Congenica welcomes Cambridge Rare Disease Network initiative
Inaugural conference to address needs surrounding rare diseases.
Great Ormond Street Hospital and Congenica partner to improve rare disease diagnosis
Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) is to address the problem of the ‘patient odyssey’ by improving rare disease diagnosis through a partnership with Congenica – a spinout from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. Congenica’s Sapientia™ technology is able to screen whole exome* and whole genome sequence data in a novel way that identifies gene mutations and highlights those that are associated…
First test-tube baby tells her story at Bourn Hall
The birth of Louise Brown – the world’s first “test-tube baby” – has been ranked alongside the moon landing as one of the most significant events for mankind in the 20th century. It was the catalyst for techniques that have revolutionised fertility treatment. Now Louise has chosen Bourn Hall, the home of IVF, to launch her book, which reveals the impact that being a born a celebrity has had on…
Congenica's Andrea Haworth selected as NHS Innovation Accelerator fellow
Andrea Haworth, Head of Clinical Services at Congenica, has been selected as one of 17 new fellows by the recently established NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA) to assist with the faster and more effective adoption of proven innovations within the NHS.
Audience inspired at laser and accelerator showcase
Students and researchers at a recent Cockcroft Institute event have been inspired by talks from renowned scientists including Professor Carsten P Welsch, Professor Victor Malka and Professor Brian Cox.
Lasers and accelerators symposium set to inspire, says Cockcroft scientist
From the deepest secrets of the universe to the latest applications in healthcare, materials and drug development, there will be something to interest everyone at the ‘Lasers & Accelerators for Science and Society’ symposium on 26th June 2015, and those not able to attend will have access via a webcast.
Faster, more accurate diagnosis for genetic disease reaches patients
Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine becomes the first NHS genetics service in the country to use genome DNA sequence analysis supported by Sapientia, a technology developed by Congenica.
Why some human eggs carry wrong number of chromosomes
It is thought that the cause of some types of infertility, including recurrent miscarriage, is because some human eggs carry the wrong number of chromosomes. New research by the Medical Research Council (MRC) in collaboration with Bourn Hall has revealed some hidden secrets.
Genomics England selects Congenica to provide clinical interpretation services
Congenica has been named by Genomics England as a platform provider for its 100,000 Genomes Project, which is now moving into Phase 3. This phase will see diagnosis based on whole genome sequencing adopted within the NHS and a reclassification of rare diseases based on an improved understanding of genomics.
Congenica co-founder Dr Matthew Hurles speaks at European Society of Human Genetics
Dr Matthew Hurles, joint leader of the Deciphering Developmental Disorders (DDD) study, is to speak at the European Society of Human Genetics conference 6- 9th June, Glasgow.
Society of Biology blue plaques honour IVF pioneers
The pioneers of IVF, Patrick Steptoe, Robert Edwards and Jean Purdy have been honoured with a Society of Biology blue plaque - one of ten blue plaques around the UK to celebrate the eminent but sometimes unsung heroes of biology.
I wanna tell you a story: top tips for writing press releases
Telling a good story is the secret of effective communication. At this time of year it is appropriate to remember one of the best storytellers of all time. Born 2,000 years ago to working-class parents, Jesus managed to get his message across to a semi-literate audience by using stories with a message – parables.
Congenica's diagnostic technology validated by Genomics England
Cambridge based Congenica Ltd, a genome diagnostics and discovery company, announced today that it has been selected by Genomics England, the company leading the UK’s 100k Genomes Project, as one of the winners of a whole genome annotation assessment.
Perfect storm for agri-tech innovation
Holdsworth Associates is working with Agri-Tech East to present a conference bringing together farming, science and technology as part of Agri-Tech Week 2014.
Cambridge Innovation Capital announces first three investments from its £50 million fund
Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC), an investor in high-growth technology companies in the Cambridge cluster, has completed its first investments from a £50 million fund, backing three companies that address rapidly growing market opportunities in the areas of cloud-based video archiving, grid-scale energy management and generative music composition.
Calling all small dog owners!
Holdsworth Associates is working with SureFlap, the microchip-operated pet products company, to promote their survey investigating the attitudes of small dog owners.
'Be social' fundraising campaign to benefit Infertility Network UK
Bourn Hall Clinic is participating in the Be Social (#BSOCIAL4INUK) campaign to raise funds for Infertility Network UK (INUK), a patient charity that supports people who are struggling to conceive.
Mobeus Equity Partners to fund Bourn Hall Clinic expansion
Bourn Hall, the world’s first IVF clinic, has teamed up with Mobeus Equity Partners to secure an initial minority investment of £3.5m which will be supplemented by a commitment to invest significant follow-on financing to further its expansion.
Tomatoes rich in anthocyanins could slow cancer
Purple tomatoes with the potential to slow the progression of cancer have been harvested in Ontario, Canada. The tomatoes, which are high in anthocyanins, are the result of research by Norwich Research Park scientists. The purple tomatoes have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects and to slow the progression of soft-tissue carcinoma in cancer-prone mice.
Procarta advances antibiotic development on Norwich Research Park
A novel approach that will shorten development times for new antibiotics has received over £1m of funding to scale up production and enter clinical trials. Procarta Biosystems, based on the Norwich Research Park, has been awarded two substantial EU grants to focus on ‘superbugs’ – MRSA, Clostridium difficile and the causative agent of tuberculosis.
SureFlap is Vorsprung Durch Technik
British company SureFlap produces microchip-operated pet doors and are a favourite in Germany. SureFlap has been awarded the ‘most innovative product of the year for cats’ in a poll of readers from the publication PETonline for its Microchip Pet Door.
nu Angle’s new tech assessment will drive greater value from M&A
Often brought in by multinationals to troubleshoot after a merger or acquisition deal has failed to deliver, technology strategy company nu Angle is launching a new Technology Assessment Service. It has brought in former Reckitt Benckiser head of R&D to help organisations pre-empt the common issues and gain value earlier from acquisitions.
Norwich Research Park scientists develop fast specific flu test from sugar and gold
A new approach to influenza testing – that uses sugar labelled with gold to distinguish between human and avian strains – has just been patented by researchers on Norwich Research Park. If the flu virus is detected, the rich red of the gold solution will change colour, creating a quick and simple technique that has the potential for use worldwide with minimal training.
Bourn Hall celebrates 35 years of IVF as first 'test-tube' babies commemorate founders
The world’s first test tube baby, Louise Brown, celebrated 35 years of IVF by unveiling a plaque to commemorate the work of pioneers Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards at the fertility clinic they founded at Bourn Hall in Cambridge, UK. Their work gave childless couples the hope of a baby for the first time and has resulted in 5.5 million IVF babies worldwide.
Secret life of the cat - beyond and inside the cat flap
Holdsworth Associates is working together with SureFlap, the microchip-operated pet door company, in their ‘Neighbourhood Cat Campaign’, a project aiming to tackle feline turf-wars. SureFlap is investigating the Secret Life of the Cat to find out more about these fascinating creatures.