The London Calling 2024 studio interview session I watched tonight was about rapid tumor classification. Zoe McDougall spoke to Simon Paine from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust in the UK. Paine is a neuropathologist and analyzes samples to predict patient outcomes. They are excited about discovering ways to classify tumors using Oxford Nanopore Technologies. The time has now been reduced, allowing for tumor classification in time for operations. Paine emphasized speed, accuracy, and prediction. Gordon Sanghera, the Oxford Nanopore Technologies CEO, spoke about how rapidly applications have evolved. Matt Loose from the University of Nottingham in the UK explained that they are developing protocols for decisions dealing with samples and reporting information to clinicians and patients. Loose emphasized validation and transferring lab protocols to the clinic. Sanghera spoke to STEM students about careers and sequencing possibilities in the clinic. Paine shared about speaking at a school and explaining career possibilities. Sanghera and McDougall noted that they have put on London Calling to enable connections and collaborations. They described the “network effect” that helps people work together and increase the impact of nanopore sequencing. Sanghera explained that the Q line would help achieve Loose and Paine’s goal of including P2s and technology in clinics.
