Routine cellular diagnostics: A platelet perspective? Dr Chris Jones (University of Reading)

Register for this free teams webinar here: https://futurebloodtesting.org/event/2024-03-26

Abstract: The idea of conducting tests for an infectious disease on the kitchen table would have seemed unimaginable only three years ago; now, it is a routine part of life in the UK. Similarly, measuring health markers such as heart rate or blood pressure used to involve a trip to your GP’s surgery; now, they are measured by your watch.  Routine testing of cellular function may be the next step, supplying data on cellular changes that occur before the presentation of symptoms or rapidly assessing the efficacy of therapies.  Platelets play a vital role in chronic and acute cardiovascular disease but also have roles in immunity, inflammation, cancer metastasis, Alzheimer’s disease and infections, such as dengue, HIV-1, malaria, and COVID-19.  In addition, they are easily obtained from subjects or patients, making them valuable biomarkers for changes in blood vessels associated with disease, ageing or therapy. This seminar will introduce the utility of platelets as a cellular biomarker and the progress we have made in designing tests that capture the function of these cells, both in the lab and at point-of-care.

Bio: Chris Jones is an Associate Professor of the Thrombosis and Heamostasis in the school of Biological Sciences at the University of Reading. Over two decades, he has designed and employed innovative platelet function assays to provide novel insights into platelet dysfunction. His lab has also developed analysis software for platelet activation assays and employed microfluidics, open hardware and smartphone technology to develop low-cost point-of-care platelet function assays. These new technologies have led to HaemAnalytica, a soon-to-be established spinout, which will provide complete platelet function analysis for clinical trials and diagnostics.

This webinar is part of the Future Blood Testing Network+ Webinar Series. This series will feature a diverse range of speakers who are working in the areas of future blood testing and diagnostics.