BIVDA Comments on new Government Clinical Research Implementation Plan BIVDA has commented on the new Government plan to boost clinical research – ‘The Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery.’ The strategy builds on existing commitments and is intended to bring research and greater investment to our shores, bolstering our economic growth, tackling health inequalities and improving the health of people right across the UK. The strategy contains five key themes:  ...

The United Kingdom has entered into formal negotiations around its potential accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Department for International Trade Minister Liz Truss began discussions on the morning of Tuesday 22nd June with Minister for TPP Yasutoshi Nishimura from Japan, who is this year’s chair of the CPTPP. The United Kingdom would strengthen trade connections with this powerful bloc of economies in the Pacific region –...

The Government has announced the establishing of a new ministerial council and Office for Science and Technology Strategy. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be the chair of the new National Science and Technology Council which will provide strategic direction on the use of scientific and technological tools in tackling great societal challenges in future. Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance has been asked to lead the Office for Science and Technology Strategy, in conjunction with his c...

BIVDA's External Affairs team has composed a briefing note for members on a newly-released report from the Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform (TIGRR). The report was produced after consultation with key stakeholders across various sectors. BIVDA submitted a response and welcomes the proposals on digital health in particular; these tie in with the points made in BIVDA's recent industry strategy paper, titled 'The Digital Revolution'. The report addresses th...

The BIVDA External Affairs team has prepared a round-up document for member reference regarding the G7 Summit which concluded on Sunday 13th June 2021. The text covers the preparations ahead of the gathering, including the Health Ministers' Meeting, and the final commitments regarding diagnostics, pandemic preparedness and sustainability reached by the Group. The round-up also addresses BIVDA's lending of industry support in regards to fighting Antimicrobial Resistance.Please find t...

The United Kingdom has signed a new trade deal with Australia, the first deal to be built from scratch since the UK left the European Union. The new deal will see cheaper sales being made in future on UK products to Australia, such as Scotch whisky biscuits and cars. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison are said to have reached an agreement on the deal’s broad terms during a dinner held on Monday. Boris Johnson said in a statement: "Our new free t...

New antibody tests, described as ‘game-changing’, have been developed by researchers that can detect which variant an individual has immunity from. The tests can pick up on which particular COVID variant(s) someone has been exposed to, something similar antibody tests cannot do. The tests have been developed by researchers from the University of Aberdeen, in a collaboration with the biotechnology group Vertebrate Antibodies Ltd and NHS Grampian. It is not yet clear when these tests w...

Some services in the NHS have returned to their pre-pandemic levels, including operations, elective care and cancer treatment. New data from the NHS England show that the number of people waiting more than 52 weeks to start treatment, decreased by more than 50,000 in April. Regarding diagnostic services, 1.8 million patients were able to access testing services in the month of April. There was also an increase in the number of operations and elective care carried out, returning to pre-pandemic l...

BIVDA has launched the latest in its series of strategic papers, ‘The Digital Revolution’.  BIVDA is publishing this paper to ensure that the digitisation of In vitro Diagnostics (IVD) and the breakthroughs, experiences and collaboration resultant from the coronavirus pandemic are not limited to being a short-term phenomenon. The last year has demonstrated that the IVD industry has the ability and capacity to transform healthcare through an early diagnosis culture which prevents...

BIVDA has launched the latest in its series of strategic papers, ‘The Digital Revolution’. You can find a copy of the paper attached to this page. BIVDA is publishing this paper to ensure that the digitisation of In vitro Diagnostics (IVD) and the breakthroughs, experiences and collaboration resultant from the coronavirus pandemic are not limited to being a short-term phenomenon. The last year has demonstrated that the IVD industry has the ability and capacity to transform healt...