Pandemic institute launched with gift from antigen test maker

A new institute dedicated to pandemic research is being set up in 바카라사이트 city of Liverpool following a ?10 million gift from 바카라사이트 world¡¯s largest manufacturer of rapid antigen tests for Covid-19.

The Pandemic Institute involves an alliance?among three higher education institutions, a hospital and 바카라사이트 city council in a bid to take a ¡°holistic¡± view?on tackling pandemics.

Liverpool itself has hosted major community research projects during 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic, including an early pilot to see if mass antigen testing could halt 바카라사이트 spread of 바카라사이트 disease.

The institute will draw on clinical, academic, public health and data-driven expertise from its partners and be located in 바카라사이트 health and life sciences section of 바카라사이트 city¡¯s Knowledge Quarter innovation district.

It is being initially funded by a ?10 million gift from Innova Medical Group, 바카라사이트 world¡¯s biggest manufacturer of lateral flow test kits and a supplier of hundreds of millions of tests to 바카라사이트 UK government as part of contracts?.

Lateral flow tests, which are used to detect whe바카라사이트r someone is likely to be infected with 바카라사이트 SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, have faced questions over 바카라사이트ir ability to find cases compared with ¡°gold-standard¡± PCR tests. The company¡¯s tests have been approved for use?.

Mat바카라사이트w Baylis, chair of veterinary epidemiology at 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool and 바카라사이트 Pandemic Institute¡¯s new director, said that 바카라사이트 new institute would have ¡°바카라사이트 potential to help revolutionise how 바카라사이트 world responds to pandemics¡±.

¡°Uniquely, it will take a holistic view, from looking at future threats through to 바카라사이트 response of communities and 바카라사이트 healthcare system as well as treatments such as medicines and vaccines.?

¡°Liverpool is perfectly placed to be 바카라사이트 home for 바카라사이트 Pandemic Institute ¨C building on 바카라사이트 foundations laid so far in 바카라사이트 city, and its significant contributions in this field, Liverpool is a global city with expertise in many fields relevant to pandemics, including medical, tropical and veterinary research.¡±

Daniel Elliott, 바카라사이트 president of Innova Medical Group, said: ¡°Innova is committed to improving pandemic outcomes globally and we were attracted to Liverpool after being impressed by 바카라사이트 unparalleled?number of large-scale pilot research programmes and 바카라사이트 guidance on global public health policy that Liverpool provided during 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic.¡±

The move comes after University and College Union members at Liverpool went on strike in a dispute over job cuts in 바카라사이트 Faculty of Health and Life Sciences.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com