by Majid Arefi, Founder & CEO, CellFluiDx Ltd
Attending the Diagnostics North East Conference earlier this month was a genuinely inspiring experience. The event brought together a vibrant community of clinicians, researchers, industry leaders, and innovators — all united by the shared goal of accelerating the development and adoption of advanced diagnostics across the UK.
What stood out most to me was the strong emphasis on collaboration. From NHS partners and academic institutions to start-ups and established companies, the message was clear: meaningful progress in diagnostics depends on cross-sector partnerships. The presentations and panel discussions highlighted not only the challenges of translating diagnostic innovations into clinical practice but also the growing ecosystem of support in the North East, including CADDA and Diagnostics North East, that helps bridge the gap between discovery and deployment.
CADDA at DxNE 2025
As a founder developing an automated microfluidics platform for processing challenging FFPE tumour samples, I found the conference particularly valuable for understanding how new diagnostic technologies can align with NHS priorities and regulatory frameworks. Conversations with pathologists, genomic laboratory hub representatives, and other innovators reinforced the importance of tackling pre-analytical sample issues — an area often overlooked but critical for ensuring the reliability of molecular and genomic results.
Beyond the scientific content, the networking opportunities were outstanding. I met many like-minded innovators and potential collaborators who are passionate about improving diagnostic quality, workflow automation, and patient outcomes. It was also a pleasure to connect with the CADDA team and learn more about their mission to build a Community of Practice that promotes excellence and innovation in diagnostics development.
Overall, the conference reaffirmed my belief that the North East is becoming a national hub for diagnostics innovation. The combination of world-class research, NHS engagement, and strong regional support structures provides a fertile ground for start-ups like CellFluiDx to thrive. I left the event feeling energised and optimistic about the collective progress we can make when academic insight, clinical need, and technological innovation come together.