11 August 2008 : The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared for marketing a test which uses DNA microarray technology to identify the tissue of origin in malignant tumours.
The accuracy of the test is similar to that achieved by expert pathologists using current standards of practice.
The director of the FDAs Center for Devices and Radiological Health said: ''With the help of microarray technology, [scientists] will be able to classify these types of cancers in a standardized non-reader dependent manner based on the patterns of gene activity in the tumor cells.''
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01870.html
07 August 2008 : The British Society for Clinical Cytology is again able to support nominations for national Bronze, Silver and Gold Clinical Excellence Awards in England and Wales. We are also able to support applications for Scottish merit awards via SACDA and details of the Scottish merit awards can be found on their website www.sacda.scot.nhs.uk.
The BSCC is allowed to support only a limited number of nominations. ACCEA set quotas for Bronze, Silver and Gold awards based on the number of eligible consultants within the Society. The BSCC is keen to support its members as effectively as possible in achieving higher awards. Full details of eligibility, etc can be found on the ACCEA website: www.doh.gov.uk/accea. It is understood that the forms for 2009 will be available on the ACCEA website in September but if in the meantime you wish to begin working on your submission a ‘working copy’ of the 2008 forms is attached to this email. ACCEA advise that it will be possible to cut and paste your work across to the new forms without difficulty.
If you are applying for a National Award in 2009, you should self nominate and send your completed application electronically to ACCEA or SACDA by the relevant closing date, which this year is 19 December 2008, five weeks earlier than in previous years.
If you would like the BSCC to consider your application in its ranking process, then please send a copy of your completed application to Christian Burt at the Society headquarters (mail@bscc.net.uk) by midnight on Friday 24 October 2008 - late submissions will not be considered under any circumstances. If the results of the 2008 awards have not been announced by this date, members should apply again but can withdraw their application if they gain an award in the previous round. The submission should be accompanied by a personal statement of not more than 250 words giving evidence of how you have contributed to cytology and/or the Society at regional, national or international level. The BSCC Higher Awards Committee will use these documents to prepare appropriate citations and submit a ranked list of names and supporting citations to the ACCEA.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if any further clarification is required. Tel 0114 2713728. Email: John.H.Smith@sth.nhs.uk
Dr J H F Smith
Chair, BSCC Higher Awards Committee
Editors note: there are four forms to accompany this item, entitled Clinical Excellence Awards Scheme. These can be found in the document library at
http://www.clinicalcytology.co.uk/resources/resources.asp
05 August 2008 : The research and academic subcommittee of the BSCC has introduced a grant scheme to help fund research projects of value to the society. The application form can be found in the document library in the resources section.
http://www.clinicalcytology.co.uk/resources/resources.asp
05 August 2008 : Beating Cervical Cancer webinar - experts discuss NEW information
How effective are HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination and screening programmes in the global fight against cervical cancer? The cost of HPV vaccination and delivery costs are often cited as a barrier to implementing vaccination programmes how can this be overcome, particularly in developing regions like Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia Pacific?
These questions and more will be discussed by some of the 120 leading experts who have contributed to ICO Monograph Series on HPV and cervical cancer: general overview, Latin American and Asia Pacific Reports.
The Webinar will be broadcast live from the UICC (International Union Against Cancer) World Cancer Congress in Geneva.
Audience URL to register:
http://w.on24.com/r.htm?e=114926&s=1&k=77783110EE83BF2C33BCB7DBC0BA01BD
24 July 2008 : The national vaccination programme against HPV is being extended to offer protection to an additional 300,000 girls aged 17-18, starting in September.
This is in addition to the routine vaccination of girls 12-13 years old and will save up to 400 lives for each year of girls receiving the vaccine.
23 July 2008 : The Department of Health has issued a new leaflet explaining the changes we can expect to see in the education and training of NHS scientists in the years ahead.
Despite the recent introduction of the City and Guilds Diploma in Cervical Cytology, Cytopathology will not be immune to the changes being proposed in Modernising Scientific Careers. The aim is to have a common UK-wide training framework and robust registration arrangements. NHS scientists will enjoy better career opportunities and employers and patients will have the peace of mind that the NHS has a well trained and motivated scientific workforce which is fit for purpose.
BSCC members can be certain that Council is in constructive dialogue with the Department of Health and this will help ensure the best possible outcome for Cytopathology in the UK.
14 July 2008 : The 5th CSO Conference will take place at the Holiday Inn Regents Park, London, on the 25th and 26th November 2008.
Plenary sessions include:
NHS: the next 60 years
R&D: the next 60 years
Workshop titles include:
Modernising Scientific Careers
Building your Profile: What can Networks do for You?
Innovation and Technology
Unlocking Cash: Ways to fund Research
The registration site is password protected. The password has been posted on the BSCC forum page.
11 July 2008 : A letter from the Department of Health has announced the commissioning of research on attitudes toward the HPV vaccine among children and primary care givers. The research forms part of the communication campaign supporting the introduction of HPV vaccination for 12 – 13 year old girls (school year 8) in September 2008.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Dearcolleagueletters/DH_086059
09 July 2008 : Hot on the heels of the announcement that GSKs Cervarix is the HPV vaccine of choice in the UK is the news that the FDA has rejected Merck''s application for the use of its vaccine, Gardasil, in women up to the age of 45. Gardasil is already approved for women aged 9-26 years.
The reasons for the rejection are unclear and there is uncertainty whether this represents a delay or an outright rejection of further vaccine development.
The FDA has also rejected Merck''s proposal to market Gardasil as a vaccine which protects against non-vaccine HPV types (cross-protection).
http://www.merck.com/newsroom/press_releases/product/2008_0625.html
02 July 2008 : CPA are seeking to recruit Regional Medical Laboratory Assessors. This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role in maintaining and improving standards in Medical Laboratories in the UK. The closing date for applications is 8th August 2008. Anyone interested should seek further details on the CPA website.
CPA would also be very interested to hear of anyone who wishes to become a peer assessor. Again, details can be obtained from the website.
Jonah Jones is a designer, programmer, film maker and photographer who specialises in the internet and usability. Jonah Jones