The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) along with the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) have allocated funds to seven innovative research endeavors that are set to integrate new technologies into the NHS to benefit patients.
Health innovation plays a crucial role in addressing significant challenges within the health sector. Aligning with government health and growth missions, efforts are being made to ensure these innovations reach the patients who require them most.
Among the seven funded projects are studies focusing on digitally-enabled cognitive behavioral therapies, digital tools to aid weight management and alleviate low back pain, and virtual reality interventions for severe mental health conditions. These initiatives have been selected based on their potential to address significant national health needs and to provide maximum benefit to both patients and the healthcare system.
The teams will be gathering real-world evidence about their innovations to expedite their implementation. These technologies are recommended for early NHS integration by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) through its Early Value Assessment, contributing to developing a forward-looking NHS.
This funding aims to position the UK as a leader in late-stage health innovation trials. It will enable researchers and companies to produce evidence necessary for comprehensive NICE guidance and facilitate quicker NHS adoption, benefiting patients without delay.
Professor Mike Lewis, NIHR’s Scientific Director for Innovation, commented: “The UK boasts a strong innovative spirit, yet the NHS occasionally misses opportunities to extensively adopt new digital technologies. This initiative provides seven organizations the chance to gather real-world evidence demonstrating their impact, thus supporting large-scale adoption.”
Rosalind Campion, Director, Office for Life Sciences, stated: “MedTech has an essential role in enhancing patient outcomes and NHS productivity by transforming the health service through life sciences. Fully leveraging this potential requires generating the real-world evidence necessary for greater access and uptake. I am delighted the Office for Life Sciences is backing this pilot to ensure timely patient access to the much-needed medical technologies.”
**Funded Projects Include:**
– **Internet-enabled Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression/Anxiety**
– *Dr. Matthew Franklin, University of Sheffield*
– This initiative compares internet-delivered CBT (iCBT) with traditional individual or group CBT, examining its effectiveness and cost-efficiency within the NHS, across various demographic groups.
– **Digitally Enabled Therapies for PTSD and Social Anxiety**
– *Professor Anke Ehlers, University of Oxford*
– Investigating the efficiency of internet-based cognitive therapies for social anxiety disorder and PTSD compared to standard NHS treatments, aiming to offer more treatment options.
– **Long-term Impact of Digital Tool Gro Health W8Buddy**
– *Dr. Petra Hanson, University of Warwick*
– Evaluating long-term benefits of using the Gro Health W8Buddy app for obesity management compared to standard NHS care.
– **Digital Technology for Low Back Pain**
– *Dr. Alice Berry, University of the West of England, Bristol*
– Assessing the effectiveness and economic value of the getUBetter app in managing low back pain within NHS protocols.
– **Digital Innovation in Weight Management**
– *Dr. Andrew Walker, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and Dr. Emma Duncan, King’s College London*
– Testing Roczen, a digital weight management initiative, in South East London to explore diverse patient engagement strategies.
– **GameChange VR for Severe Mental Health Disorders**
– *Professor Daniel Freeman, University of Oxford*
– Evaluating the gameChange VR therapy for individuals with psychosis to determine its efficacy, inclusivity, and affordability within the NHS.
– **Pharmacogenetics to Prevent Hearing Loss (PALOH-UK)**
– *Professor William Newman, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust*
– Broadening the use of genetic testing to identify newborns who can safely be administered gentamicin without risking hearing loss, based on prior promising research.