The latest innovations in healthcare, including AI for clinical practice, an app to tackle multimorbidity and hope for patients living with knee osteoarthritis.
Medscape launches Medscape AI
Digital platform Medscape has launched Medscape AI, the first medical-grade generative AI software to integrate Medscape’s content, peer-reviewed literature, and real-time medical news.
“As AI becomes essential to modern clinical practice, it not only needs to unlock unmatched value to our users, it must also meet the rigorous standards clinicians require: accurate, current, and evidence-based,” said Bob Brisco, chief executive of Medscape’s parent company, Internet Brands.
Built on both Medscape’s proprietary content and evidence from more than 400 peer-reviewed journals across a wide range of specialities, all AI responses are traceable, transparent, and supported by citations.
Medscape AI is free to all Medscape members globally. The firm says that the platform will continue to evolve, with deeper personalisation and other new features launching regularly through next year.
App to tackle NHS multimorbidity challenge
London-based healthtech firm Holly Health, together with Loughborough University and Modality Partnership, has completed an Innovate UK-funded 18-month project focused on advancing digital self-management for people living with or at risk of multimorbidity.
By combining behavioural science with machine learning technology within the Holly Health app, the Biomedical Catalyst project introduced a just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI) system, an approach that provides personalised coaching based on each person’s health patterns and behaviours. It leverages real-time data and machine learning models to identify moments when an individual is most likely to benefit from support.
The system operates on a continuous daily cycle. This process is a feedback loop, operating using a reinforcement learning approach, where the system learns from user behaviour to improve its support and then plans coaching messages for the next day.
“This is one of our most exciting advancements to date,” said Holly Health chief executive and co-founder Grace Gimson. “At a time when a huge amount of focus is on large language model AI developments in healthcare, this project has enabled us to innovate in a unique direction, by hyper-personalising the coaching nudges we deliver.”
Following the project’s success, the partners plan to expand access to the enhanced Holly Health service across NHS and community settings, aiming to support thousands more patients in managing long-term conditions and preventing new ones.
BioGrad to place £10.5 million worth of donated PCR equipment by the end of the year
Biotech and scientific training company BioGrad has donated more than £6 million worth of advanced laboratory equipment to educational institutions since the summer.
The initiative was made possible through a strategic partnership that enabled the nationwide transfer of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines. It plans to increase this to £10.5 million by year-end.
Aligned with the UK Government’s Science and Technology Framework, which emphasises developing talent pipelines and lifelong learning to keep pace with technological change, BioGrad is focusing on addressing regional disparities in science funding. The campaign prioritises support for universities and schools in the North.
It has donated Genesig Q16 Real-Time PCR machines to recipients including Lancaster University, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Edinburgh Napier University. The first delivery in June reached Southport Education Group and Southport Learning Trust.
“The delivery of these PCR machines will significantly enhance our ability to train aspiring scientists across a wide range of disciplines,” said Andrew Pomiankowski, director of biosciences at University College London. “We are immensely grateful to BioGrad for recognising the huge value of state-of-the-art equipment in laboratory and fieldwork, and supporting our educational activities with this generous act of philanthropy.”
Healthcare London signs partnership to advance UK–Saudi healthcare collaboration
Healthcare London, a collaboration of the capital’s private healthcare providers and NHS teaching hospitals, has signed a landmark partnership with management consultants Carnall Farrar (CF) to deepen UK–Saudi healthcare collaboration.
The partnership will support Healthcare London’s growing presence in Saudi Arabia to develop clinical alliances, referral pathways, and education initiatives that allow Saudi patients to access advanced and complex medical treatments in London, while fostering two-way knowledge exchange and system improvement.
“We believe it will not only help achieve the shared objectives of both organisations but also enable many Saudi patients to access world-class healthcare in London when required, further strengthening the strategic and enduring relationship between the UK and Saudi Arabian healthcare systems,” said Joud Abduljawad, partner and chief medical officer at CF Middle East.
In the short term, the partnership will formalise clinical links and referral pathways to ensure that appropriate Saudi patients can benefit from medical care in London. Over the longer term, it will embed shared protocols, education, and training to build sustainable clinical capability in the Kingdom.
Fresh hope for patients living with knee osteoarthritis
The results of the LUNA trial, the largest multicentre, observational safety and efficacy study conducted with hydrogel Arthrosamid, show that a single injection of the hydrogel may provide sustained relief for up to a year, reinforcing its role as a safe and effective treatment option for knee osteoarthritis.
The study involved several clinics across Europe. 199 participants diagnosed with moderate-to-severe knee osteoarthritis were given a single 6ml intra-articular injection of the hydrogel developed by Contura Orthopaedics. Researchers followed their progress for 12 months, with plans to continue monitoring outcomes for up to five years.
Patients on the LUNA study experienced statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements across all key outcome measures.
“The LUNA study is particularly encouraging and again, points to Arthrosamid as a real game-changer for those living with knee osteoarthritis. I’m excited to see even more data emerging, supporting the long-term benefits of Arthrosamid as our researchers follow the trial’s participants for a further five years,” said Contura chief executive Rakesh Tailor.
