The proposal is to purchase a new instrument to insure against the breakdown of the current aging and increasingly unreliable model and to additionally expand the use of multiplexing technology for more complex exploratory biomarker discovery.
Purchase of the proposed model would secure the current workflows, keeping the current instrument as an insurance against breakdown. In addition, this advanced model offers an expanded functionality on the current instrument which could increase output based on an increase in the types of projects we could take on.
Research data is the primary deliverable of MDC and it is essential to have an evident and secure way of its documentation. The data will be used to advance internal capability-build and external fee-for-service research projects from a diverse set of scientific technologies, including Mass Spectrometry, Imaging, In-vivo Imaging, Complex Cells, Biomarker and Target Engagement & Validation studies. Consistent with MDC's vision of collaborative working, the platform must enable seamless data sharing for internal and external projects with scientists and institutions.
The software's main task is to document research data and to provide evidence of Good Laboratory Practice as well as improving lab productivity and efficiency, by keeping track of data associated with samples, experiments, laboratory workflows, and instruments. MDC does not currently have a commercial ELN as the previous ELN contract ended in July 2021.
The current means of tracking samples and laboratory consumables is a combination of paper-based documentation and Microsoft spreadsheets. This is no longer fit for purpose as the business expands and diversifies to include work with clinical samples. As such, MDC now requires a robust LIMS with full traceability to ensure that quality is maintained and to readily demonstrate the integrity of work involving clinical samples.
The requirement was for a Lean Six Sigma consultant to support MDC to go through a process of simplification of our governance and processes through a Lean Six Sigma lens providing training and upskilling to MDC team members to support the ongoing evaluation to embed a zero waste, minimum variability ethos for process design.
We require a digital system to replace the current spreadsheet-based approach to capturing data and creating audit trails for aspects of drug discovery research and development.
MDC's current imaging capabilities are limited to PET and CT, which restricts us to PET based tracers. While PET imaging is a powerful tool, it cannot accommodate a growing range of radioisotopes that are increasingly relevant in theranostic applications.
These include lead 203, lead 212, lutetium 177, and actinium 225, which are essential for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This limitation has become more pronounced as clinical and research interest in SPECT and CT imaging continues to grow.
SPECT imaging enables biodistribution studies for isotopes that PET cannot support. This opens up new possibilities for molecular imaging and expands our ability to respond to evolving scientific and clinical needs. We have a clear opportunity to address this gap by introducing SPECT and CT capability through the phased procurement of the SPECT Cube module, followed by an upgrade to the advanced SPECT Cube 2.0 platform. This will allow MDC to meet rising diagnostic demand, align with industry standards, and maintain clinical competitiveness.
The system supports high-energy collimators and emerging radionuclides such as 212-Pb and 203-Pb, which are critical for MDC's research pipeline and are the only system compatible with existing MDC Molecubes equipment which enables an integrated system allowing simultaneous imaging of SPECT PET and CT imaging in one work flow.
MDC's current imaging capabilities are limited to PET and CT, which restricts us to PET based tracers. While PET imaging is a powerful tool, it cannot accommodate a growing range of radioisotopes that are increasingly relevant in theranostic applications.
These include lead 203, lead 212, lutetium 177, and actinium 225, which are essential for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This limitation has become more pronounced as clinical and research interest in SPECT and CT imaging continues to grow.
SPECT imaging enables biodistribution studies for isotopes that PET cannot support. This opens up new possibilities for molecular imaging and expands our ability to respond to evolving scientific and clinical needs. We have a clear opportunity to address this gap by introducing SPECT and CT capability through the phased procurement of the SPECT Cube module, followed by an upgrade to the advanced SPECT Cube 2.0 platform. This will allow MDC to meet rising diagnostic demand, align with industry standards, and maintain clinical competitiveness.
The PACE programme is looking for an external provider to deliver an 'Enabling Project' in partnership related to early health economic analysis to support our cohort of AMR diagnostic innovation developers from our 2nd PACE funding call.
MDC required network switches for its main office location as the current switch software goes end
of life in December 2025. The current switches are a combination of Mellanox SN2410
(25Gbps/100Gbps) and EdgeCore 4610 and 5812 (1G and 10G respectively) running Cumulus Linux.
The SN2410 switches are the Core switches, also servicing servers and storage. The 4610 and 5812
switches are Edge switches servicing clients.
These were to include
- 2x Core switches for the network and servers
- 2x 10Gbps Edge switches
- 8x 1Gbps Edge switches
- Any required optics for connections to ISPs and interconnections between switches
- All required licenses and warranties for a minimum of 3 years.
The switches proposed by suppliers must have been from a manufacturer included as 'Leaders' in the
Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Wired and Wireless LAN 2024 - ie. Juniper, HPE Aruba, Extreme, Fortinet, or Cisco.
A lean six sigma consultant is required to deliver process improvements, identification of waste reduction, system enhancements and productivity gains.
Research data is the primary deliverable of the MDC and it is essential to have an evident and secure
way of its documentation. The data will be used to advance internal capability-build and external feefor-service research projects from a diverse set of scientific technologies, including Mass
Spectrometry, Imaging, In-vivo Imaging, Complex Cells, Biomarker and Target Engagement &
Validation studies. Consistent with MDC's vision of collaborative working, the platform must enable
seamless data sharing of refined data for internal and external projects with scientists and
institutions.
The software's main task is to document analysed research data and to provide evidence of Good
Laboratory Practice as well as improving lab productivity and efficiency, by keeping track of data
associated with samples, experiments, laboratory workflows, and instruments. MDC does not
currently have a commercial ELN as the previous ELN contract ended in July 2021.
The contract includes the search, headhunting and recruitment of roles within MDC to source senior or specialist staff. The typical scope of roles / vacancies will include, but are not limited to:
Board roles
CEO
C suite
Senior Leadership roles across all disciplines
Niche / specific roles
All of the above to include:
Temporary Staff; and
Contractors.
Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC) intends to award a contract for the purchase of a Xenium single-cell spatial transcriptomics/proteomics instrument to 10X Genomics. The purchase of the equipment will be at a value of £220,000, with the possibility for four twelve month extension of warranty periods.
PPM is used for day to day management of projects across the three MDC portfolios including milestone tracking, lessons learned and timesheet reporting.