A Diagnostics & Imaging Week

The Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI; Seattle), a non-profit scientific research organization, reported receiving a $100,000, two-year grant from the Heiser Program for Research in Leprosy and Tuberculosis of the New York Community Trust.

This grant will be used to support IDRI scientist Malcolm Duthie in his project titled, “Development of rapid, field-applicable tests for early detection of M. leprae infection.”

Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease caused by the pathogen Mycobacterium leprae, remains a major health concern despite a World Health Organization-led eradication program. Diagnosing leprosy is a crucial component in eliminating the disease. Currently, the disease is recognized only after symptoms have manifested, and there is no single diagnostic laboratory test widely used for leprosy.

“This grant will provide important information that can direct national leprosy control programs and provide a foundation for effective elimination campaigns,” said Steven Reed, IDRI’s head of research & development.

IDRI’s project will identify simple and distinct blood-based diagnostic tests to be used in a widespread leprosy elimination program. The intended test, simple and robust, will be antibody-based and have great sensitivity. The final product will be cost-competitive and will permit objective diagnosis outside the laboratory setting in less than 30 minutes.

Under IDRI’s technical support and direction, tests will be conducted in Goiania, Brazil, and Cebu City, Philippines, collaborating with the Federal University of Goias and the Leonard Wood Memorial, respectively.

The Leonard Wood Memorial Center is supported by the American Leprosy Missions (ALM), which has played a significant role in IDRI’s leprosy research. ALM-funded research has allowed IDRI to generate the data for Duthie to pursue the current leprosy project.

In contract news:

• NightHawk Radiology Holdings (Coeur D’Alene, Idaho) reported its involvement as the exclusive radiology provider for the High-Risk Plaque Initiative (HRP Initiative). The HRP Initiative is a joint research effort to advance the understanding and management of high-risk plaque, which is believed to be the primary underlying cause of heart attacks and strokes.

As part of the research effort, NightHawk’s radiologists will interpret chest CT scans for about 6,000 study participants. Additionally, NightHawk expects that its affiliated radiologists will read some 1,000 cardiac CTA scans performed on a subset of participants believed to be at higher risk for a cardiac event. Cardiac CTA is a heart-imaging test that is rapidly gaining acceptance for its ability to non-invasively determine whether fatty or calcium deposits (i.e., plaque) have built up in the coronary arteries. The purpose of the interpretation of the CT chest scans is to identify clinically significant cardiac and non-cardiac findings where the participant might benefit from its detection and follow-up.

Since there are currently no non-invasive methods of screening, diagnosis, or treatment for high-risk plaque, the HRP Initiative’s goal is to provide a roadmap for the development of screening, diagnostic, and therapeutic interventions for high-risk plaque, and promote proper use to patients, providers and payors.

“NightHawk was chosen because it was the single teleradiology provider with the strategic experience managing the complex technical aspects and reporting requirements of CCTA reconstructions,” said Cherrill Farnsworth, president/CEO of HealthHelp, a radiology benefit management company that is coordinating the teleradiology aspect of the HRP Initiative. “NightHawk’s resources, flexibility and expertise place them at the forefront of CCTA and the 3-D reconstruction. They are the only global provider with a viable solution that is available today.”

NightHawk Radiology Services has deployed an independent imaging network solution explicitly for the HRP Initiative and it expects to begin evaluating reads in 1Q08.

• Axeda (Foxboro, Massachusetts) said that Dako (Glostrup, Denmark), a cancer diagnostics company, has selected the Axeda ServiceLink solution for remote service of its universal staining system.

Dako will use Axeda ServiceLink to maximize instrument uptime by automating software distribution, remotely troubleshooting issues, and delivering real-time diagnostic reports and dashboards on instrument productivity to customers and internal stakeholders.

Robert Woodhull, director of global service at Dako, said, Axeda was “fast to respond to all our questions and took the time to understand our needs and develop a program that would produce results. In today’s global market, this level of service is what separates good companies from great companies.”