Launch of personal handheld

Launch of personal handheld device to help limit the spread of COVID-19

With the world in the midst of a global pandemic, a team of engineers at Sylatech stepped away from their usual projects and focused on a new challenge, creating a personal handheld device that limits your contact with potentially contaminated surfaces when out and about.

Sylatech has launched the kill the coronavirus within 10 minutes, “We’re keen to support this project KeepSafe, which enables users providing an extra level of confidence. because the product helps to protect to avoid touching handles frontline staff against the coronavirus and buttons or grabbing items Charlie Breese, Sylatech’s Managing threat, as well as potentially securing unnecessarily. Whether you are in Director, commented: “Our aim for manufacturing jobs and enabling good a hospital, in a shop or using a cash the KeepSafe is simple – to help limit growth for the business.” machine, the device can be used as a the spread of Covid-19 and to reduce simple hooking or pushing mechanism potential exposure to the virus. It has Medilink West Midlands was introduced so that the user does not need to touch good application use with door handles, to Sylatech when the company answered potentially contaminated surfaces with their hands or fingers. As it fits on a key ring, it can always be with you when you’re out and about. light switches, toilet levers, taps and more.” He added that “the KeepSafe is not a substitute for regular and thorough handwashing, but an extra weapon in the a call from West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA), who joined forces with local councils and business groups to support the supply demand for PPE Crucially, the KeepSafe is manufactured fight against this invisible enemy.” during the initial height of the COVID-19 from a copper-based alloy, which is pandemic. Sylatech took advantage of antimicrobial, and it is known from Having known of the antimicrobial Medilink WM’s B2B Opportunities Service laboratory tests that copper is highly properties of copper for some time, and posted an opportunity for a distributor effective in killing a broad range of Sylatech developed this product very of their KeepSafe device. Worcestershirebacteria, fungi and viruses. The MB1 quickly with support from the York & based Safe Options Ltd responded and has copper alloy has been scientifically proven North Yorkshire Growth Hub. Andrew now added the KeepSafe to complement by the University of Southampton to Raby, the Growth Hub Manager, said: their existing product range.

The benefits of using antimicrobial alloys are clear in reducing disease-causing bacteria, so Sylatech is pushing for their increased use within healthcare facilities and wider applications such as cash machines, ticket machines and much more.

Working at the forefront of COVID-19 research

Since the beginning of the pandemic, thousands of researchers, individuals, groups and organisations have been working tirelessly to find ways to treat COVID-19 and stop its spread.

Among the leaders in this field of research have been the Barts Life Sciences (BLS) teams from Barts Health NHS Trust and Queen Mary University of London. The BLS motto of ‘discovery, diversity, delivery’ has been applied to finding new ways of treating COVID-19.

Barts serves a large, diverse population which includes many Black, Asian and ethnic minority (BAME) communities. It is important to have these groups front of mind in any COVID-19 research because there is known to be a clear link between deprivation, ethnicity and the chances of dying from COVID-19. There is a big difference in COVID-19 deaths among different ethnic groups, with BAME groups being more likely to die from the virus than the White British population.

Recognising a need in its population and an opportunity to help them and others, BLS sprung into action. It rapidly mobilised a new research team made up of 120 trained clinical research volunteers, who enrolled 1,600 patients and 550 healthcare workers across five hospitals in COVID-19 related studies.

BLS have also been heavily involved in studies looking at diagnosing COVID-19. One study, run in partnership with Abbott, looked at using antibodies to diagnose the disease, with a linked, sub-study looking at how the body’s immune system responds to the virus. Another study, looking at Barts staff, assessed how the immune system makes antibodies after being infected with COVID-19 and how long they last.

BLS also created the Vaccine Trials Platform which is leading phase 3 clinical trials for potential COVID-19 vaccines.

To support further research, the Barts Bioresource co-ordinates the storage of biological samples and data from patients who have consented to participate in research. This will help with monitoring and tracking any long-term effects COVID-19 might have on people.

In light of their rapid and robust response to COVID-19, you’d be forgiven for thinking BLS don’t do other research. However, while the wider work of BLS was put on hold when the pandemic struck, many areas of work have now adapted to the new normal. This includes a lot of research into how big data and artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to improve health services and outcomes, as well as developing targeted interventions (socalled precision medicine) to find new, better ways to treat diseases.

BLS is clearly making good on their motto of ‘discovery, diversity, delivery’, something which particularly shone through during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have been heavily involved in research into the virus, ensuring the diverse population they serve, who are disproportionately affected by it, are considered.

Celebrating the best of UK life sciences at the Medilink UK Healthcare Business Awards

Over 190 individuals from across the healthcare and life sciences sector came together online to celebrate success at the Medilink UK Awards.

The awards recognised a multitude of achievements and outstanding contributions to the life sciences industry, and five companies from across the country were crowned as national winners. Winning companies from the regional Medilink awards, which were held throughout 2019 and early 2020, were automatically shortlisted for the national titles.

The award winners and runners-up were:

Start Up Award

For newly established companies (trading for up to three years) that show a promising future, sponsored by HORIBA.

Winner:

Neuronostics (Exeter) which provides novel diagnostic decision-support tools for neurologists. Their first commercially available clinical indication is a novel and potentially revolutionary seizure susceptibility technology called BioEP, enabling fast and accurate diagnosis of epilepsy.

Highly commended:

Cansense (Swansea), a start up developing an accurate, fast, non-invasive diagnostic for early detection of cancer using Spectroscopy and AI technology on a simple blood sample.

LightOx (Newcastle) which is developing light activated drugs for the treatment of oral cancers. The aim is to provide clinicians and patients alternative options to surgery in precancerous and early stage cancer.

Export Achievement Award

For outstanding performance in international trade, sponsored by Morningside Pharmaceuticals.

Winner:

Cellpath (Powys), a long-established family business specialising in the manufacture and worldwide supply of products, consumables and services for the Cellular Pathology Cancer Diagnostic market.

Highly commended:

TissueMed (Leeds), a company specialising in the development, manufacture and worldwide sales of a unique surgical sealant technology.

Bailey Instruments (Manchester) which specialises in the manufacture of medical devices (diagnostics for diabetes and neuropathy) and surgical instruments for Podiatry, General surgery and ENT.

Collaboration with the NHS Award

For a collaboration with the NHS that has had, or will have, a major impact or benefit to both business performance and patient care, sponsored by The AHSN Network.

Winner:

Spirit Health Group (Leicester) which has been a trusted partner of the NHS since 2009. Their growing range of innovative products and services empower people to take control of their health, make best use of NHS resources, and utilise new technology to improve patient outcomes and add value for clinicians.

Highly commended:

Cievert (Newcastle) which for years has been providing the NHS with innovative software to better manage cancer patients from diagnosis to recovery, cutting the waiting times of over 100,000 NHS oncology patients.

Docobo (Leatherhead) which has developed digital health solutions to support seamless care for patients with multiple long-term conditions.

Innovation Award

For the development of an innovative technology, design or process that has produced a major improvement in business performance or end-user benefit, sponsored by Kallik.

Winner:

Magstim (Whitland), a Wales-based medical device manufacturer and leading supplier of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) equipment, coils and complete packages used for both Magstim TMS therapy and neuromodulation research.

Highly commended:

SurePulse Medical (Nottingham), a medical vital signs monitoring company committed to delivering innovations that improve monitoring when needed most. SurePulse VS is a wireless heart rate (HR) monitor for newborn babies.

PEDAAT, developed by the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust’s Paediatric Emergency Department, which identifies asthma patients with inadequate routine care or treatment adherence to provide an appropriate and timely intervention.

Outstanding Achievement Award

For an achievement that has had a significant or vital impact on the company, sponsored by Mills and Reeve LLP.

Winner:

Sygnature Discovery (Nottingham), a world-leading independent integrated drug discovery and pre-clinical services company. Since 2011, Sygnature has delivered 30 compounds into pre-clinical development, 15 of which have subsequently entered the clinic (Phases I, II and III) in areas including cancer, spinal injury, severe asthma and COPD.

Highly commended:

Kapitex (Wetherby, Yorkshire), a specialist in airway intelligence and a manufacturer and distributor of medical devices for tracheostomy, laryngectomy and dysphagia management.

YourGene Health (Manchester), an international molecular diagnostics group which develops and commercialises genetic products and services, enabling scientific advances to positively impact human health.

Medilink West Midlands helps forge new partnerships in response to the COVID crisis

The West Midlands Academic Health Science Network (WMAHSN) and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) have joined forces to support the region’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supply during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After issuing a call to arms for businesses to help supply or manufacture PPE, the WMCA teamed up with Medilink West Midlands, the WMAHSN’s link to the wider industry, who have been supporting the recruitment of suitable companies.

Two of many businesses that came forward were Autins Group, specialists in providing materials and products for acoustic and thermal management solutions, and Contechs Holdings, a T1 automotive design, development & trimming consultancy. Both companies were exploring how their manufacturing capabilities, facilities and skills could be used to address the issue of supplying PPE products. Thanks to the WMAHSN’s industrial gateway team, they are now working collaboratively.

Initially, Autins was manufacturing face masks utilising its skills and knowledge of specialist acoustic and insulation materials, while Contechs was supporting specialist workwear companies by preparing material to produce scrubs, using its large cutting platform. Without this work, both companies would have needed to furlough all, or the majority, of their staff and their manufacturing technology would have been dormant due to the shutdown of the automotive sector.

Chris Dyke, Connectivity Manager at Medilink West Midlands, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that a lot of organisations have had to explore new ways of working, and that WMAHSN had to call upon the region’s businesses to help keep our healthcare workforce safe. Not only have we been successful in finding organisations via the WMCA Challenge that can help with this, but we have also managed to link two businesses together that will benefit from each other’s knowledge and expertise in the long term.

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, added: “It is great to see two local companies with no prior experience of PPE manufacturing coming together to help support the West Midlands during this difficult time. I know these are just two of many businesses across the region who answered our call to arms, and the response from organisations looking to help has been brilliant to see.” Since being linked together, the two companies have now been working together on manufacturing face masks. Autins is continuing to produce the face masks, while Contechs has been subcontracted and is using sewing and trimming expertise to finalise and attach ear loops to the masks.

Joshua Kimberling, Autins Group’s Sales Director, commented: “In a time of significant downturn in our largest sector, Automotive, our response has been to look for opportunities to make a positive contribution during the current crisis. Using our expertise in materials and manufacturing, Autins is bringing face mask manufacturing back to the UK. It has been great to be supported by other UK companies also wanting to do the right thing.”

Following the two automotive companies being introduced, Autins and Contechs are in talks to collaborate on other areas of work within the automotive sector after COVID-19. The two companies are located just 20 miles apart and are exploring ways to combine industry knowledge, skills and expertise.