City briefs: Abingdon Health and Zoo Digital

Abingdon Health, a developer and manufacturer of rapid medical tests, has announced its commercial launch and UKCA and CE-marking of a lateral flow test to detect Covid-19.

The AbC-19™ Semi-Q Rapid Test detects the presence of IgG neutralising antibodies to the full trimeric spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The product was initially launched for research purposes in September 2021.

It is available for use by professionals or trained lay-users, meaning Government agencies, pharmacists, testing centres or workplaces can use the test to identify and monitor a person’s level of antibody-based protection to Covid-19.

The presence and strength of IgG neutralising antibodies following infection and/or vaccination is a key indicator of an individual’s protective immune response to this illness.

Differences in immune response have significant implications for individuals, but also for governments needing to monitor the impact of vaccine programmes.

Chris Yates, chief executive officer of York and Doncaster-based Abingdon Health, said: “Some countries are currently experiencing a fourth wave of COVID-19 and it is critical that we are able to accurately monitor our antibody levels to determine if and when we need booster vaccine doses.

“Our own research, as well as other published data, shows there is a significant degree of variability between individuals in their antibody levels, following infection and/or vaccination.

“On an individual level we believe there is an increasing need to know your antibody status as this will allow all of us to manage their own behaviour in light of own specific levels of immunity.

“The important message from healthcare agencies is that high levels of antibodies, as seen following booster vaccinations, will help fight variants such as Omicron. This is important as antibody levels will wane over time.

“Being able to monitor and track antibody levels using the AbC-19™ Semi-Q Rapid Test provides this information to give another tool in our anti-Covid-19 toolbox.”

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ZOO Digital Group has launched its own ZOO Academy, a programme of academic courses, educational collaborations and practical workshops to develop the translators, script adapters, dubbing actors and directors of the future.

The Sheffield-based business, which provides cloud-based localisation and media services to the global entertainment industry, notes demand for content production is surging around the globe.

ZOO Academy is working with universities and teaching professionals to build long-term capacity in the localisation talent pool, particularly among those languages that currently have low supply.

Academy Partners will deploy ZOO’s cloud-based scripting and dubbing platforms (ZOOsubs and ZOOdubs) as part of audio-visual translation courses around the world.

Under the Academy framework, ZOO says it has forged a partnership with the University of Sheffield to offer the industry’s first professional development course in dubbing script adaptation.

The online course, which will be taught by the university’s academic specialists in media translation, incorporates contributions from a global team of experienced script adapters representing over 20 dubbing languages.

Stuart Green, CEO of ZOO Digital, said: “ZOO Academy will cultivate the talent pool of the future and support the delivery of high-quality media localisation at scale for years to come.

“It will develop a skilled resource of translators, adapters, actors and directors, across all languages, who are expertly trained to work on premium media and entertainment content using ZOO’s cloud-based scripting and dubbing platforms.

“Our dubbing course with the University of Sheffield is an industry first and an excellent example of how we are leading the way and skilling up the industry to meet demand for global content.”

Professor Dominic Broomfield-McHugh, from the University of Sheffield, said: “Alongside ZOO, our researchers from the School of Languages and Cultures have created a modern professional development course that will equip script adapters with the creative and technical skills to entertain audiences around the world.

“We’ll be providing new generations of translators, language students and academics with the tools they need to successfully contribute to the global media industry.”

Gabe Monterrubio, VP of digital media production at Magnolia Pictures, added: “Magnolia Pictures is pleased to lend its support to this important industry initiative.

“With the increased demand for more content across multiple languages and territories, we are encouraged by the program ZOO has developed to inspire and educate the dubbing and adaptation talent of the future.

“We look forward to their potential collaboration on our own upcoming localisation projects.”