Download Advert (TENDER_i4i_ADVT_Call 3)

Funding dedicated to development of
new medical devices for the NHS
28 October 2011 - Patients are set to benefit as researchers are invited to submit proposals to
develop innovative healthcare products to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of
disease in the NHS.
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme has
allocated up to £13 million to fund new research projects in medical technology, and is launching
a call for proposals on 1 November 2011.
In addition to the amount of money available, the NIHR has introduced two updates to the
programme.
Firstly, NIHR i4i has broadened its scope to accept proposals from researchers in both England
and Wales following an agreement with the National Institute for Social Care and Health
Research (NISCHR).
The second change for researchers to note is that the programme’s application process has
been simplified. Previously researchers had to apply to either early- or late-stage product
development award streams and applicants could be uncertain as to where their research lay. As
of this call, all applications will be submitted through a single route and assignment to early- or
late-stage product development will be undertaken by the NIHR i4i sub-panel as part of the
review process.
The NIHR i4i programme funds projects through prototype and commercial development until a
device or technology is ready for clinical testing. They tend to be collaborative investigations with
the potential to make significant improvements for patients, and involve academic or clinical
researchers (who understand specific patient needs) and technical experts from industry.
Recent examples of projects that have been funded are the development of a device for rapid,
bed side diagnosis of sepsis (blood poisoning), and an investigation to improve the materials for
incontinence devices. More information on these projects can be found below in the Annex.
Martin Hunt, NIHR i4i Programme Director, said:
“In the present economic climate, traditional venture capitalist and private equity sources of
funding are less willing to invest, so it is becoming increasingly difficult for medtech companies to
secure funding for new, innovative technologies.
“Since the NIHR i4i programme was re-launched in October 2010, the range of projects in scope
is much broader. The amount of funding awarded is determined by the nature and scale of the
proposed research activity and we are considering projects seeking larger funding amounts than
before.
“The NIHR i4i programme provides a valuable funding opportunity for the medtech sector, and
we welcome high-quality applications that we expect will make a real difference within the NHS.”
As well as focusing on projects that will benefit NHS patients, the NIHR i4i programme actively
fosters collaboration between researchers in industry, NHS organisations and universities. For a
proposal to be eligible for an award, the project team must comprise researchers from at least
two of these sectors.
The programme particularly welcomes proposals from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) or
teams that have previously demonstrated success in taking new technologies through product
development to commercialisation.
Outline research proposals for the NIHR i4i programme must be submitted by 5pm on
Wednesday 7 December 2011. For details and criteria for funding, please see www.i4i.nihr.ac.uk.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Invention for Innovation (i4i)
i4i is a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) programme that aims to support and
advance the development of innovative medical technologies for the benefit of patients in the
NHS in England and Wales. The programme funds projects lasting 1-3 years that aim to develop
viable medical product prototypes. NIHR i4i supports collaborative research and development
between at least two partners from industry, NHS organisations and universities or other Higher
Education Institutions (HEIs). For a proposal to be eligible for an award, the project team must
comprise researchers from at least two of these sectors. www.i4i.nihr.ac.uk
About the NIHR
The National Institute for Health Research provides the framework through which the research
staff and research infrastructure of the NHS in England is positioned, maintained and managed
as a national research facility. The NIHR provides the NHS with the support and infrastructure it
needs to conduct first class research funded by the Government and its partners alongside highquality patient care, education and training. Its aim is to support outstanding individuals (both
leaders and collaborators), working in world class facilities (both NHS and university), conducting
leading-edge research focused on the needs of patients. www.nihr.ac.uk
For further information please contact:
Victoria Steven, Research Communications Manager, NIHR Central Commissioning Facility.
Tel: 020 8843 8072, email: [email protected]
ANNEX - NIHR i4i PROGRAMME CASE STUDIES
i4i: saving lives
Sepsis, or blood poisoning as it is commonly known, affects 18 million patients globally every
year. Thirty percent of cases are fatal, and an ageing population coupled with antibiotic-resistant
bacteria mean that sepsis cases are increasing at a rate of 1.5% per year.
A major problem with sepsis is that it is difficult to diagnose the condition quickly. The NIHR i4i
programme has awarded researchers at the University of Liverpool £298,032 to develop a pointof-care device that can be used at the patient’s bedside to deliver a prompt diagnosis.
A team led by Professor Cheng-Hock Toh discovered that passing light through blood from a
sepsis patient combined with a specific reagent, results in an unusual light scatter pattern. The
team have now applied this observation to compact disc (CD) technology to develop a simple
device. Blood is applied to a specially-prepared CD and spun to channel the liquid component
into a chamber where the reaction occurs. Light is then passed through the sample and a
detector reads the results to indicate a rapid positive or negative result for sepsis.
Professor Toh said: “The NIHR funding has enabled us to take the next step in translating our
molecular discovery towards benefiting patients in the NHS. We are now much closer to making
a difference and saving precious lives from sepsis.”
i4i: improving quality of life for NHS patients
Around 14 million people in the UK have a bladder control problem which can severely impair
their quality of life, causing discomfort and embarrassment. Current devices designed to combat
these problems such as leg bags and pulp-based containers used in the care of hospital
inpatients have significant disadvantages such as spillages, disposal issues and risk of patient
infection.
Researchers at the University of Leeds have been awarded £346,569 by the NIHR i4i
programme to develop new components for these devices that can be engineered into fullyflushable, sustainable continence management devices approved by patients.
Dr Richard Blackburn, who is leading the research said: “This NIHR i4i funding is supporting our
research to develop step-change medical devices through the application of our expertise in the
chemistry and engineering of fibrous materials.”
“The SUSUROL project will produce new devices for the care of both inpatients and outpatients
with continence issues, providing benefits to the patient, the NHS, and the environment. After
dementia, continence issues are the second most common cause of the elderly being admitted
into care homes – we hope our innovations can enable people to live in their own homes for
longer. Our research is informed and supported through collaboration with both patients and
Sheffield Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and we hope this will support adoption of the new
technology.”