Early Detection of Liver Disease

The Early Detection of Liver Disease research project (ID LIVER) is building on the expertise developed through an existing the Innovate UK-funded project –  Integrated Diagnostics for Early Detection of Liver Disease. This project will expand into Greater Manchester via a targeted approach to assessing patients at increased risk of liver disease in underserved communities. 

Liver disease is one of the UK’s largest health challenges and in advanced cases a liver transplant may be the only treatment option. There are currently a wide range of single tests for liver disease. These are effective in identifying late-stage disease but not the early signs or patients at greater risk. Three quarters of people are currently diagnosed at a late stage, often when lifestyle changes and other interventions can have a limited impact. 

Developing software that combines a wide range of tests, could help us detect disease earlier and improve treatment outcomes for patients. Early detection could also create cost savings for the NHS whilst a more targeted approach will also help to tackle health inequalities in high-risk groups. Patients consenting to participate in the study will be subject to various tests which when combined with other clinical data, will be more effective at detecting liver disease in the early stages.  

In addition to early detection, an important element of this project is raising awareness of liver disease amongst underserved and marginalised groups. Working in partnership with communities to co-design communications but also how liver detection service can best be provided in community settings, will be at the heart of this project. Through community collaboration we will ensure that we address health inequalities using Innovatie solutions.

Community Diagnostics - Lipids Optimisation

There are approximately 7,000 people who have had a cardiovascular event with unmanaged cholesterol in Greater Manchester. Cholesterol travels through the blood on lipoproteins which are made of protein and fat. High levels of lipoprotein (a) increases your likelihood of having a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular disease (CVD) event. Evidence indicates Lp(a) levels are higher in African and South Asian community members. 

The Lipids Optimisation project will focus on using novel approaches to assess the cardiovascular risk and will explore the value of including an additional new test for lipoprotein (a), alongside routine testing. 

Using data insights, we will identify and target different localities using point-of-care testing focusing on ethnic diverse communities across GM who are at highest risk of poor health relating to cardiovascular disease and understand gaps in existing care. 

A key aim of the project will be to identify and reduce health inequalities in the management and outcomes of those GM citizens at high cardiovascular risk through innovative approaches using data, diagnostics and patient engagement. 

The project will target areas across Greater Manchester with population levels at high risk of CVD and use creative approaches to co-design work with community and voluntary sector groups build trust and raise awareness and promoting engagement and co-ownership. 

We aim to understand and evaluate community enablers and address barriers to understand how we use diagnostics to ensure high risk community patients are referred earlier and managed in the care pathway to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Lung cancer screening

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the UK. It is commonly diagnosed too late due to there often being no symptoms at the early stages which unfortunately means patients have advanced incurable lung cancer when diagnosed. Lung cancer is more prevalent in deprived communities and the project will be addressing issue to improve screening rates and health inequalities. 

The project aims to screen smokers at risk with low dose CT scans to identify early-stage curable disease. Lung Health Checks are a holistic approach to screening delivery.

The programme provides mobile clinic units across Greater Manchester which move to different areas in convenient community locations such as supermarkets. The check is targeted at people aged 55-74 years who have previously smoked or are current smokers.

The project aims to improve the early diagnosis of lung cancer by assessing novel diagnostic tests and approaches to improving screening uptake. We will seek to Improve access to research underserved communities by understanding and co-designing approaches to raise awareness and education through tailored communication and engagement strategies. 

The programme has proved an effective way in detecting lung cancer earlier with approximately 79% of tumours being diagnosed at stage I or II. The programme also helps identify other conditions earlier, meaning more participants can receive the support and treatment they need. 

Like similar programmes, not all those who are invited attend their appointment potentially leading to later diagnosis and poorer outcomes. Therefore, it’s important that people are aware of the programme, its benefits and risks, and how they can attend an appointment.

APIS Assays Technology Ltd

APIS Assays Technology Ltd (click here to visit the website).

APIS is leveraging systems biology, interrogating multi-OMICs biodata, and deploying innovative ‘Clickmer’ ligand binding technology, for the validation and translation of biomarker and therapeutic assets into clinical utility. APIS has deep expertise and capabilities in IVD development of molecular & immune assays for ultimate product realisation as diagnostic tests. In addition, APIS’ expertise in bioinformatics and software development is offered as an agile service to our clients, to develop bespoke, end-to-end multi-OMICs solutions and platform development.

APIS will design a broad, ethnically inclusive gene panel capable of detecting a range of pharmacogenetic targets determined in collaboration with clinicians and academics. An informatic solution will then be developed to transfer this data into the clinical setting at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and The Christie Hospital, supporting regulatory certification.

EMQN CIC

EMQN CIC (click here to visit the website).

EMQN are a community interest company (CIC) promoting quality in genomic testing by establishing, harmonising and disseminating best practice. through the delivery of External Quality Assessment (EQA) services, and guideline writing They are an internationally respected, UKAS-accredited provider of EQA services, with more than 3000 member laboratories in 89 countries.

EMQN will work as a collaborative partner across all DEVOTE projects, focusing on the creation of EQA schemes for pharmacogenetics and point-of-care systems.

Genedrive

Genedrive (click here to visit the website).

Genedrive are a molecular diagnostics company, based in Manchester, with expertise in developing and commercialising a low cost, rapid, versatile, simple to use and robust point of care Pharmacogenetic tests.

Genedrive have developed and UKCA marked a rapid, cost effective, point-of-care test for CYP2C19 genotype by the bedside to guide stroke therapy. This has the potential to avoid thousands of strokes each year, improving population health outcomes and saving significant resources for the NHS. The programme will provide acute care patient access and the supporting infrastructure to assess the real world clinical performance of the new time critical tests in NHS settings.

Chromition

Chromition (click here to visit the website).

Chromition specialise in the development of next-generation optoelectronic materials. They’ve previously had successful collaborations with the Material Sciences departments at the University of Manchester and holds several patents.

Chromition will work closely with the University of Manchester to use new and emerging biomaterials to develop an ultra-rapid genetic test, capable of detecting genetic changes in the format of point of care devices. The deployment of ultra-rapid genetic point of care devices could revolutionise the approach to precision diagnostics in health systems.