in the UK

This symposium, hosted by the Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences, explored advances in the diagnostics sector and the opportunities and challenges towards building capacity and capability within the UK.

  • 12 October 2021, 13:00 - 17:00
  • Free
Add to Calendar 10/12/21 01:00 PM 10/12/21 05:00 PM United Kingdom (GMT) Diagnostics: Building capacity and capability in the UK <p>12 October 2021</p>
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Overview Organisers Programme

Overview

This symposium, hosted by the Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences, explored advances in the diagnostics sector and the opportunities and challenges towards building capacity and capability within the UK.

Read the conference report summarising the event (PDF).

Background

Over 1.5 billion diagnostic tests are carried out in the NHS each year. These diagnostics, which include medical images, pathology tests and genomic tests, are crucial to the detection and diagnosis of disease and guiding subsequent treatment in a targeted way. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of the diagnostics sector and the need to increase testing capacity and capability to tackle current and future health challenges. As healthcare systems transition towards a greater emphasis on prevention and early detection, diagnostics will become an increasingly important component to ensuring good health for the nation. This will require innovative approaches to both the development of new diagnostic tools, and in how we support their adoption and delivery into the healthcare system.

This event followed the Academy’s FORUM workshop on ‘Building a sustainable UK diagnostics sector’, and brought together scientists from industry and academia, experts from the wider scientific community and patients with lived experience to discuss how to build the UK’s diagnostics capacity and capability. Speakers explored successful case studies of novel emerging technologies in a variety of diagnostic modalities. The meeting finished with a panel discussing the challenges and opportunities around launching new diagnostic products into the healthcare system.

About the conference series

Supported by AstraZeneca, the meeting forms part of the Royal Society’s Transforming our future conferences in the life sciences, and the Academy of Medical Sciences’ FORUM programme. These meetings are unique, high-level events that address the scientific and technical challenges of the next decade. Each conference features cutting edge science from industry and academia and brings together leading experts from the scientific community, including regulatory, charity and funding bodies. 

Credit: Sasaton Krungsee

Organisers

Professor Dame Anne Mills CBE FMedSci FRS, Deputy Director & Provost, The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Professor Dame Anne Mills CBE FMedSci FRS, Deputy Director & Provost, The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Professor Dame Anne Mills has been Deputy Director & Provost at The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) since 2012, and is a worldwide authority on health economics, with a particular focus on how to create efficient and equitable health systems in low and middle income countries. She has held the position of President of the International Health Economics Association. She received a CBE for services to medicine in 2006, and is a Fellow of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences and a Fellow of the Royal Society. In 2015 she was awarded a DCMG in recognition of her services to international health.

Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald FMedSci, University of Cambridge

Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald FMedSci, University of Cambridge

Rebecca Fitzgerald is Professor of Cancer Prevention and Interim Director at the MRC Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge. She co-leads the Early Detection Programme of the CRUK Cambridge Centre which is part of the International Alliance in Early Detection (ACED) and practices medicine as Hon. Consultant in Gastroenterology and Oncology at Addenbrooke's Hospital. The focus of her research group is to investigate the steps in malignant transformation in the oesophagus and stomach in order to improve clinical early detection strategies. Her work to conceptualise, develop and implement the Cytosponge device and in vitro biomarker assays for detection of Barrett's oesophagus and associated dysplasia has been awarded a number of prizes including the Westminster Medal, the BMJ Gastro team of the year, an NHS Innovation prize and the CRUK Jane Wardle Early Detection Prize. She was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2013 and a member of EMBO in 2021. Rebecca is committed to teaching and is a Fellow of Medical Sciences at Trinity College Cambridge.

Dr Ian Campbell, Chief Business Officer, LifeArc

Dr Ian Campbell, Chief Business Officer, LifeArc

Ian is the Chief Business Officer at LifeArc, accelerating the translation of life sciences innovation into benefits for patients. Ian was previously Executive Chair at Innovate UK, and before that Director for Health and Life Sciences. Prior to Innovate, Ian spend 15 years in in a variety of executive management and commercial roles, developing products across life sciences and diagnostics, including as Chief Executive of Arquer Diagnostics, a company developing and commercialising immunoassay diagnostics tests for cancers of the urogenital tract. A graduate of the University of Glasgow, Ian holds a PhD in Biochemistry.

Schedule

13:00-13:05
Opening remarks
13:05-13:45
Opening talks
3 talks

Chair

Professor Dame Anne Mills CBE FMedSci FRS, Deputy Director & Provost, The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Professor Dame Anne Mills CBE FMedSci FRS, Deputy Director & Provost, The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Professor Dame Anne Mills has been Deputy Director & Provost at The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) since 2012, and is a worldwide authority on health economics, with a particular focus on how to create efficient and equitable health systems in low and middle income countries. She has held the position of President of the International Health Economics Association. She received a CBE for services to medicine in 2006, and is a Fellow of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences and a Fellow of the Royal Society. In 2015 she was awarded a DCMG in recognition of her services to international health.

13:05-13:15
COVID-19 and diagnostics: an opportunity for renewal and growth

Speakers

Professor Sharon Peacock CBE FMedSci, Professor of Public Health and Microbiology, University of Cambridge; Director, COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK)

Professor Sharon Peacock CBE FMedSci, Professor of Public Health and Microbiology, University of Cambridge; Director, COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK)

Sharon Peacock is currently Professor of Public Health and Microbiology at the University of Cambridge; Executive Director of the COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) consortium; and a Non-Executive Director on the board of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She has raised around £60 million pounds in science funding, published more than 500 peer-reviewed papers, and has trained a generation of scientists in the UK and elsewhere. Sharon is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, and an elected Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO). In 2015, she received a CBE for services to medical microbiology, and in 2018 she won the Unilever Colworth Prize for her outstanding contribution to translational microbiology. Sharon was recently awarded the MRC Millennium Medal 2021.

13:15-13:35
The digital health revolution: empowering the consumer

Abstract

"Remote/Wellness/Digital Data Healthcare" has the potential to halt and reverse the increase in healthcare costs, to improve healthcare and streamline its delivery whilst proving acceptable to the public. In order to underwrite professional and public acceptance the first part of an individual’s health journey – the diagnostic test – must perform to gold standard, be cheap, simple and intuitive to use and deliver a molecular result or series of molecular analyses, in minutes, with results uploadable into a health record. Elaine has teamed up with the Founders of some of the most successful point of care device companies – QuantuMDx, Binx, ClearBlue and GeneDrive and will present their vision for the future of UK Diagnostics from an empowered decentralised/consumer perspective.

Speakers

Elaine Warburton, Founder & Non-Executive Director, QuantuMDx Group

Elaine Warburton, Founder & Non-Executive Director, QuantuMDx Group

Elaine is the founder and non-executive director of British life sciences, tools and diagnostics company QuantuMDx Group. She is an entrepreneur with over 30 years’ healthcare and biotechnology experience with an eclectic background in nursing, genetics, chartered accounting and running hospitals. Elaine has taken QuantuMDx from concept to product, raising over £50m in both equity and grants. She has overseen strategic collaborations with established life science companies, blue chip academic organisations and NGOs. In total, Elaine has raised over £100m in funding as an entrepreneur and was awarded an OBE for services to innovation in healthcare in 2014.

13:35-13:45
Empowering the patient in the UK diagnostics vision

Abstract

This presentation will take the patient perspective on the opportunity to improve diagnosis, management and research of disease through improved technology and collaboration. 

Speakers

Ms Jo Pisani, Non executive director and trustee, FindACure, LAM Action, MedCity

Ms Jo Pisani, Non executive director and trustee, FindACure, LAM Action, MedCity

Jo is a non executive director and trustee for LifeArc, MedCity, FindACure, LAM Action and the UK Dementia Research Institute. She also supports startups in diagnostics, med tech, digital and manufacturing. Jo is a passionate supporter of public health issues such as dementia, rare diseases and antimicrobial resistance. 

Previously, she spent 30 years in industry and consulting with roles with BP, GSK, Booz&Co and latterly led PwC’s UK Pharma and Life Sciences business where she assisted governments, investors and companies with growth strategies and deals. She is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and holds an MBA from Warwick Business School.

14:00-15:30
Technical talks
5 talks

Chair

Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald FMedSci, University of Cambridge

Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald FMedSci, University of Cambridge

Rebecca Fitzgerald is Professor of Cancer Prevention and Interim Director at the MRC Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge. She co-leads the Early Detection Programme of the CRUK Cambridge Centre which is part of the International Alliance in Early Detection (ACED) and practices medicine as Hon. Consultant in Gastroenterology and Oncology at Addenbrooke's Hospital. The focus of her research group is to investigate the steps in malignant transformation in the oesophagus and stomach in order to improve clinical early detection strategies. Her work to conceptualise, develop and implement the Cytosponge device and in vitro biomarker assays for detection of Barrett's oesophagus and associated dysplasia has been awarded a number of prizes including the Westminster Medal, the BMJ Gastro team of the year, an NHS Innovation prize and the CRUK Jane Wardle Early Detection Prize. She was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2013 and a member of EMBO in 2021. Rebecca is committed to teaching and is a Fellow of Medical Sciences at Trinity College Cambridge.

14:00-14:15
Volatile organic compound analysis as a non-invasive breath test to detect cancer

Abstract

Early gastrointestinal cancer typically has non-specific symptoms that could be wrongly attributed to common benign conditions. It is not feasible to refer all patients with gastrointestinal symptoms to have endoscopy as it is invasive, expensive and consumes NHS resources. Breath testing has ideal characteristics for a triage test as it is non-invasive and acceptable to patients. This talk will discuss the use of volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis to detect oesophagogastric and colorectal cancers, the sources for VOC production and the challenges to translate VOC analysis into a diagnostic platform technology in clinical practice.

Speakers

Professor George Hanna, Imperial College London

Professor George Hanna, Imperial College London

Professor George Hanna is head of the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London and consultant oesophageal surgeon. He is the Director of the NIHR London In-Vitro Diagnostic Co-operative. The current interest of his laboratory revolves around volatile organic compounds analysis for biomarker discovery and understanding the molecular drivers of volatile compounds aiming to develop non-invasive breath test to detect gastrointestinal cancers. 

14:15-14:30
Integrated Radiogenomics for Unravelling Tumour Heterogeneity and Treatment Monitoring

Abstract

Cancer is caused by genetic alterations and frequently arises as a clonal growth from a founder cell. The subclonal heterogeneity provides the basis for inter-metastatic heterogeneity which is of utmost clinical importance. New tumor sampling techniques and circulating tumor DNA methods may allow for more comprehensive evaluation of clonal composition. As both primary tumors and metastatic lesions are spatially and temporally heterogeneous they would require multiple biopsies, which still doesn’t allow for a complete characterization of the tumor genomic landscape. Therefore, imaging has great potential for a comprehensive evaluation of the entire tumor burden as it is noninvasive and often repeated during treatment in routine practice. While initial retrospective radiogenomics studies have shown high prognostic power they do not provide any spatial information as quantitative imaging features are averaged over the entire tumor. This approach ignores spatial heterogeneity readily apparent on imaging highlighting the need for well-designed prospective radiogenomics studies focused on meaningful integration of phenotype and genotype.

Speakers

Professor Evis Sala, Professor of Oncological Imaging, University of Cambridge

Professor Evis Sala, Professor of Oncological Imaging, University of Cambridge

Evis Sala is the Professor of Oncological Imaging at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (UK) and co-leads the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre Advanced Cancer Imaging Programme and the Integrated Cancer Medicine Programme. Dr Sala’s research in the field of radiogenomics has focused on understanding the molecular basis of cancer by demonstrating the phenotypic patterns which occur as a result of multiple genetic alterations that interact with the tumour microenvironment to drive the disease in several tumour types. She is also leading multiple research projects focusing on the development and implementation of artificial intelligence methods for image reconstruction, segmentation, and data integration.

14:30-14:45
The Promise of Digital Pathology and Artificial Intelligence in Histopathology

Abstract

Digitally enabled care is core to delivering current and future healthcare services. Histopathology (Cellular Pathology) has been highlighted as in need of innovation by the routine use of digital pathology platforms for reporting rather than microscopes. Once this digital pathology infrastructure is in place, this enables AI assistance for pathologists in diagnostic reporting together with the promise of deriving novel insights into disease biology which are not possible with a human observer. Despite the promise and rapidly developing traction, barriers still exist to adoption of these technologies. In this talk I will outline real life experiences of deploying these technologies in practice with specific reference to my sub speciality of urological pathology and outline future directions.

Speakers

Professor Clare Verrill, Associate Professor, University of Oxford & Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Professor Clare Verrill, Associate Professor, University of Oxford & Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Clare Verrill is Associate Professor of Cellular Pathology with the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences at the University of Oxford and Honorary Consultant Cellular Pathologist with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Her sub speciality is urological pathology and has her own research group focussing on digital pathology and AI.  The NHS Cellular Pathology Laboratory in Oxford has achieved the milestone of scanning 100% of surgical histology workload under her oversight. She is Oxford Principal Investigator for Oxford PathLAKE (one of the UK Government’s AI Centres of Excellence) and has worked with computer science partners to develop AI. She is the Principal Investigator of a phase 4 AI in Healthcare study to evaluate Paige Prostate AI in NHS settings. 

14:45-15:00
Point of care diagnostics

Abstract

 

Speakers

Dr Helen Lee, Diagnostics for the Real World

Dr Helen Lee, Diagnostics for the Real World

15:00-15:30
Panel Q&A

Speakers

Professor George Hanna, Imperial College London

Professor George Hanna, Imperial College London

Professor George Hanna is head of the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London and consultant oesophageal surgeon. He is the Director of the NIHR London In-Vitro Diagnostic Co-operative. The current interest of his laboratory revolves around volatile organic compounds analysis for biomarker discovery and understanding the molecular drivers of volatile compounds aiming to develop non-invasive breath test to detect gastrointestinal cancers. 

Professor Evis Sala, Professor of Oncological Imaging, University of Cambridge

Professor Evis Sala, Professor of Oncological Imaging, University of Cambridge

Evis Sala is the Professor of Oncological Imaging at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (UK) and co-leads the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre Advanced Cancer Imaging Programme and the Integrated Cancer Medicine Programme. Dr Sala’s research in the field of radiogenomics has focused on understanding the molecular basis of cancer by demonstrating the phenotypic patterns which occur as a result of multiple genetic alterations that interact with the tumour microenvironment to drive the disease in several tumour types. She is also leading multiple research projects focusing on the development and implementation of artificial intelligence methods for image reconstruction, segmentation, and data integration.

Professor Clare Verrill, Associate Professor, University of Oxford & Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Professor Clare Verrill, Associate Professor, University of Oxford & Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Clare Verrill is Associate Professor of Cellular Pathology with the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences at the University of Oxford and Honorary Consultant Cellular Pathologist with Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Her sub speciality is urological pathology and has her own research group focussing on digital pathology and AI.  The NHS Cellular Pathology Laboratory in Oxford has achieved the milestone of scanning 100% of surgical histology workload under her oversight. She is Oxford Principal Investigator for Oxford PathLAKE (one of the UK Government’s AI Centres of Excellence) and has worked with computer science partners to develop AI. She is the Principal Investigator of a phase 4 AI in Healthcare study to evaluate Paige Prostate AI in NHS settings. 

Dr Helen Lee, Diagnostics for the Real World

Dr Helen Lee, Diagnostics for the Real World

15:45-16:45
Panel discussion

Chair

Dr Ian Campbell, Chief Business Officer, LifeArc

Dr Ian Campbell, Chief Business Officer, LifeArc

Ian is the Chief Business Officer at LifeArc, accelerating the translation of life sciences innovation into benefits for patients. Ian was previously Executive Chair at Innovate UK, and before that Director for Health and Life Sciences. Prior to Innovate, Ian spend 15 years in in a variety of executive management and commercial roles, developing products across life sciences and diagnostics, including as Chief Executive of Arquer Diagnostics, a company developing and commercialising immunoassay diagnostics tests for cancers of the urogenital tract. A graduate of the University of Glasgow, Ian holds a PhD in Biochemistry.

15:45-16:45

Abstract

This panel discussion will focus on innovation and commercialisation, adoption by the NHS and general population, and the challenges of funding and policy. Consideration of regulations from the start of the pipeline will also be covered.

Speakers

Dr Rebecca Todd, Investment Director, Longwall Ventures

Dr Rebecca Todd, Investment Director, Longwall Ventures

Rebecca (Todd) is a venture capital investor in early-stage life science and medical technology companies at Longwall Ventures. She began venture investing in 2006 while at Oxford Capital, where she took responsibility for the Oxford Gateway Funds’ investments into healthcare and life science companies. She went on to become Director, Healthcare Ventures at Imperial Innovations (now part of IP Group). Her earlier career was as a marketing consultant to pharmaceutical and life science technology companies. Rebecca has a PhD in Genetics from Nottingham University and an MBA from Oxford University. She joined Longwall Ventures in 2017 after a sabbatical break spent exploring South America in a campervan.

Dr Jane Kinghorn, University College London

Dr Jane Kinghorn, University College London

Jane has extensive experience in developing therapies (gene & cell, small molecules, antibodies, oligos) to clinical benefit gained from over 25 years working in large pharma and academia. Her experience has spanned the drug discovery & biomarker pathway, leading projects through target validation, lead optimisation, candidate selection through to the clinic. Jane as Director of the Translational Research Office (TRO) at UCL works at the interface between academia, NHS and Industry. She has extensive experience of differing organisational cultures and a deep understanding of the life sciences research & innovation ecosystem in the UK. The TRO comprises a team of 22 highly experienced applied scientists supporting academics deliver novel therapeutics, diagnostics and devices. The TRO are instrumental in developing the organisational translational culture, capability and processes necessary to deliver the UCL and the NIHR funded Biomedical Research Centre’s mission of "Accelerating translation for health and wealth". Embracing diversity and working in partnership is key to this vision.

Dr Michael Kipping, Innovate UK

Dr Michael Kipping, Innovate UK

Michael works for Innovate UK which is part of UK Research & Innovation.  He is responsible for the management of a Government grant funding program called the Biomedical Catalyst that supports UK SMEs developing innovative health & life science products.

To date, the program has provided £250 million in grant funding to UK life science SMEs to support the development of innovative projects/products at different stages of development that are unlikely to have proceeded without this grant funding. 

He also provides specialist expertise to Innovate UK for medical devices and diagnostics products.  This involves working closely with other bodies such as NIHR, MHRA, DoH, OLS, BEIS, ABHI, BIA, Bionow etc. to find opportunities to accelerate the development and commercialisation of products developed by UK SMEs.   

Previously, Michael was a Group Manager at Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and spent 10 years in the medical device industry.

16:45-16:50
Closing remarks

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