2nd November 2011

Funding dedicated to development of new medical devices for the NHS

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

i4i

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

NIHR

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 high-quality 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.

For further information please contact: Victoria Steven, Research Communications Manager, NIHR Central Commissioning Facility. Tel: 020 8843 8072, email: victoria.steven@nihr-ccf.org.uk