THE 2023 RANDOX GRAND NATIONAL TROPHY IS REVEALED

Sunday 19^th March

The Randox Grand National Trophy is one of the most iconic and prestigious sporting trophies in the world of horseracing. From the start of the Randox sponsorship of the Grand National in 2017, Randox CEO Dr Peter FitzGerald proposed a unique trophy would be designed and produced each year. The winning owner receives the full size the trophy, with the winning trainer, jockey and groom all receiving a miniature version.

Each trophy is uniquely Randox and has a story to tell. The design of the trophy has evolved over the years and the 2023 trophy, which is revealed today, has a special significance as it incorporates several key elements that represent the company’s values and achievements – alongside a nod to a very special racehorse.

At the top of the trophy there is a beautifully crafted horse mid-jump, symbolising the 30 fences that the winner will navigate during the four-mile, two-and-a-half-furlong contest on Saturday 15^th April. The horse is shown making its way over a horseshoe instead of a fence, representing protection and good luck.

In the centre of the trophy, a gold blood drop symbolises Randox’s diagnostic testing. This leads up to the DNA double helix, representing the company’s genomic testing capabilities. Randox offers seven different types of genetic testing, empowering people to find out more about their future health.

The base of the trophy features a molecular pattern, representing Randox’s molecular testing capabilities. The “o” in Randox is embellished with red enamel, symbolising accuracy and precision, which are integral to the Randox brand. The red enamel is also representative of a blood drop, used in much of Randox’s diagnostic testing.

Etched along the bottom of the trophy, is “Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Red Rum winning his first Grand National race” paying tribute to the legendary Red Rum’s first of his record three Grand National triumphs in 1972. The quartet of silver strands that connect the top and bottom of the trophy represent Randox’s support of racing and sponsorship of the Grand National.

Elizabeth Moran of Randox, who designed the trophy, said: “It was a wonderfully creative challenge to design this year’s trophy, reflecting both this national, iconic sporting event and Randox’s innovation within healthcare, and I think we got it just right.”

Silversmith Cara Murphy, who produced the trophy added: “I am delighted with what we have achieved. This is a highly intricate trophy and was challenging to produce – the end result is a trophy to grace the podium and recognise the achievement of winning the world’s greatest steeplechase.”

The 2023 Randox Grand National Trophy is a beautiful and intricate work of art that embodies the company’s commitment to innovation, accuracy, and precision in the field of diagnostic testing. The horse, the horseshoe, and the nod to Red Rum all come together to create a stunning and symbolic celebration of horseracing.

During the Randox Grand National Festival (Thursday 13^th April – Friday 15^th April inclusive), the trophy as well as trophies from previous Randox Grand Nationals, can be viewed in trophy marquee next to the Red Rum Garden at Aintree Racecourse.

World Kidney Day 2023

“Kidney health for all – Preparing for the unexpected, supporting the vulnerable”

Thursday 09th March

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is considered a leading cause of global mortality with an overall global prevalence rate of around 13%¹. This figure rises to 15% in the US² and the statistics show that these rates are likely to continue this upward trend³. CKD is defined as damage to the kidneys which affects its ability to correctly filter bodily fluids which ultimately results in renal replacement therapy in the form of dialysis or transplantation⁴. This sustained or chronic damage of the kidney encourages kidney fibrosis and loss of structure. The early stages of CKD are generally asymptomatic with symptoms beginning to manifest in stages 4 and 5. These symptoms include nausea & vomiting, fatigue & weakness, oliguria, chest pain, hypertension, to name a few⁴.

World Kidney Day is an annual, global campaign spearheaded by the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations – World Kidney Alliance (IFKF – WKA) which intends to raise awareness of how critical our kidneys are and to limit the prevalence and impact of kidney disease⁵. This year’s focus is “Kidney health for all – preparing for the unexpected, supporting the vulnerable.”

It is no surprise that patients suffering from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as CKD were subject to worse prognosis during the COVID-19 pandemic⁶ due to prioritising of ongoing complex care over acute patient care⁷. But a pandemic is only one circumstance, albeit a major one, which can affect the ability of hospitals and laboratories to uphold their normal testing capacity. For example, natural disasters can make it impossible for people to reach facilities for testing or treatment⁷. Similar situations could arise at a more local level such as road closures, power outages or public transport strikes which have the potential to delay diagnosis or treatment.

To this end, laboratories should look to introduce novel and effective methods for testing under adverse conditions. Rapid testing will be imperative to help achieve these goals and promote fast test turnaround times and accurate diagnosis. The Randox CKD Arrays, in conjunction with the Randox Evidence Investigator, allow for simultaneous and quantitative detection of multiple serum biomarkers of kidney damage-related analytes allowing diagnosis at a much earlier stage than traditional creatinine tests.

Utilising patented Biochip Technology, the Randox CKD arrays could improve patient risk stratification whilst monitoring the effectiveness of treatment. Diagnosis of CKD at early stages will allow earlier intervention for the treatment of kidney disease, and the prevention of further kidney damage. The utility of this test cannot be overstated. In adverse circumstances, the Randox Evidence Investigator could permit diagnosis of CKD and determination of CKD severity at the site of the patient, helping prepare for the unexpected and support the vulnerable.

More information of CKD and other kidney related conditions can be found at: Homepage – World Kidney Day

References

Bibliography

Lv JC, Zhang LX. Prevalence and Disease Burden of Chronic Kidney Disease. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. 2019;1165:3-15. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-8871-2_1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States, 2021. US Department of Health and Human Services; 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/kidneydisease/pdf/Chronic-Kidney-Disease-in-the-US-2021-h.pdf
Kovesdy CP. Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease: an update 2022. Kidney International Supplements. 2022;12(1):7-11. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kisu.2021.11.003
Vaidya SR, Aeddula NR. Chronic renal failure. Nih.gov. Published 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535404/
International Society of Nephrology. Homepage. World Kidney Day. Published 2023. https://www.worldkidneyday.org/
Nikoloski Z, Alqunaibet AM, Alfawaz RA, et al. Covid-19 and non-communicable diseases: evidence from a systematic literature review. BMC Public Health. 2021;21(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11116-w
Hsiao LL, Shah KM, Liew A, et al. Kidney health for all: preparedness for the unexpected in supporting the vulnerable. Kidney International. 2023;103(3):436-443. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kint.2022.12.013

For more information, please contact Market@randox.com