As part of the Government's five-pillar plan to boost COVID-19 testing, leading scientific firms AstraZeneca and GSK have teamed up with the University of Cambridge to support the national effort.
They plan to work collaboratively to open up a new testing laboratory right here in Cambridge.
The new testing laboratory is set to be housed at the University's Anne McLaren Laboratory, which is based at the Addenbrooke's Hospital site.
This facility will be used for high throughput screening for COVID-19 testing and to explore the use of alternative chemical reagents for test kits in an attempt to help overcome the current supply shortages which are limiting testing capability.
Alongside the new testing facility, AstraZeneca and GSK are working together to provide process optimisation support to the UK national testing centres in Milton Keynes, Alderley Park and Glasgow for coronavirus, providing expertise in automation and robotics to help the national testing system to continue to expand capacity over the coming weeks.
Diagnostic testing is not part of either company's core business, however, they are moving as fast as they can to help however possible - with a focus on providing their world-class scientific and technical expertise.
The companies are working both with the Government's screening programme and alongside the wider life sciences sector and specialist diagnostic companies.
They have promised to release further updates on their work throughout the process.
In a statement, AstraZeneca said: "We continue to pay tribute to those working on the frontlines of this pandemic, in the UK and globally.
"Defeating COVID-19 requires a collective effort from everyone working in healthcare and we are committed to playing our part."
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