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Critical role for 果冻影院鈥檚 Covid-19 sequencing lab as air travel continues to open up
4 June 2021
果冻影院鈥檚 next generation sequencing (NGS) facility will analyse positive Covid-19 tests from travellers arriving at UK airports: By identifying new SARS-CoV-2 variants, 果冻影院 scientists will play a key role in the UK Government鈥檚 Covid Recovery plan.
Today, 果冻影院 Genomics has been announced as a scientific partner of Halo, a Covid-19 testing company听contracted by the government to provide saliva-based RT-qPCR tests on passengers landing in the UK.听
果冻影院鈥檚 Pathogen Genomic Unit (part of 果冻影院 Genomics) will carry out rapid sequencing of viruses testing positive to identify Variants of Concern (VoC) and Variants Under Investigation (VoI).
As part of this partnership, the Francis Crick Institute will work with Halo to consent subjects for use of samples and data when new mutations and variants of interest are identified by 果冻影院.
This world-class collaboration will enable rapid characterisation of potential new variants and enable scientists to track and understand their virulence and transmissibility.
Professor Judy Breuer, Director of 果冻影院鈥檚 Pathogen Genomics Unit, said: 鈥淭he ability of our scientists to sequence thousands of coronavirus genomes is quick time and spot new variants is an essential 鈥榯ool in the box鈥�, as the UK and the world aims to get back to normal.
鈥淲e are delighted to be partnering with Halo, enabling us to test Covid-19 samples from passengers landing in the UK from around the world, and using our rapid sequencing facilities to identify the next Variants of Concern and Variants Under Investigation.鈥�
As a result of the pandemic, the UK Government* has bought in a series of COVID-19 testing requirements for both inbound and outbound international passengers.
Jonathan Biles, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at HALO said: 鈥淎s much as we all want COVID-19 to be behind us, the reality is that we鈥檙e going to be living with its impact for years, not months. Tracking, identifying and understanding new variants, particularly those developing in countries without widespread vaccination programmes, is now our first line of defence in protecting ourselves and overcoming the virus.
鈥淗ALO鈥檚 front-line testing of travellers feeds directly into 果冻影院 Genomics鈥� sequencing capability and consequently into a research collaboration between HALO, 果冻影院 Genomics and The Francis Crick Institute. HALO鈥檚 private sector skillset and resources combined with the world leading scientific knowhow of 果冻影院 Genomics and The Francis Crick Institute is a unique and world beating combination.鈥�
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- 听 'Airport - person - airport - COVID19', credit geraldfriedrich2 on . CC BY 2.0
Media contact
Henry Killworth
Tel: +44 (0) 7881 833274
E: h.killworth [at] ucl.ac.uk
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