Malaysian life sciences company INFOVALLEY has chosen the UK to launch its digital autopsy technology that will revolutionise the way post-mortems are carried out. The company researched a number of locations before deciding that the UK has the vision, excellence, infrastructure and talent to guarantee the success of the new business.

INFOVALLEY was established in 2000 and has already won numerous local and international awards for its excellence in research, innovation and business success and has an array of intellectual properties, patents, copyrights and trademarks. The company’s scientifi c discovery of novel mutations that lead to cardiovascular disease has been independently recognised by the British Heart Foundation.

The group has two main business interests: Healthcare Biotechnology, primarily servicing the molecular screening or genetic testing market and Advance Medical Informatics, leading the transformation of the forensic sector in the adoption of cutting edge investigative technology.

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Digital autopsy facility“We are setting up our fi rst Digital Autopsy Facility outside Malaysia at Bradford Public Mortuary in partnership with Bradford City Council” says Mathavan Chandran, Group Chief Executive Offi cer, INFOVALLEY. “We chose Bradford because the city council emerged as the most effi cient and supportive, taking less than six months to consider our proposal and sign contracts. We also plan to collaborate with Bradford, Sheffi eld and Leeds Universities to transform the teaching and learning methods in their schools of medicine, by providing digital cadaveric bodies for their students to study and virtually dissect.”

A 3D high defi nition digital body is generated by scanning the corpse in the body bag, using INFOVALLEY’s proprietary software and visualization screens. The body will then exist in perpetuity and can be forensically examined layer by layer. The technology has a multitude of advantages: the body cannot be contaminated, the post mortem can be carried out without mutilating the body, any number of post mortems can be carried out by more than one forensic doctor from any location. The technology also detects foreign metal objects such as bullets and in the case of multiple murders more than one body can be viewed simultaneously on the computer screen to compare and contrast injuries. As well as providing greater detail than a conventional post-mortem the system also produces

INFOVALLEY sees the UK as best place to launch its disruptive technology

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Fast factsCompany: INFOVALLEY

Country: Malaysia

Industry: Healthcare

Website: www.infovalley.net.my

© Science Photo Library

“We chose the UK as our world launch pad because of its

pre-eminence in healthcare”

excellent documentation and presentation that can be used in a court of law.

“Although there is a relatively high investment initially for the digital autopsy facility, it will quickly pay for itself when you consider the value that it brings to the table. In the Yorkshire region alone, 13,000 post-mortems are carried out per year and there are around 220,000 deaths classified as medico-legal by coroners in the UK” says Chandran.

Up to £50 million investmentTo set up the Digital Autopsy Facility INFOVALLEY will invest £10 million and create around 60 jobs in the first three years. If INFOVALLEY gains the on-going support of the UK Department of Health the company plans to invest a total of £50 million to set up a network of digital autopsy facilities to serve all of the UK and a further 40 jobs will be created.

“Our technology can be used for people that are alive as well as dead. It has the potential to turn the healthcare industry on its head, so we wanted to set up our business in the right way from the very beginning. We chose the UK as our world launch pad because of its pre-eminence in healthcare and because it has the world’s best ecosystem throughout its joined-up network of hospitals, mortuaries, university medical schools and world-renowned institutions including the national health service” says Chandran.

“We believe digital autopsy will soon become a standard practice among the forensic fraternity. When you consider the vast majority of medical advancements have been discovered as a result of forensic research this project will not only position the UK at the forefront of forensic expertise but also promote British healthcare excellence. ”

Professional support from UK Trade & Investment“UK Trade & Investment has made almost all that we could think of a reality, in addition it has highlighted and brought to our table many other supporting opportunities that made the entire process of business development relatively easy and faster than doing it on our own“ says Chandran. “UK Trade & Investment is the most aggressive and professional government trade promotion body that we have come across and we are impressed by the staff work ethic” he adds.

Get in touchukinmalaysia.fco.gov.ukwww.ukinmalaysia.fco.gov.uk

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