How Can NPL Help?

• Biophysical characterisation – Our biotechnology team can work with Bioscience and pharmaceutical companies to develop a measurement base infrastructure for biological measurements, including a wide range of physico-chemical techniques such as circular dichroism, surface plasmon resonance, ELISA and mass spectrometries. NPL's Biotechnology teams expertise underpinned by measurement are well placed to work with you to improve the importance of measurement techniques as the awareness of the need for comparability and traceability for product conformance, quality control and regulatory compliance in the healthcare sector increases.
• Novel analytical techniques – NPL's is internationally leading in the science base for the characterisation of nanoscale chemical and physical properties of materials on atomic and molecular length scales including a wide range of techniques. We are pioneering new analytical methods based on scanning probe and near-field optics to characterise surface chemical properties at the highest resolution. We are pioneering new analytical methods for surface and interfacial chemistries that can be used in area such as nanotechnologies, medical devices, drug delivery and personal care applications to help improve and further understand product performance.
• Radiation dosimetry - In healthcare applications, the use of radioactivity and radiation in diagnosis and therapy is developing rapidly. The impact of these procedures on patients has to be predicted and a clear balance established between clinical result and the potential for harm. NPL is at the forefront of developing measurement techniques for new applications and ensuring the quality of current approaches.
• Sensor development and validation – NPL's combined knowledge of how to develop sensors with health applications along with our understanding of how measurement plays a key role in the robustness and reliability of the measurement they are making can add great value to the development of medical devices. NPL has worked on the development and characterisation of a range of biological sensors for use in both diagnostic and well being environments with experience that we can easily translate into assist companies in the development and validation of their own sensors.
• Acoustics in health – NPL works with both companies producing medical equipment along with hospitals and clinics, where the requirement is to measure the ultrasonic energy produced by medical therapeutic and diagnostic equipment involved with physiotherapy and cancer treatment to ensure safe treatment of patients. We can also work with medical ultrasound equipment manufacturers, where compliance with international and national safety-related standards must be demonstrated.

Accurate measurement and optimised detection methods right from start of the research and development process ensure you make informed decisions, get useable results faster and with greater confidence.

NPL's multi-disciplined approach to research allows us to bring together a range of expertise covering areas including biotechnology and nanoanalysis to biomaterials and biophotonics for working with industry to solve challenging research issues that can help improve understanding of product efficacy and development times.

Alongside our analytical expertise in Healthcare, NPL's role within the industry has seen the installation of a state-of the-art Clinical Linac facility to support radiation dosimetry for cancer therapy, to the development of standards for the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry for Enzyme Linked Immunoassays (ELISA). NPL also carries out research and development in the areas of Regenerative Medicines, Medical Devices, Diagnostic Assay Development, Personal Care, Acoustics and Ultrasound.

Measurement for use in healthcare brings more reliable and efficient exploitation of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques and the development of new technologies.  As the diagnosis of disease and long-term patient care moves from the clinical setting to the patients' bedside or home environment the need for understand and developing accurate measurements for health based applications has become increasingly important for delivering the safe and cost effective patient care in timeframes required.

Challenge Driven, Solution Focused

NPL is a world leading National Measurement Institute for the physical sciences committed to using the science of measurement to help drive innovation, support industry and improve the quality of life.

NPL is working with the energy sector by developing solutions driven by your challenges through the application of cutting edge measurement that meets our customer's needs. 

Our capability includes:

Diagnostic assay design, development and validation

Imaging technologies for early and late stage clinical investigations

Radiation dosimetry system calibration, monitoring and training

Development and characterisation of biomaterials

Surface and nanoanalysis at macro and nano scale

Sound in air and ultrasound calibration and testing for healthcare

Working with business and industry, NPL's Research and Development programmes focus on identifying and addressing customer needs, ensuring our expertise and knowledge is always relevant and easily applied by our partners.

For more information, please contact Courtney Tuffin

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