SBRI Healthcare has announced £1.3 million in funding for 14 innovations supporting women’s health across three categories: gynaecological conditions and hormonal health, mental health, and chronic conditions and long-term health.
The innovations awarded funding include DDM Health Limited’s digital platform designed to empower those with long-term conditions with the help of data insights and AI-driven engagement; The Essential Baby Company’s haPPIE: SHE Cares project supporting black and ethnically minoritised women during the perinatal period by “combining culturally sensitive digital tools with community services”; and Lighthearted AI Health Limited’s “portable, rapid, non-contact means of detecting heart valve disease and other cardiac conditions in women” using laser light to capture “bio-vitals” and deliver “AI-assisted diagnosis”.
Also listed are Holly Health’s digital health coaching service to support “psycho-education and sustainable habit and behaviour change”, Unravel Health Limited’s at-home hormone monitor, Liberum Health Ltd’s “tampon-like device” to alleviate symptoms of conditions like endometriosis, Signal Enhancement Diagnostics Limited’s blood-based test using biomarkers for endometriosis diagnosis, and Spryt Ltd’s AI receptionist supporting the booking and rescheduling of appointments to help boost uptake of cervical screening.
Funding has also been granted to BirthGlide Limited for their device to help prevent “difficult birth” and reduce the use of “traumatic procedures” such as forceps; ScreenIn3D Limited’s “organ-on-a-chip platform” to support the modelling of personalised embryo implantation; and Peripear Ltd’s wearable medical device designed to reduce the likelihood of perineal injury, injury, and need for episiotomy.
Neotherix Limited’s device for recto-vaginal fistula treatment to reduce surgical interventions, Queen Mary University/Samphire Neuroscience’s non-invasive brain stimulation device to reduce symptoms of pain and low mood associated with PMS, and Signatur Biosciences Ltd’s decentralised breast cancer prognostic test, have also been awarded funding.
The selected projects will run for a period of up to six months, to allow them to be tested for technical and commercial feasibility. They will also undergo the NICE Metatool to address gaps in development plans and evidence generation, helping them to identify next steps toward bringing their products to the market.
Verena Stocker, NHSE’s interim director of innovation, research, life sciences and strategy, said: “We have selected these innovations because they have the potential to make a big difference to women’s health. By supporting the most promising innovations, the NHS will continue to evolve, helping to meet more patients’ needs and encouraging more innovators to come forward with innovative ideas that benefit all.”
Digital and innovation in women’s health
For a recent HTN Now panel discussion, we were joined by expert panellists from across the healthcare sector to debate some of the key priorities and areas for the application of digital tools in women’s healthcare, as well as barriers to tech and the future outlook for digital in this arena. Panellists included: Saima Sharif, NHS obstetrician & gynaecologist, North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and digital/AI adopter for women’s health; Dr Nikita Kanani MBE, GP and chief strategy and innovation officer at Aneira Health; Sally Mole, senior digital programme manager – digital portfolio delivery team at The Dudley Group; and Vicky Rothwell, lead enterprise architect, Aire Logic.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside recently launched an app to help women across the region find trusted health information, forming part of Cheshire and Merseyside Women’s Health Strategy, launched in March 2024. The app provides women in Cheshire and Merseyside with a “convenient one-stop shop for trusted sources of women’s health information”, including advice and guidance on periods, contraception, screening information, menopause, pelvic health, immunisations and pregnancy, as well as all other areas of female health.
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust published a tender notice for implementation services and support for its Cerner Millennium (Oracle Healthcare) electronic patient record, within maternity services. The trust hopes to “uplift” the maternity element of the EPR, to target “improvements to usage and data quality issues”, which was first installed at the trust in 2015. The scope will span the maternity department including community, with “opportunities to digitise legacy items are to be availed of”.
