Randox welcomed the Queen’s University staff Leadership Team to their Antrim based Randox Science Park in Antrim.
Randox welcomed the Queen’s University staff Leadership Team to their Antrim based Randox Science Park in Antrim.
Randox were delighted to welcome the Queen’s University Belfast Leadership Team to their Antrim based headquarters, Randox Science Park on Tuesday, October 4th.
President and Vice Chancellor, Sir Ian Greer of Queen’s University was joined by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart Elborn, Head of Careers, Employability and Skills Mr Trevor Johnston, Head of Business Alliance Mr Dermot Leonard, Business Engagement Manager Mrs Joanne Mallon, Executive Director of the Global Innovation Institute Dr. David Quinn, Lead of Queen’s sustainable energy research Professor David Rooney, Dean of Research in Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Professor David Rooney, Dean of Research in Medicine, Health and, Life Sciences Professor Chris Scott, and Dean of Impact and Innovation in Medicine, Health, and Life Sciences.
The team received a presentation on Randox’s capabilities which stimulated multiple discussions in relation to research, improvements in healthcare provision, skills and the exciting future of Life and Health Sciences in Northern Ireland.
The purpose-built facilities at the site, covering research and development, engineering, manufacturing and accredited laboratories provides an unparalleled depth of diagnostic capability within a single site.
Randox employ over 2,200 staff, including 800 research scientists and engineers – all focused on improving life science diagnostic capabilities globally.
More than 5% of the world’s population (over 400 million people) receive medical diagnosis using Randox products each year. Randox have major facilities in the UK, Ireland, India, and the United States, supported by global distribution and supply networks.
Secretary of State visit to Randox Science Park
The Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland paid a visit to Randox Science Park on Thursday, October 19th, to discuss Randox capabilities and undertake a tour of the facilities at the Antrim site.
As leading diagnostic company from the UK & Ireland, Randox have spent over forty years improving healthcare, with a focus on the provision of timely and accurate testing both to improve clinical diagnosis and promote preventative healthcare.
The purpose-built facilities at the site, covering research and development, engineering, manufacturing and accredited laboratories provides an unparalleled depth of diagnostic capability with a single site.
More than 5% of the world’s population (over 400 million people) receive medical diagnosis using Randox products each year.
Randox’s proprietary Biochip Technology is the result of a £350 million investment, allowing many tests to be run simultaneously, greatly improving the diagnostic power available to clinicians. This innovative technology allowed the provision of advanced health profiling to support both early diagnosis and the transition to preventative healthcare.
Randox Science Park is a central hub of Randox’s life science manufacturing, engineering and research and development. Randox employ over 2,200 staff, including 800 research scientists and
engineers – all focused on improving life science diagnostic capabilities globally.
Randox Science Park is one of four key manufacturing and development sites, with others located in Dungloe, County Donegal; Bangalore, India; and the Greater Washington DC area, USA. Across the UK & Ireland there is also a growing network of Randox Health Clinics.
Look after your gut and it will look after you – Goodwood Health Summit 2023
At long last the public is cottoning on to the simple but important notion of preventative health – the idea that you don’t go to the doctor after falling ill – you go before so that potential future illnesses can be identified in advance and action taken immediately.
Randox, a leader in the field of diagnostic medicine, is in the forefront of this profound change in health care – one that opens up the possibility of delivering enormous benefits to individuals and society at large.
For these reasons, we were delighted to lend our support to the recent launch of the Goodwood Gut Summit hosted by the Goodwood Estate. The summit theme was on gut microbiomes, which play a key role in promoting the smooth daily operations of our body. Broadcast online, the summit aimed to respond to the urgent need for widespread education and communication about rapid progress in dietary health.
The summit came after a stark warning contained in two landmark studies into the effects of ultra-processed foods on our diet and its effect on our microbiomes.
This newly published research concluded that eating ultra-processed foods – such as ready meals, fizzy juice, cereals, and fast food – drastically increases our risk of serious health issues, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. It can also raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes. BBC journalist Justin Webb led the conversation with a world-class line-up of speakers, including, Dr Chris van Tulleken, Jessie Inchauspé, Dr James Kinross, Professor Pekka Puska and Professor Edward Bullmore.
Topics covered included inflammation, mental health and the microbiome , insulin, obesity, ultra-processed foods , the growing cost of poor nutrition, and the need to drive fundamental shifts in our food systems in order to move to a healthier future for all.
There was a discussion on using the many curbs on the promotion and sale of tobacco as a model for the food industry. Tighter regulation of food manufacturers and their marketing strategies could be the way forward here. As authorities in their respective fields, the speakers shared their knowledge and vision on these important topics, as well as considered new solutions to personal and societal health challenges, helping the formulation of some key achievable goals.
The partnership with the summit is underpinned by two Randox Laboratory divisions.
Randox Food Diagnostics is dedicated to improving the global food security chain. It provides the global food market with screening solutions for antimicrobials, toxins, growth-promoting hormones and veterinary drugs in animals and animal produce, as well as testing meat, milk, honey, grapes, seafood and feed products.
Food product testing is essential to ensure that what we consume is safe from physical, chemical, and biological hazards. It tells people precisely what they are eating and so helps them make informed choices and makes sure that goods on the supermarket shelves comply with safety standards.
Randox Health, the consumer-facing side of Randox Laboratories, is primarily focused on accessible, preventative health testing and offers full body health checks that identify early signs of disease before symptoms occur.
What is gut microbiome?
Picture a bustling city on a weekday morning, the pavements flooded with people rushing to get to work or to appointments. Now imagine this at a microscopic level and you have an idea of what the microbiome looks like inside our bodies, consisting of trillions of microorganisms (also called microbiota or microbes) of thousands of different species.
These include not only bacteria but fungi, parasites, and viruses. In a healthy person, these “bugs” coexist peacefully, with the largest numbers found in the small and large intestines but also throughout the body. The microbiome is even labeled a supporting organ because it plays so many key roles in promoting the smooth daily operations of the human body.
A person is first exposed to microorganisms as an infant, during delivery in the birth canal and through the mother’s breast milk. Later on, environmental exposures and diet can change our microbiomes to be either beneficial to health or to place one at greater risk for disease. Read more about it here(https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/microbiome/)
More info on Randox Food Diagnostics: Randox food diagnostics-randoxfood.com
To book a health test please follow the link below; Randox Health-randoxhealth.com
Book your stay at the Goodwood Gut Health programme, that includes a Randox panel of testing; www.goodwood.com/visit-eat-stay/health-wellbeing/wellness-retreats/gut-health-programme/
Industry And Academic Partnership in Developing Type 1 Diabetes Genetic Risk Biochip
The development of a diagnostic biochip to assess the genetic risk of individuals developing type 1 Diabetes, is the result of a successful partnership between leading diagnostics company, Randox and the University of Exeter.
The following case study has been prepared on the dynamic biochip’s development. With significant potential for further advancements in research and diagnostics, this active collaboration highlights how industry and academia can work together to accelerate healthcare innovation.
As a professor in Diabetes at the University of Exeter Medical School, Dr. Richard Oram specializes in the study of the biology of beta cell loss in type 1 diabetes and the clinical impact of persistent beta cell function. Working alongside Professor Michael Wheedon and Professor Andrew Hattersley, in 2014, Dr. Oram developed a method of assessing genetic risk as a single number – a genetic risk score (GRS) – that can be used to help classify what type of diabetes people have and predict future typ1 1 diabetes but to deliver a clinical test, the research would need a collaborative partnership with a global innovator in healthcare diagnostics.
Unlocking the potential of a type 1 diabetes GRS
Dr. Oram’s early research on type 1 Diabetes included studying people with varying levels of beta cell destruction and the study of extreme early-onset type 1 diabetes diagnosed in infants under a year old. One key question was whether aggregating data for someone’s genetic risk for type 1 diabetes could be turned into a single number – a genetic risk score and could be used to help understand the disease process or even correctly identify the type of diabetes someone had.
In parallel, it’s become increasingly apparent that there is a significant issue of incorrect classification of type 1 diabetes, affecting treatment and complications risk. Dr. Oram asked that if a ‘person’ sits in the overlap of whether they might have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, can their genes be used to help understand the disease process or even correctly identify the type of diabetes someone had.
Revolutionizing diagnosis with the type 1 diabetes GRS diagnostic tool
With the common confusion and misdiagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it’s estimated that up to half of people with diabetes receive the wrong treatment. This information was a good indicator that a diagnostic test would be a simple method of correct diagnosis. But alongside accurate type 1 and type 2 diabetes diagnosis, the GRS research and classification model can also help:
● Identification diagnostics to understand which people with diabetes may have a genetic mutation causing it and need genome sequencing to make the diagnosis
● Predictive diagnostics to learn whether someone will develop diabetes in the future
All research showed that it was relatively easy to generate a GRS for Richard and the team’s studies and that it was clinically valuable. The next step was to translate the research into a user-friendly and affordable diagnostic test that can be widely adopted worldwide – and find a healthcare diagnostics company that could make it a reality.
Industry and academia partnerships to accelerate innovation
Together, both Randox and the University of Exeter highlight the continued importance of improving disease prediction and prevention, the collaboration showcases the power of interdisciplinary partnerships between industry and academia in advancing healthcare.
Over a four-year period, Randox developed a biochip that uses genetic markers and a robust algorithm to assess an individual’s genetic risk for type 1 diabetes accurately. Randox’s expertise in the development, manufacture, and regulatory approval of the biochip made it a reality all driven by discovery research and a clinical understanding from Dr. Oram.
With neither team being able to achieve the same results without the other, recognizing the strengths both sides can offer to accelerate healthcare innovation is the key to a successful industry/academia partnership.
As a first-generation type 1 diabetes biochip, Dr. Oram continues collaborative research with Randox to advance its potential. And to further the partnership, Randox has committed a research grant of over £2m to study genetic risk scores for other autoimmune diseases, including coeliac disease and multiple sclerosis.
For more information please visit: www.medicine.exeter.ac.uk/clinical-biomedical/business-engagement-innovation
Sexual Health Week
September 11th-17th is Sexual Health Week
Sexual Health is a very important part of our lives, impacting on our wider physical and emotional well-being. In our relationships it is also important to act responsibly and with care – and to reduce the risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
More than one million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are acquired every day worldwide, the majority of which are asymptomatic. STIs are on the increase, and many show very little to no symptoms.
We want to break the stigma on sexual health testing. Regular testing is what keeps us safe and prevents STI’s spreading. Regular screening can aid in detecting an infection in the early stages and help to reduce the risk of further complications.
Gonorrhoea and Syphilis, which are two of the most common STIs are increasing at alarming rates.
Usually treated easily with antibiotics, many STIs can cause serious health issues if left untreated. Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea can cause infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease, while syphilis can cause serious, irreversible, and potentially life-threatening problems with your brain, heart, or nerves. Sexually transmitted infections are on the increase, many of which present little to no active symptoms.
Blood Pressure Awareness Week
4th – 10th September is this years Blood Pressure Awareness week, also known as ‘Know your numbers week.’
It is estimated that 16 million people in the UK have high blood pressure, but around a third are unware that they have it – if left untreated, it can often cause heart attacks or stroke and is also a risk factor for heart disease, kidney disease and vascular dementia.
People with High Blood often show no symptoms but awareness of it can make it easily treatable and manageable.
Your blood pressure is an essential part of the successful circulation of blood around your body. When your heart contracts, it propels blood outward with force, circulating it around all the arteries in your body.
When healthy and relaxed, your arteries are flexible and provide just the right amount of resistance to enable efficient blood flow.
But what does that mean exactly?
High blood pressure is the result of the stiffening and constriction of your arteries. These narrower, more rigid arteries cause higher resistance to blood flow, ultimately causing the heart to work harder to pump the blood to the farthest parts of you.
Over time, this additional work can cause damage to the myocardium, or heart muscle, as well as other organs like the brain and kidneys. Know Your Numbers Week, organized by Blood Pressure UK, is an annual event in September that aims to increase awareness of the dangers of high blood pressure, promote the importance of knowing your blood pressure and provide you with information on how you can help lower yours.
Home testing kits have made it easy and convenient for people to test for health concerns from the comfort of their own homes – this allows them to begin taking steps to target at-risk areas. Home monitoring is both an effective and inexpensive way to keep blood pressure under control.
With Randox Health’s easy-to-use Heart Health home testing kit you can find out your cholesterol levels from the comfort of your home. This health test is available from £29 and measures total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol. LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.
Our easy-to-interpret Heart Health report will provide a breakdown of your results.
Available at www.randoxhealth.com
MSc Health Data programme receives Randox scholarship
The University of Exeter’s MSc Health Data Science programme has received £25,200 from Global Diagnostics company Randox Laboratories to support two places on the programme.
The Randox Health Data Science Scholarship will enable successful applicants to gain access to world-class teaching, in an emerging field of Health Data Science at Exeter, as well as the opportunity to interact with specialists at Randox Laboratories during their masters.
The MSc Health Data Science course at Exeter is designed to equip students with innovative skills needed to tackle some of the biggest health challenges across the world. The programme also teaches the application of quantitative skills such as computing, mathematics, and statistics in the understanding of disease prevention and cure.
Exeter is one of only six UK universities to deliver the MSc Health Data Science programme.
The Scholarship is open to home students only and offers:
- Course fees (on a part-time or a full-time basis), or an equivalent contribution to living expenses.
- The opportunity to visit Randox in Belfast for two placements during the program, including a presentation to the company.
- The opportunity to partner with Randox on your dissertation project which forms an integral part of course credits.
- A Randox internship offer upon completion of studies to gain vital experience and insights into the field of diagnostics health care.
Professor Tim Frayling, programme lead for MSc Health Data Science, said: “The emerging field of data science is changing how we think about everything, including healthcare. There is huge competition for the most gifted students, and we need to encourage talented individuals to develop their skills and meet this demand.
“We are grateful to Randox for this generous donation of the scholarships to support two students who will have the opportunity to advance their knowledge in a vibrant field of health research.”
Dr. Helena Murray, Randox R&D Manager and programme lead for Health Data Science said: “We are in no doubt of the critical importance of Health Data Science as healthcare organisations seek earlier and reliable diagnosis from multiple health data points – many more than can be processed reliably at an individual level. This science offers the opportunity to both greatly improve healthcare outcomes and reduce the burden on healthcare services. There are clearly significant career opportunities in this field.
“We congratulate Exeter University on their Health Data Science programme and look forward to engaging with the successful candidates.”
Randox scholarships are additionally available to prospective eligible MSc Health Data Science students, according to the OfS criteria. The deadline for applications is August 14th 2023.
World’s first Xylazine assay
Randox’s newly established ELISA for xylazine is the first immunoassay test in the world for this drug
Xylazine is an analgesic drug primarily used within the veterinary industry as a tranquilizer.
It has not been approved for human use, however, in recent years it has been linked to the USAs illicit drug supply. The United States Drug Enforcement Authority (DEA) recently published a Public Safety alert about xylazine. Its primary use is as a sedative and analgesic in veterinary medicine for horses, cattle, and other large animals. However, xylazine has been reported as an adulterant in an increasing number of illicit drugs mixtures and detected in a growing number of overdose deaths in the USA, according to the DEA.
A report released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on June 30th 2023 found that “Among 21 jurisdictions, the monthly percentage of illicitly manufactured fentanyl-involved deaths with xylazine detected increased 276% from January 2019 (2.9%) to June 2022 (10.9%).” However, they note that because of inconsistent testing, detection is still likely underestimated.
According to the CDC researchers “Medical Examiners and Coroners might differ regarding whether they consider xylazine to increase fatal overdose risk, or they might be unfamiliar with xylazine and therefore not list it on death certificates. This variation highlights the importance of collecting postmortem toxicology data on all drugs detected in overdose deaths, rather than just those listed on the death certificate.”
The CDC advises that “Expanded postmortem testing for xylazine is needed to clarify prevalence in drug supplies” and that “Routine toxicology testing for xylazine in suspected overdose cases is critical for accurate surveillance”.
Studies continue to see the drug reported as an adulterant in an increasing number of illicit drug mixtures. Commonly encountered in combination with fentanyl but xylazine has also been detected in mixtures containing cocaine, heroin, and a variety of other drugs.
Unlike fentanyl, xylazine is not an opioid, naloxone (Narcan) does not reverse its effects. As such this dangerous combination of toxic drugs can lead to fatal accidental overdoses in users.
The severity of its side effects remain a concern: depressed breathing, blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature to critical levels.
Available now on the Evidence MultiSTAT!
Randox Toxicology continue to lead in new test development within the ever-changing drugs of abuse market. Our newly established test for xylazine is the first immunoassay test in the world for this drug of abuse.
Simultaneously screen two samples for up to 29 drugs of abuse, including xylazine, on our ToxPlex Array in just 31 minutes!
About Randox Toxicology
With over 40 years’ experience in the diagnostic market, Randox Toxicology is dedicated to advancing forensic, clinical and workplace toxicology.
Placing a heavy focus on new product R&D has led to the development of technology at the forefront of advanced global diagnostics.
A market leader in the development of new assays and technology in the field of toxicology, Randox aim to minimise laboratory workflow constraints whilst maximising the scope of quality drug detection.
With the world’s largest toxicology test menu, screening for over 600 drugs and drug metabolites, our range of versatile analysers provide toxicology solutions for both high and low throughput laboratories.
For more information, contact Randox Toxicology at info@randoxoxicology.com.
Randox Health partners with Team Gb ahead of Paris 2024
The British Olympic Association (BOA) has announced that Randox Health will be the Official Diagnostic Health Partner of Team GB ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Following the success of their previous partnership, which saw Randox provide Team GB with Covid-19 testing services for Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022, the new partnership will see the two organisations work to change the way the nation thinks about health.
Together with Team GB, Randox will encourage people to be proactive about their health by using comprehensive diagnostic screening and data to support prevention and early diagnosis of conditions, while Team GB’s athletes will have access to Randox’s in-clinic and home testing services to help them be in the best possible shape for Paris 2024.
For further information, please visit TeamGB.com
Randox acquires microfluidic tools and impedence flow cytometer developer, Cellix Limited.
Randox are pleased to announce the acquisition of Cellix Limited, a Dublin-based company that develops microfluidic tools and impedance flow cytometers for cell analysis.
This acquisition expands Randox’s technical capabilities into the benchtop flow cytometry space aligning with their commitment to personalised medicine and improved preventative healthcare.
Dr. Peter FitzGerald, Managing Director of Randox Laboratories:
“The acquisition of Cellix complements and broadens Randox’s offerings by making flow cytometry more accessible to a wider audience of scientists and clinicians.”
“We are looking forward to bringing together Cellix’s expertise in cytometry with our dedication to diagnostics and believe this combination will enable us to streamline workflows resulting in better outcomes for patients.”
Vivienne Williams, CEO of Cellix:
“Our team is very excited to be joining forces with Randox to scale access to our technology in the broader scientific community.
“Cellix’s dedicated team has worked hard developing impedance-based cytometry for cell analysis supported through programs including the Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund. With Randox’s strong global presence and dedication to R&D, we are looking forward to continuing development of our technology and expanding our customer footprint.”
