Unofficial Update6 May 2020 12:23
At Citylabs, part of the UK’s largest NHS Trust - Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust campus, businesses have been using their world-class facilities to manufacture COVID-19 tests. International molecular diagnostics company, Yourgene Health signed a contract with Novacyt - a specialist in clinical diagnostics, to support the production of tests, as well as expanding its lab capabilities to support the surrounding NHS Trust hospitals.
Collaborations have also really come to the fore over the last few weeks; at Alderley Park Stream Bio are collaborating with MIP Diagnostics on a rapid diagnostic and mass screening test for COVID-19, whilst at Manchester Science Park, global molecular diagnostics company QIAGEN, in partnership with fellow campus member Affinity Biomarker Solutions and the University of Manchester have been supporting patient testing on high-throughput automation platforms; allowing labs to perform many and continuous PCR-based tests while continuing to research and create new commercial tests for patients who need them urgently.