Cardiff-headquartered TrakCel, which develops software for cell and gene therapy companies, has appointed a new director (Insider Media, 2017). Dr Anthony Davies, from Dark Horse Consulting, has been recruited as a non-executive director. He trained as a biochemist, chemical engineer and molecular biologist and has worked in the cell and gene therapy field for more … Continue reading TrakCel appoints new director

A key piece of equipment to be used at Proton Partners International’s new cancer treatment centre has been delivered (Insider Media, 2017). The installation of the fifty five ton proton beam therapy system began last week and will complete the final phase of the company’s first Rutherford Cancer Centre. The cyclotron machine, which is being … Continue reading “Technical heart” arrives at Rutherford Cancer Centre in Newport

Jellagen has opened a new 7,500 square foot facility in Cardiff (MediWales, 2017). The first of its kind facility will allow the extraction of high purity collagen from jellyfish. This is a sophisticated engineering and manufacturing achievement that will make Jellagen the first commercial manufacturer of jellyfish collagen for research, medical, biotech and pharmaceutical markets. … Continue reading New jellyfish collagen manufacturing facility opens

Direct Healthcare Services (DHS), part of Direct Healthcare Group, is to establish Europe’s first research and testing facility to meet new worldwide ISO standards (Welsh Government, 2017). Direct Healthcare Services manufactures specialist mattresses, overlays and cushions designed to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers. It has about a hundred and ninety employees and a turnover … Continue reading Direct Healthcare Group expanding with new facility and acquisition of Kirton Healthcare

Ace Orthotics, the only Welsh company specialising in the manufacture of bespoke corrective insoles and the provision of sports biomechanical podiatry services, is expanding with Welsh Government support and creating ten new jobs in Cardiff (Welsh Government, 2017). Backed by £50,000 from the Welsh Government’s Growth and Prosperity Fund, Ace Orthotics is investing in new … Continue reading Ace Orthotics expands with Welsh Government support

A prize winning graduate developing a walking aid that could transform the lives of thousands of people with Parkinson’s disease has been told she must leave the UK after the Home Office refused to renew her visa on a technicality (iNews, 2017). Neha Shahid Chaudhry, 24, has won nearly £100,000 of investment as well as … Continue reading Parkinson’s disease walking aid developer told she has fourteen days to leave the UK

The first cancer fighting proton beam therapy machine to be installed in the UK will arrive in Newport tomorrow (WalesOnline, 2017). The ground breaking technology was previously only available overseas, but the arrival of the fifty five ton cyclotron accelerator Proteus ONE machine will complete the final phase of a cancer centre being built in … Continue reading First proton beam therapy machine in the UK arrives tomorrow

PCI Clinical Services has begun to move into its expanded Clinical Services Centre of Excellence in Bridgend (MediWales, 2017). The new storage and distribution facility will provide PCI with a substantial additional space, complementing its existing footprint currently utilised for specialist clinical trial logistics as well as packaging, labelling and qualified person activities for investigational … Continue reading PCI Clinical Services begins moving in to its Bridgend Centre of Execellence

Augmented reality could soon let surgeons peer inside a patient’s body without needing to make a large incision, helping them to carry out keyhole surgery (New Scientist, 2017). By donning an augmented reality headset, a surgeon will see a virtual 3D map of a patient’s internal organs overlaid directly onto their body as they lie … Continue reading Augmented reality gives surgeons X-ray vision

Researchers in Italy and Switzerland have developed a prototype robotic exoskeleton that can detect a slip in progress and help its wearer avoid falling (Science, 2017). If perfected, a system like this could one day help millions of older people and amputees maintain balance and avoid serious falls. Some researchers are trying to take preventive … Continue reading Robotic exoskeletons could prevent falls in older people