A UNIVERSITY in Belfast has received a grant which will enable researchers to continue working on a rapid coronavirus test which aims to take just one hour to show results.
Scientists at Queen's University Belfast have received funding which will allow them to conduct a trial into the test, which would allow clinicians to test on site, saving time and resources, as well as preventing the spread of Covid-19 as the patient would be told immediately if he or she was carrying the virus.
The study is in partnership with Dublin's HiberGene Diagnostics Ltd, Medcaptain in China, and Italian Hospital IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, who has also been awarded the €930,000 grant from EU H2020 to develop the life-saving diagnostic test for COVID-19 that aims to show results within an hour.
"Rapid diagnosis and reporting of results is the key to containing the COVID 19 disease" - Hibergene CEO Seamus GormanLead researcher from the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine at Queen’s University, Cliff Taggart, said: “The local availability, speed and accuracy of the test will help inform public health preparedness and response in the ongoing pandemic.”
Seamus Gorman, CEO of Dublin's Hibergene who are a partner in the study, said:
“We are delighted to lead an international consortium to quickly develop and bring to market a rapid easy to use molecular diagnostic test for COVID 19 disease.
"Rapid diagnosis and reporting of results is the key to containing the COVID 19 disease and this test can play an important role in its diagnosis and control.”
