Medicines and Dementia Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI)
Vision: A future where the quality of life of people at risk of dementia is improved by identifying them earlier and slowing the time to full diagnosis.
Introduction
Dementia is a general term for a range of neurological diseases manifested by loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. The Scottish Government is committed to improving services for people living with dementia, their families and carers.
Challenges within Dementia
Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia. In the UK, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are already the leading cause of death with an economic cost of over £25 billion per annum . In the last twenty years, the global pharmaceutical industry has invested an estimated $40 billion into R&D to develop therapeutics for dementia . However, only four symptom-relieving therapies have been approved, and there are no marketed preventive or disease-modifying treatments.
This Open Innovation Challenge will provide an opportunity for companies, working in partnership with regional test beds to develop disruptive innovative solutions that focus on medicines and developing innovative new tools for use in clinical practice to support patients at risk of dementia to manage their medications.
The cohort is centred around mid-life management in patients with risk-factors or early signs of dementia.
The challenge
The challenge is to develop disruptive innovative solutions that focus on medicines and develop innovative new tools for use in clinical practice to support people at risk of dementia to manage their medications.
Innovation themes
• Identification of patients utilising clinical risk factors.
• Adherence to medicines for conditions identified as being linked to development of dementia.
Long Term Vision
The goal of innovation, service redesign and development of workforce initiatives is to deliver sustainable, accessible and equitable services which improve the quality of life of patients at risk of dementia by identifying them earlier and slowing the time to full diagnosis. Such initiatives must work with local, regional and national NHS Boards and Social Care Services; Regional Test beds; and Primary Care groups where appropriate to provide solutions which are readily tested, evaluated and reported in 12-18 month timescales to affect wider national strategies and NHS adoption.
Process
This is a Pre-Commercial Procurement Challenge competition funded by The Scottish Health Industry Partnership (SHIP), Scottish Government. Successful applicants receive 100% funding and access to advice from the NHS Scotland innovation hubs.
The programme will be delivered in up to 2 phases. This is phase 1. A decision to proceed with phase 2 will depend on the outcomes from phase 1. Only successful applicants from phase 1 will be able to apply to take part in phase 2.
SHIP are investing up to £240,000 including VAT, split across 2 innovative challenge areas.
Eligibility
To lead a project, you can: • be an organisation of any size • work alone or with any other organisations as subcontractors
Application Process
All applications for this challenge will be managed through the Innovate UK website CLICK HERE
DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR SOLUTION TO SCOTLAND INNOVATES WEBSITE. THIS CHALLENGE IS BEING ADMINISTERED VIA IUK.
Applicants will be expected to engage with NHS Scotland Test Beds to identify which NHS Board/s can provide the relevant expertise to support your project. This should be evidenced in your application.
Applicants should contact the test beds within 8 weeks from when the application was opened (27th February 2023).
Applicants should complete the Initial Contact Form and email it to the Test Bed they wish to partner with
(see contact details below).
Contacting the Test Beds later than 8 weeks will give insufficient time for the Test Bed to support the application.
The innovation test beds are uniquely positioned to support your project, providing access to relevant systems and opportunities for further development and testing in a healthcare environment. In order to benefit from this opportunity, the Test Beds will need to know what and how you plan to meet the challenge, including what support and access you will need.
This detail will enable the Test Bed to provide information on expected timelines in accessing required specifics. This should be included in the project plan section of your application. Early discussion will also enable the Test Bed to confirm they are able to support your project with the relevant required expertise.
How to contact the NHS Test Beds (please copy and paste into your email provider)
North Test bed: gram.nosinnovationtestbed@nhs.scot
West of Scotland Test Bed: innovation@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Health Innovation South East Scotland: innovations@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
For general enquiries please contact: gram.nosinnovationtestbed@nhs.scot
Support for Applicants
To support potential applicants a briefing event is taking place on 10th of March 2023. You can register for this event from this link. The recording of the event will be available from this LINK following the event.
Additional Support for Applicants
To support potential applicants there is a launch event with the Test Beds.
Link to Launch Event resources and recording originally published on Friday 27th February 2023 CLICK HERE
Test Bed Engagement Packs
Click on the applicable Test bed to find out more on this challenge.
West Of Scotland Regional Test Bed