Skip to content

Global healthcare innovator announced as keynote speaker at Ward Hadaway Fastest 50 Awards

Elaine Warburton, OBE, the inspirational entrepreneur and Chief Executive of QuantuMDx will deliver the keynote address at the annual Ward Hadaway North East Fastest 50 Awards, backed by The Journal.

The awards, now in their 22nd year, highlight those privately owned businesses enjoying rapid growth in the North East and celebrate outstanding business achievement. The Fastest 50 Awards also take place in Manchester and Leeds.

Elaine Warburton OBE, CEO, QuantuMDx Group

Elaine is herself no stranger to success, employing over 100 people at the purpose built QuantuMDx headquarters in Melbourne Street on Newcastle’s Quayside. She and her team have pioneered a ground breaking portable medical device capable of analysing the DNA in samples to rapidly diagnose a range of diseases, in any setting, anywhere in the world. After over 10 years of research and product development, the Q-POC™ device is due to reach the commercial market later next year.

Her own personal story fuels the QuantuMDx vision, shared with business partner and fellow co-founder Jonathan O’Halloran, to improve and democratise global healthcare through providing transformative diagnostic medical tools that are affordable to all.

As a child, Elaine watched her mother undergo gruelling rounds of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with breast cancer. This fuelled her mission to ensure smarter, quicker diagnosis and personalised treatment for many common diseases including tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases and a range of cancers. Her goal was also to ensure that the best diagnostics and treatment is available to everyone, regardless of their geographic, social, cultural or economic background.

Since founding the company in 2008, QuantuMDx now operates global subsidiaries in Asia and the USA. In 2015 Elaine and the team met with Microsoft founder Bill Gates to discuss their shared goal of improving healthcare in developing countries and bringing to an end unnecessary deaths from treatable diseases. They continue to work tirelessly towards making this a reality.

Elaine said; “There are some wonderful businesses here in the North East developing fantastic products and services. QuantuMDx is living proof that if you think big, are passionate about your product and possess an unwavering belief and vision, you can achieve your goals from right here in the region. I’m looking forward to meeting many of my fellow entrepreneurs at the Awards ceremony in October.”

Damien Charlton, a partner in the commercial team at Ward Hadaway, said; “We’re delighted to have Elaine speak at the 22nd North East Fastest 50 Awards. She is a true pioneer, someone with an inspiring story, a huge global vision and the unwavering belief she can lead her team to deliver solutions with the potential to fundamentally change healthcare on a global scale. I’m looking forward to welcoming her to BALTIC on 11th October alongside guests from the North East business community.”

The Fastest 50 Awards is an invitation only event.

Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.

This page may contain links that direct you to third party websites. We have no control over and are not responsible for the content, use by you or availability of those third party websites, for any products or services you buy through those sites or for the treatment of any personal information you provide to the third party.

Follow us on LinkedIn

Keep up to date with all the latest updates and insights from our expert team

Take me there

What we're thinking