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A scientist with Western Isles connections has made a revolutionary global breakthrough in treating people with HIV which could save the lives of many millions of sufferers.

 

Iain Macleod has devised a fast and affordable test which could make wasting billions of pounds on ineffective medication a thing of the past.

The 32-year-old developed the test - which crucially slashes the time in trying out different medication on sufferers before eventually finding the right match -  at the Harvard School of Public Health in Massachusetts, USA.

 

His new process only takes two hours - opposed to two days - to pinpoint if patients are getting the right drugs.

 

Mr Macleod is the son of Donald Macleod of Lionel, Ness, Lewis. Raised in Paisley, he spent his summer childhood holidays with grandparents in Ness and still visits the island regularly.

 

He and his business partner, David Raiser, plan to develop and market a £66 kit with prototypes to be rolled out in Botswana and Tanzania, where one in four adults has HIV.

 

Sufferers there are forced to go through a lengthy and expensive trial-and-error process of trying out different drugs until a suitable one is eventually found to work.

 

For patients, it means living with untreated HIV for months on end.  They are also at risk of transmitting the disease to others during that lengthy hit-or-miss period, compounding an escalating healthcare crisis.

 

10% of patients every year develop resistance to the drugs they are prescribed so the invention could help save many millions of ill people.

 

The test could means people can get the treatment to tackle the virus as soon as possible instead of deteriorating or dying during up to 18 months of delay while switching through different drugs.

 

Iain Macleod said: “The test is a game changer. There are probably 15 million people across the world getting treatment for HIV but most do not have access to the correct diagnostics to tell if they are on the right drug.”

 

This new process could “save $125 million in five years,” he highlighted, “money which could be used on other healthcare provision.”

 

“We have received great feedback in Africa where this is a urgent need for this.”

 

He plans to leave the university later this year to focus on the test full time.

 

Hoped-for investment will allow him to work with a manufacturer to turn it into a kit that would be sold in Africa.

 

Macleod’s invention has greatly impressed experts and is now up in the running for a $1 million prize in a innovation competition run by giant digital firm, Verizon Communication.

It has already secured a $250,000 award for being shortlisted in the top three of the healthcare category of the event.

 

Massachusetts Biotechnology Council believes Macleod’s invention is “very promising technology.”

 

John Doherty, senior vice president, Corporate Development for Verizon, said: “We’re blown away by this year’s winners and look forward to revealing who will take home the top prize.”

 

 

Scientist with island connections makes HIV test breakthrough

1 February 2015