We introduced key concepts associated with evaluating new diagnostics to over 40 individuals from a variety of organisations at our training course.

On 26-27 October 2022 we delivered a two-day online course which introduced key concepts associated with evaluating diagnostics. We provided an overview of the portfolio of evidence that needs to be generated before new diagnostics can be purchased and widely used in healthcare. As experts in this area, we also emphasised the support ourselves and our collaborators can provide to diagnostics developers at these different stages.

After outlining the “evidence development pathway” for new diagnostics we provided an introduction to performing care pathway analysis; investigating analytical validity; delivering a successful clinical study; assessing diagnostic accuracy; executing health economic evaluations; involving patients and the public in research and the legislative aspects of medical devices.

The series was also an opportunity for us to showcase our collaborations. Presenters from the NIHR Newcastle MIC team were joined by experts from the North East Innovation Lab and Northern Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering teams at Newcastle Hospitals and the Newcastle University Population Health Sciences Institute.

Feedback from participants was very positive:

• 100% respondents rated the course content as excellent or very good
• 100% respondents are likely to recommend the course to their colleagues
• Over 70% registered attendees have subscribed to our mailing list

Attendees liked the use of polls and the format of the course with long breaks and different opportunities for discussion. We plan to deliver more courses in the future which will be dedicated to the topics we introduced in this course. Incorporating the feedback we have received, in these courses we will aim to include more case studies.

We will repeat this course next year. Read more about this course and register your interest for 2023.