A new round of funding has been announced in a competition for innovations as part of the NHS Cancer programme to support cancer treatment and care, with focus on early detection and diagnosis.
The competition, led by the NHS Cancer Programme with support from SBRI (Small Business Research Initiative) Healthcare and the Accelerated Access Collaborative, seeks to provide a fast-track for “proven, late-stage innovations into front-line settings”, along with addressing implementation evidence gaps.
Part of the NHS Cancer Programme strategy, with innovation said to play a key role, the aim is to support innovations that are mature with proven safety and efficacy, with a CE mark or equivalent regulatory approval obtained, and or, is in use in at least one NHS provider in standard routine care (non-research).
Potential solutions will support the early diagnosis strategy, which focuses on six areas: to increase public knowledge to support timely presentation; improve referral pathways; modernise and expand screening; support effective referrals from primary care; identify and test more risk stratified approaches; and support innovation and technologies.
If successful, innovations can expect to receive 100 percent funding up to the total value of £4 million, over a maximum period of 24 months. The competition is open to all innovation types, including medical devices, digital health solutions, software, artificial intelligence and more.
Applications for the latest round will open on 8 April and close on 29 May. For interested innovators, a briefing webinar will be held on 6 February, with an online “matchmaking” event set to follow on 12 March.
SBRI Healthcare has shared that over £24.5 million has been funded through the NHS Cancer Programme Innovation Open Call to date, with 14 projects receiving funding so far.
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Last April, HTN covered how £12.1 million was awarded to innovations through the NHS Cancer Programme, with the funding designed to support innovators in focusing on improving early detection and diagnosis, and enhance efficiency, coordination and communication through the cancer pathway. In spring 2022, the programme awarded £9 million in funding; read more about previous competition winners here.
In October, we shared how SBRI Healthcare opened applications for an innovation competition aiming to support the NHS in reaching net zero; also on sustainability, we reported last year on the news that SBRI Healthcare announced £6 million in funding to 18 innovations aiming to support NHS green plans along with improving patient care and saving money.
