Medilink shares this bulletin with its members and networks, aimed to keep the life sciences sector up to date on the latest guidance whilst the UK is in the transition period and during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Medilink WM member Vaisala, accredited CO2 calibration service covers all the requirements set by the regulatory bodies, helping to ensure compliance and process quality.

Medilink member University of Birmingham spinout company ChromaTwist has been named ‘one to watch’ in a competition recognising University-bred entrepreneurs bringing the hottest scientific discoveries into practical applications in medicine and technology.

Medilink WM member Marks & Clerk share their views on the future of 3D printing. Expected to be a $35.6 billion industry by 2024, 3D printing has a significant role to play in the production of goods. This was the case before the current Covid-19 crisis, but is likely to continue in spite of it.

The amalgamation of Medilink East and West Midlands has been given the seal of approval in a move that will serve the best interests of the life sciences sector in the Midlands.

The UK Dental Tissue Regeneration sector is dominated by two types of technology. This opportunity presents alternatives for both groups to include ‘market-disruptive’ delivery systems and ‘new-for-dental’ claims supported by extensive training.

A Midlands based company working on a dual-level contract with this innovative manufacturer. Focusing on sales and support for existing products in the oral surgery sector, our role in the orthopaedic opportunity is as a conduit for the manufactures' R&D team.

Manufacturer or supplier of specialist plastic solutions for a mobile mortuary company required.

An electronic device is required to manufactured that can report on geospatial position, with good to excellent battery duration with a signal output to operate another device. The unit should be as small as possible. If a data logger could be included this could be an advantage.

The B2B COVID Business Opportunities is the third in the Medilink Midlands 'Big Ask' series of ‘Here to Help’ business support services. Allowing us to continue supporting the needs of the region, share opportunities to maximise advantages for businesses, and where appropriate through collaborative working.

A West Midlands Company has successfully designed and manufactured a certified PPE visor and due to a significant rise in orders, it would like to find a regional business to take on its packing and distribution.

A Midlands medical gown manufacturer requires medical grade coated polypropylene spun-bonded fabric for the manufacture of surgical and isolation gowns to fulfill NHS contracts.

A Midlands Design consultancy has designed and produced injection moulding tooling for a very successful PPE Visor. Due to an increase in work, it can no longer continue with production and therefore they would like to offer this to a suitable organisation that would like to take this product on.

Distributor / Promotional Merchandiser is required for the development of B2B sales of an innovative anti-microbial hand-held device called the KeepSafe. We are in search of a distributor to list and distribute/sell a handheld device made with anti-microbial copper to a B2B network to help businesses get their employees back to work more safely, and help them exist between their homes and places of work.  Keen to find a single partner for this project so a greater relationship can be made.

BCU is offering Medilink’s SME businesses an opportunity for a paid internship during July. This would involve one of our recent 2020 graduates working towards a brief of a small project for up to 20 hours per week over a four weeks.

Medilink West Midlands, the industry gateway for the West Midlands Academic Health Science Network, has been busy sourcing local manufacturers to produce high-quality surgical gowns for the regions NHS trusts. With work now underway, the region will benefit from up to 25,000 extra surgical gowns being produced a week.

The West Midlands Academic Health Science Network (WMAHSN) and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) have joined forces to help support the region’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supply during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Medilink WM member, Kimal, an international manufacturer of medical equipment, has ramped up the production of its specialised procedure packs and devices, to support the fight against COVID-19 in the UK.

Exploring unclaimed Research & Development, Capital Allowances, Patent Box and Remediation of Contaminated Land tax relief could mean the difference of over £57,000 to your bottom line, providing a valuable cash injection when it is needed most.

Medilink WM member Vaisala unveils high-end industrial Indigo transmitter to enable world-class data and smart decisions.

BSOTS is currently used in 15 maternity units in the UK, with over 20 maternity trained in the last six months and in the process of implementation.  More widespread implementation is currently being supported by MidTECH Innovations (the NHS Innovation Hub for the West Midlands), the Academic Health Science Networks in the West Midlands, East Midlands and UCL Partners.

The Bounce Back Loan (BBL) Scheme is now open for applications. Delivered by lenders accredited by the British Business Bank for this scheme, Bounce Back Loans target small and micro businesses in all sectors, providing loans from £2k up to 25% of the business’ turnover with a maximum loan of £50k.

Medilink shares this bulletin with its members and networks, aimed to keep the life sciences sector up to date on the latest guidance whilst the UK is in the transition period and during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Medilink WM brings you the latest Office for Life Sciences Bulletin.

Regional businesses have responded to our Medilink Midlands ‘Here to Help – Our Big Ask’ pledging to ‘do their bit’ during the COVID-19 pandemic

West Midlands based computer software company Shoothill have created PPExchange.co.uk  to streamline the supply of Personal Protection Equipment throughout the UK by providing a free and easy to use exchange website.

3P innovation has been awarded with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation, in recognition of outstanding achievement for innovation for their Fill2Weight powder dosing technology. 

With the biggest threat facing businesses right now is managing their cash-flow, new Medilink WM member Recoup Business Consultants offers their help to businesses.

Medilink WM patron Birmingham City University is developing the world’s first digital safety certificate to protect suppliers and consumers from risks associated with COVID-19.

Medilink WM member Static Systems Group (SSG) are playing their part in the fight against COVID-19. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting increase in demand for its nurse call systems, healthcare communications and bedhead services specialist, SSG, has boosted production capacity at its manufacturing base near Wolverhampton in the West Midlands, as well as investing in the rapid development of an off-the-shelf ‘wired’ nurse call solution to make available alongside its ‘wireless’ solution.

The pandemic has brought human factors issues to prominence. The Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors (CIEHF) and its members are responding rapidly to current challenges by providing expert guidance and help wherever it’s needed most. Its dedicated COVID-19 website gives details and links to new guidance documents developed and published by CIEHF and […]

This bulletin is issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and provides the latest information for employers and businesses on coronavirus (COVID-19).

Medilink West Midlands brings you the latest guidance and updates from the Office for Life Sciences.

COVID-19 supply opportunity for testing consumables, equipment, sampling kits, Reagents, and other consumables

Additional lab capacity including RNA extraction and PCR equipment that uses open source consumables (i.e. those that can be used on a variety of equipment) and should meet the following criteria: Sample reception area for accepting and logging samples adhering to national infection control procedures; Sample tracking capability (e.g. barcoding) for the end to end […]

RNA extraction capacities are currently challenged even with automated platforms. New methods of extracting viral RNA or enabling viral detection without an extraction step would help remove this bottleneck, as long as they are “ready to go” and can be integrated into existing or optimised PCR testing chains.

DHSC is looking for transport media solutions that inactivate the virus reliably or do not add significant steps to the laboratory process or impact on viral detection.

COVID-19 Novel Testing Solutions required - Desktop PCR equipment for point of care testing. The Department of Health & Social Care, BIA, BIVDA and The Royal College of Pathologists are seeking new and novel solutions with several challenges currently open.

Novel Testing Solutions required - Dry swabs for use in virus detection. The Department of Health & Social Care, BIA, BIVDA and The Royal College of Pathologists are seeking new and novel solutions to help deliver 100,000 COVID-19 tests a day by the end of April.

The latest edition of Birmingham Business features a Life Sciences special report, which shines a light on our region, and highlights the strength of the sector. 

NIHR offers travel and subsistence funding to support LMIC engagement during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Intellectual Property, Open Innovation and tackling Covid-19 – a contradiction? making sure you're protecting your product/business.

Medilink West Midlands brings you the latest guidance and updates from the Office for Life Sciences bulletin.

These are unprecedented times and Medilink WM is seeing multiple requests, business opportunities, offers of help and new solutions and ideas. To ensure we fulfill all requests, we ask you to complete our 'Big Ask' Questionnaire.

Birmingham researchers, clinicians and medical device experts have teamed up to design and produce an innovative ‘pop-up tent’ to protect frontline medical staff from COVID-19.

UKRI will support excellent proposals up to 12-18 months duration.

Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation, will invest up to £20 million in innovation projects. The aim of this competition is to support UK businesses to focus on emerging or increasing needs of society and industries during and following the Covid-19 pandemic.

NIHR launch PPE Challenge to protect front line workers from COVID-19. 

EIT Health has opened a “Rapid Response” request for proposals from EIT Health Partners in collaboration with other partners, to support immediate response to the COVID-19 pandemic. New projects or extensions of an existing project must be implemented rapidly, with full spending and completion taking place in 2020. Proposed activities must create short-term impact that […]

The UK government has made an urgent call to the life sciences sector to help increase the supply of antigen testing kits for the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospitals Charity has launched an urgent appeal to support NHS workers amid the ongoing Coronavirus crisis.

The European Commission has announced its intention to postpone the implementation of the new Medical Device Regulation (MDR) following the Coronavirus outbreak.

Do you have an innovative or novel approach to get ambulances cleaner quicker to help combat Coronavirus?

To help support children and young people during this difficult and uncertain time ORCHA has prepared a list of apps suitable for children and young people, all of which are safe to use according to their evaluations.

The entire world is ramping up efforts to control the Covid-19 pandemic, and while the toll on people’s lives is tragic and immeasurable, there is also huge economic uncertainty.

Medilinl WM member Mills & Reeve, a leading UK law firm offers a free online hub that includes a collection of insights and practical guidance to support businesses and individuals through the complex and difficult decisions they may be currently being asked to make.

With social distancing and self-isolation becoming increasingly important with the recent spread of Covid-19, more and more businesses are shifting to remote working. Medilink WM member Evolyst Ltd, Lumien has produced a free to access guide for employee well being and managing a remote team.

Updated (24 March) guidance for employees, employers and businesses in providing advice about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19 from Public Health England and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.

Following government guidance and instructions, the nation is remote working wherever possible, to reduce the spread of Covid-19, therefore having the right technology is critical to a business, whether public or private sector.

On 16th March the UK Government made an urgent call to businesses to help supply ventilators and ventilator components across the UK as part of it’s response to COVID-19 and the shortage of supplies within the NHS. Whilst others have been talking, West Midlands based companies have been busy in the background to answer the UK […]

With partners across the NHS and social care mobilising at scale in response to the developing COVID-19 pandemic, the role of England’s 15 Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) is to support them by helping them take full advantage of the most relevant innovations and technologies that can improve care for patients and support the AHSN Networks' services in this challenging context.

NHSX is calling on all innovators who can support the elderly, vulnerable and self-isolating during COVID-19 to apply for government funding of up to £25,000 to test their solution.

Medilink WM member the University of Birmingham part of the £20m investment 'COG-UK' - the new nationwide consortium, COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium. Investment of £20m has enabled the formation of a new nationwide consortium to map the spread and evolution of COVID-19 through whole-genome sequencing.

Medilink West Midlands is proud to share the following news article from Birmingham Health Partners, detailing how Medilink member University Of Birmingham is responding to the urgent shortage of hand sanitiser. Technicians and lab facilities at BHP founder member the University of Birmingham have been redeployed to respond to an urgent shortage of hand sanitiser needed by frontline social care workers to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.

This bulletin aims to keep the life sciences sector up to date on the latest guidance and important information from Government, with a special focus on the Coronavirus (Covid-19).

The Government is looking for businesses who can support in the supply of ventilators and ventilator components across the UK as part of our response to COVID-19.

'Business as Usual' at Medilink West Midlands. We are actively reviewing the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) to ensure the safety of our staff and to ensure continuity to support our members, clients, and partners.

Medilink West Midlands would like to share with you the latest Office for Life Sciences Bulletin. Providing the Lifesciences community up to date guidance whilst the UK is in the transition period and during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, providing important information from the Government to help our members and networks. Including COVID-19 key contacts Workforce Updates Business […]

With less patients attending general practices in person, and an increasing number of people choosing to self-isolate at home, digital health resources offer a practical tool that can be called upon for remote self-management.

Medilink WM member Mills & Reeve provide businesses with the facts regarding contractual, legal and insurance position in order to consider what action may be appropriate in the current global situation with the Coronavirus.

Compared to other cutting edge technologies, AI triggers a different level of concern about safe and ethical use. Medilink member Mills & Reeve offer a useful Q&A article, to help businesses better understand their responsibilities with AI and regulations.

The NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA) has recently announced the 11 innovators who are joining the award-winning national accelerator in 2020.

With the global concern regarding the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) escalating and after discussions with SEHTA’s main partner in the NHS, Kent Surrey Sussex Academic Health Science Network, SEHTA has decided to move its Expo & Conference to Monday 28th September 2020.

The Medical Imaging Convention 2020 and all co-located events rescheduling due to Coronavirus. New dates announced 9/10 November 2020.

Special Business Readiness Bulletin – Important Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for businesses and employers

With global concern regarding the Coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) escalating, and after monitoring the situation closely over the last few weeks and consulting with exhibitors and partners Rapid News Group have determined that it is in the best interest of all parties to postpone their Med-Tech Innovation Expo, scheduled for April 1-2 to September.

Are you a start-up or a small medium-sized enterprise working in the space of delivering improved healthcare? Do you have the potential to change how healthcare is delivered? The SME Innovation Fund can provide the support you need to help your business grow. With successful applicants receiving convertible loans of up to £50,000.

Leading researcher Professor Alexandra Sinclair from the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research has been awarded £1.68m of funding research.

The Africa Health exhibition and conference is the continent's largest assemble being held to pursue and research on medical health and life sciences

Welcome to the latest Office for Life Sciences bulletin, aimed at keeping the life sciences sector up to date on the latest guidance. The Office for Life Sciences (OLS) is a joint unit between the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) and Department for Business,  Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). 20.02.20 Office for Life Sciences Bulletin. If […]

The European Union’s Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) will replace the Medical Device Directive (MDD) and In Vitro Diagnostic Directive (IVDD) beginning with the MDR that takes effect May 26, 2020.

MDSAP is a ground-breaking program and will most likely become a game-changer for companies competing in the global medical device arena. Find out what new opportunities MDSAP will bring to the world of Med Devices.

The West Midlands Academic Health Science Network were honoured to support a sell-out conference, which brought together delegates from all over the World to share the principals of ‘Learning from Excellence’ in healthcare.

A new £10 million scheme will give leading researchers and businesses, based in the UK, the chance to work together to develop treatments and cures for those facing life-threatening conditions like cancer and dementia.

Advances in the fields of generative medicine, computational biology and medical imaging are paving the way for personalized medicine, which promises to be a key driver of the combination product market.

Birmingham Health Partners (BHP) has been recognised by Government for its world-class research infrastructure.

Medilink WM Regional Winners set their sights towards the 'Nationals' on 1 April at the HIlton Metropole, Birmingham.

An evening of celebration for West Midlands businesses. The life sciences, medical and health care community all came together to attend the Medilink WM Business Awards which took place at The Burlington Hotel, Birmingham to recognise the regions success and innovative solutions, supporting the health sector.

Medilink UK, the largest representative body for the Health Technology sector in the UK, has appointed Mr Kevin Kiely as its CEO. Kevin was co-founder of the Medilink model over twenty five years ago, which for the first time brought together in a formal regional association, the Health Technology and related Life Science industry, the NHS and universities, to drive innovation across the sector. Kevin will retain his position of CEO, Medilink North of England.

Coventry University’s Institute of Coding has been recognised at the West Midlands Tech Awards, which celebrates the best of the technology and digital industries throughout the West Midlands. The Innovation in Education Award celebrates organisations using cutting edge digital approaches to enhance and revolutionise the learning experience. Coventry University’s Institute of Coding is part of […]

West Midlands Academic Health Science Network (WMAHSN) to launch new innovation exchange platform. Designed to match healthcare challenges with solutions, and the healthcare ecosystem interacting and working together to improve the health.

Medilink West Midlands Patron, Birmingham City University has landed £3.4 million funding to create the new technological centre which will be based at its STEAMhouse facility in Birmingham’s Digbeth district.

The West Midlands Academic Health Science Network (WMAHSN) has launched a Digital Health and Skills Lab. Located within the Serendip Digital Health Quarter in Birmingham, the lab provides a space for the co-design of digital innovations, bringing together health tech businesses, clinicians and patients to develop and test solutions. It is designed to support the WMAHSN’s mission to increase investment in West Midlands life sciences, and to improve the health and wellbeing of people in the region.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate. It is estimated 26,500 people across the West Midlands currently have undetected AF or aren’t receiving optimal treatment. If left untreated, AF can increase the risk of stroke by around four to five times.

On 30 January, the AHSN Network will hold its Bridging the Gap event aimed towards Health-Tech developers and companies looking to get their innovations into the NHS. This event focuses on showcasing the East and West Midlands AHSN offer to industry and provides businesses with the opportunity to learn how, who and where to access the NHS.

Medilink WM member Orthocell, has been declared a winner in the national final of the coveted Pitch@Palace competition – a global movement started by the British royal family, which aims to amplify the work of entrepreneurs and deepen their global impact.

Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation, has up to £5.4 million from the government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) to invest in projects that seek to apply whole genome sequencing to the analysis of cancers.

Medilink West Midlands member Gowling WLG makes the shortlist in four categories at the British legal Awards 2019: TMT Team of the Year, Property Team of the Year, Innovation Through Technology Award and, jointly with Ashurst LLP, Competition/Regulatory Team of the Year.

Health app evaluation and advisor organisation ORCHA, has revealed that only 15% of healthcare apps available for download meet minimum standards set by its review process. Its evaluation of over 5,000 health apps has revealed that a significant number of healthcare apps available to download do not meet the minimum safety requirements. Notably, 75% of apps aimed […]