Latest Lab Talk News in Brief: System overhaul, development, investment, appointments

The final phase of implementation, covering blood transfusion and blood sciences, follows earlier deployment across microbiology and cellular pathology. The trust's pathology services process more than 9.2 million blood science tests annually, with around 31,000 tests handled each day during the most complex phase of the rollout.

The programme included migration and validation of around 30 years of transfusion data using a phased approach designed to maintain continuity across diagnostic services.

BioInnovation Institute has selected Victoria House in London as the location for its first research hub outside Denmark.

The new site will become the flagship location for the CardioMetabolic Bridge initiative, a pan-European programme backed by the Novo Nordisk Foundation to help translate cardio-metabolic research into commercial companies and healthcare innovations. The London hub was developed by Pioneer Group and Oxford Properties.

Icosagen has completed a major expansion of its biologics development and manufacturing capabilities following a €45m investment programme.

Supported by an €18m European Investment Bank loan backed by InvestEU, the expansion includes a new GMP manufacturing facility and strengthens the company's ability to provide integrated biologics development, from early discovery through to Phase I and II clinical manufacturing, at a single site.

Olav Hellebø has been appointed chief executive officer of Exonate.

He joins the retinal disease biotechnology company as it prepares for a Phase IIb trial of its lead candidate, EXN407, for diabetic eye disease. Hellebø brings leadership experience from companies including ReNeuron, Schering-Plough, Novartis and UCB.

iiCON has secured funding to establish a pan-European network focused on infectious disease detection, monitoring and prevention.

The four-year COST Action will bring together more than 70 collaborators from 21 countries and international organisations to strengthen research and innovation under a One Health approach. The network is due to launch formally in October 2026.

Caidya has combined with Simbec-Orion to create an expanded specialist clinical CRO platform.

The organisations said the combination brings together early-phase clinical pharmacology capabilities with expertise in later-stage oncology and rare disease trials, strengthening support for global development programmes from first-in-human studies through to registration.

Pheno Therapeutics has received FDA clearance for the investigational new drug application covering PTD802, allowing the company to begin a first-in-human clinical trial in the United States.

PTD802 is a small-molecule therapy being developed to promote remyelination, initially targeting multiple sclerosis. The programme previously received clinical trial authorisation from the UK's MHRA.

Professor Sir Mike Ferguson has been appointed the next chair of Medicines Discovery Catapult, taking up the role in January 2027.

He succeeds Dr Robin Brown after nine years in the post and will oversee the organisation's next phase of activity supporting translation of new technologies into drug discovery. Ferguson is Regius Professor of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee.

Celerion has expanded its bioanalytical laboratory in Zurich to increase capacity for global drug development programmes.

The investment strengthens the laboratory's capabilities in pharmacokinetic analysis, immunogenicity testing, biomarker assays, biosimilar support, gene therapy analytics and metabolite profiling. Integrated with Celerion's clinical research units in the UK and US, the facility supports sample management and rapid data delivery across international studies.

TRIMTECH Therapeutics has secured an additional $14m (£35m total) in seed funding to support development of therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.

The latest investment was led by Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JJDC, and BGF. The company said the funding will advance its proprietary platforms and portfolio of small-molecule therapies targeting protein aggregates associated with neurological disease.

Endress+Hauser has opened two new facilities in the United States as part of an expansion of its regional operations.

The company invested around €44m in a new site in Greenwood, Indiana, which also serves as the headquarters of long-standing sales and service partner George E. Booth Co. A second facility has opened in Edgmont, Pennsylvania, strengthening regional sales and service support.

Eli Lilly and Company has launched The Memory Radio Station, a travelling public exhibition designed to raise awareness of the early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

Launching alongside the European Academy of Neurology Congress in Geneva, the initiative will tour several European countries. Visitors are invited to share personal memories, dedicate songs and use generative AI to recreate memories that were never photographed or have faded over time, with the aim of encouraging earlier recognition of cognitive decline.

Heriot-Watt University has appointed Gemma Stuart and Jessica Mullen as entrepreneurs in residence within its Global Research, Innovation and Discovery (GRID) ecosystem.

The pair will support the development of university spinouts and strengthen links between academia, industry and investors, with a focus on commercialising research and supporting Scottish start-ups.

Sartorius has received LEED Gold certification for its Center of Excellence for Bioanalytics in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The certification recognises the site's performance in areas including energy efficiency, water use, material selection and indoor environmental quality. Opened in 2024 following an investment of more than US$100m, the facility develops and manufactures bioanalytical instruments, reagents, consumables and software for biopharma applications.

MDPI has announced that 330 of its journals are included in the latest Journal Citation Reports published by Clarivate.

Twenty-nine journals received their first Journal Impact Factor, while 254 recorded an increase. The publisher said 231 journals are now ranked in the top half of their respective subject categories.

Dr Steve van Os has been appointed chief medical officer at Arletta Pharma Solutions.

He joins the company as it prepares for a Phase II study of its investigational therapy for female sexual interest/arousal disorder and hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Van Os brings more than 20 years of experience in clinical development, medical affairs and regulatory strategy.

Japan Sport Council and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen international collaboration in high-performance sports research.

The agreement aims to combine the organisations' research expertise and networks to support collaborative research programmes in sports science.

Graham Watson, executive chair of InnoScot Health, has received an honorary degree from Heriot-Watt University.

The honorary doctorate recognises his contributions to health innovation, national sport and governance, including his long-standing service as a university trustee.

Pic: (clockwise from top left) VUB/ Japan Sports;  iiCON; Eli Lilly/ Memory Radio; Graham Watson; Victoria House