Delegates to Viapath Innovation Academy face the challenge of ‘keeping people healthy’

More than 100 delegates attended the Viapath Innovation Academy at the Apothecaries’ Hall, London, on Friday 27th June 2014. The third symposium of an on going series that began in 2013 saw an exciting line-up of leading scientists and clinicians present on the broad theme: ‘keeping people healthy’. Throughout the day, experts reviewed recent advances in a range of important areas, including: Professor Beverley Hunt on new oral anticoagulants (NOACs), Professor Stanislav Dusko Ehrlich on the microbiome’s potential for diagnosis and intervention, and Professor Anthony Wierzbicki on plasma lipids in cardiovascular disease risk.

Christopher Baker, non-executive chairman, Viapath, set the scene in his opening address: “As a scientific organisation with a clinical purpose, Viapath recognises the importance of innovation in keeping people healthy. Without finding new ways to reduce the current burden on the NHS, we’re heading for a crisis.”

Dr Dominic Harington, Scientific Director, Viapath said: “Life expectancy in Europe has risen by an average of ten years since 1960, unfortunately, not all of those extra years are healthy. Our agenda today, looks not only at new science and new diagnostics, but also shows how applying existing knowledge in more integrated and innovative ways can really make a difference to patient care. ”

The Viapath Innovation Academy holds two symposia a year to provide a forum for strong peer-to-peer communication on developments within pathology and across the wider healthcare community.

For further details about the next Innovation Academy, scheduled for December 2014, on the theme of: ‘next generation diagnostics’, visit: www.viapath.co.uk/innovation-academy or email innovationacademy [at] viapath [dot] co [dot] uk (subject: Innovation%20Academy%20web%20enquiry) .