London: UK is developing a revolutionary blood test designed to detect 12 types of cancer, including some of the most lethal and common forms such as lung, breast, and bladder cancer.
It aims to simplify the testing process to just a couple of drops of blood, potentially reducing the lengthy waits patients often face for cancer diagnoses. Health secretary Wes Streeting says the blood tests will cost £120 ($157.46).
This initiative is part of a broader investment in cancer research and technology led by Dr. Andrew Shapanis and Professor Paul Skipp from University of Southampton.
Wes Streeting said that, “As a cancer survivor, I know how vital an early cancer diagnosis and the latest treatments are. This investment will not only save lives, but also secure Britain’s status as a powerhouse for life sciences and medical technology.”
Mr. Streeting also added that, “Just a couple of drops of blood could tell you if you had lung, breast or bladder cancer, helping end months-long waits for tests and scans.”
Academics from the University of Southampton will spearhead a team developing the new cancer diagnostic tool. It is one of a series of medical tech investments totalling £148m ($197mn) from the government, other projects include AI diagnoses and personalised immunotherapy treatments.
Other innovations may feature cost-effective scanners for early cancer detection and the use of artificial intelligence to analyse data across the NHS for diagnosing cancer.
Research hubs will be established at multiple universities, including University College London, the University of Liverpool, the University of Bristol, the University of Glasgow, and the University of Edinburgh.
Mr. Streeting emphasized that these investments are crucial for developing ‘cutting-edge treatments’ and noted that ‘catching cancer earlier’ will contribute to boosting the UK’s economic growth.
The announcement comes ahead of the International Investment Summit later this month.
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