Uni wins big NIHR grant for healthtech 'horizon scanning'
Prof Dawn Craig, director of Newcastle University's NIHR Innovation Observatory.
A Newcastle University project that gauges whether health technologies can deliver real changes to the NHS has claimed £22 million (nearly $30 million) in funding from the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
Newcastle's NIHR Innovation Observatory was set up nearly a decade ago to identify emerging medicines, diagnostics, devices, and digital technologies that have the potential to "transform care, reduce inequalities, and support a more responsive and resilient [health] system," according to the government agency.
Its work to date includes a diverse range of projects, including initiatives to embed patient and public involvement quickly into health and social care research, encourage the development of robotics, sensors, and monitors, virtual or augmented reality tools, and digital platforms and rapid genomics point-of-care testing for faster, more accurate diagnoses, as well as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) monitoring.
The new cash injection will help the Observatory in its 'horizon scanning' work with organisations, including government departments, charities, small businesses, and investors, to identify promising new technologies and help develop them for use within the NHS.
"The award will further enhance our ability to turn data into rapid, actionable insights – driving smarter decisions, faster innovation adoption, and deeper collaboration with industry and national partners," said Prof Dawn Craig, director of the Observatory.
"By strengthening our analytical capabilities and fostering cross-sector partnerships, we are not only looking to improve care, but also to play a role in positioning the UK as a global leader in health tech and innovation-driven growth," she added.
The new funding is earmarked for the refinement of its horizon scanning methods, viewed by the government as a vital tool in planning for the future of health and social care, as well as building its capacity and ensuring the findings are "understood and applied" across the health system, from clinicians through to policymakers and industry.
It will also go towards expanding collaborations within the UK and overseas, and to support industry, patient groups, and investors by providing timely access to data and intelligence on the UK healthtech innovation landscape that can "smooth […] the path to market and maximise patient impact."
Priority areas for the project include improving child health, ending inequality and inequity in healthcare, and supporting the government's modern industrial strategy – including its commitment to the life sciences sector – and its 10-Year Plan for the NHS.
