Clinicians and researchers are invited to bid for infrastructure funding
to support collaborations between the NHS and industry to lead to the
development of medical devices and healthcare technologies.
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) will establish
Healthcare Technology Co-operatives (HTCs) to address clinical areas or themes
of high morbidity and unmet need for NHS patients. The aim is to produce new
technologies that improve treatment and quality of life.
This new scheme builds on learning from a pilot scheme that funded two
HTCs from 2008. Their innovations include a dignity bidet commode developed for
stroke survivors which won an NHS Innovation Award in 2009, and the APPEAR and
SMART surgical procedures and instrumentation for bowel surgery which was
awarded the prestigious Cutlers’ Surgical Award in 2011.
Led by a clinical director, each NIHR HTC will involve multidisciplinary
teams, working collaboratively with industry, patient groups, academic
researchers and charities. HTCs will be expected to build networks with a broad
range of stakeholders including the NIHR infrastructure and to work closely
with the NIHR Office for Clinical Research Infrastructure (NOCRI).
Professor Dame Sally C. Davies, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific
Adviser at the Department of Health said: "The National Institute for Health
Research Healthcare Technology Co-operatives competition announced today will
help to identify clinical issues from a front line service perspective and
devise technology-based solutions to address them. These centres of expertise
will act as a catalyst for the development of much-needed new medical devices,
healthcare technologies and/or technology-dependent interventions.”
The initiative also supports the Government’s Strategy for the Life
Sciences which aims to provide a better environment for life sciences, improve
the lives of patients and contribute to the UK’s economic growth, enabling
patients to access novel treatments earlier.
NIHR HTCs will operate within the evolving NHS innovation landscape and
the implementation of the NHS Chief Executive’s review: "Innovation Health and
Wealth – accelerating adoption and diffusion in the NHS”. They will be expected
to engage with the proposed Academic Health Science Networks and local showcase
hospital programmes, where appropriate, as they develop.
The closing date for submission of the Pre-Qualifying Questionnaire by
NHS Trusts in England is 19 April 2012 at 5pm.
A briefing meeting for potential applicants will be held on the 29
February 2012 at the Department of Health (Richmond House). Up to two people
can attend per organisation. Details of how to register for this event can be
found HERE