March 2023 Newsletter

HISES Inpatients Diabetes SBRI Phase 2 commences

We are happy to announce that phase 2 of our Inpatients Diabetes SBRI led by Dr Stuart Ritchie, HISES Clinical Lead for Diabetes, started on 1st March 2023, and will run to 1st December 2023. The companies selected for phase 2 are CamDiab and MyWayDigitalHealth (MWDH). The CamDiab project aims to implement a CE marked closed-loop system to manage diabetes on general wards at a hospital. The MWDH project aims to develop a computer-based (digital) tool to help achieve better outcomes in people with diabetes, particularly focusing on those admitted to hospital.

Reducing Drug Deaths Innovation SBRI Challenge Open for Applications

The Scottish Health Industry Partnership (SHIP), part of the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office (CSO) has launched a £5m Reducing Drug Deaths SBRI Innovation Challenge, in partnership with the Office for Life Science Addiction Healthcare Mission. Proposals can receive up to £500,000 to support the development of innovative MedTech and Digital Health solutions that focus on detection of, response to, and intervention in potentially fatal drug overdose episodes. Applications are open until 21st April 2023.

Home Glaucoma Monitoring SBRI Challenge – Phase 1 commences

The Home Glaucoma Monitoring SBRI Challenge went live on Monday, 6th March 2023. The aim of the challenge is to develop innovative solutions focused on home (or near-patient) glaucoma monitoring to better identify patients at risk of losing vision, and to reduce the individual and societal costs of sight loss. This will include home tonometry, home assessment of visual function and potentially optic disc imaging. Successful Companies (along with their respective test bed) for Phase 1 are:

• City University of London (NHS Lothian)
• PeriVision (NHS Forth Valley)
• Optonet (NHS Forth Valley)

Diabetes – Remote HbA1c Monitoring SBRI Open Innovation Challenge Open for Applications

SHIP is funding a Diabetes – Remote HbA1c SBRI Open Innovation Challenge. The challenge is now open for applications from this link until 11am on Monday 5th June 2023.  The aim of the competition is to develop disruptive innovative solutions that deliver sustainable, accessible, and equitable remote HbA1c self-testing. Applicants can apply for a share of a total challenge fund of £250,000, inclusive of VAT and split across two phases. A briefing event to provide further background and an opportunity for applicants to ask questions will take place on 28th March 2023 10am –12pm.

Register Online Here.

Award-winning Long Covid support service extended to Midlothian

An innovative project to provide much-needed support to Long Covid patients has been extended to Midlothian. Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland has worked with NHS Lothian, Pogo Digital Healthcare, patients, and GPs to develop the individualised and easy-to-use Long Covid Pathway. The pathway was piloted in Edinburgh in 2022, involving 36 GP practices and 173 patients, with plans to roll out across Edinburgh and the Lothians by the end of 2023.

Medicines and Dementia SBRI Phase 1 Applications Open

SHIP have launched a new SBRI competition looking at developing disruptive innovative solutions to support those at risk of dementia to manage their medications. Organisations can apply for a share of up to £240,000 inclusive of VAT across both phases. Applications deadline is 11am on 24th May 2023. Projects can focus on one or more of the following:

• identification of people utilising clinical risk factors for example cardiovascular risk factors, family history, diabetes, or hypertension
• adherence to medicines for conditions identified as being linked to development of dementia such as delirium, confusion and other risk factors that may be highlighted by the applicants which will require supporting evidence.

NHS Tayside Innovation are recruiting

An exciting opportunity for an experienced Project Manager has arisen within NHS Tayside Innovation. This Band 7 post will influence and drive forward innovation to deliver significant improvements in patient care and the delivery of services. This is a part time post, 15 hours per week for 23 months fixed term/secondment. Closing date for applications is 29th March 2023.

Project CAELUS update

The regional test bed teams across Scotland have now established NHS CAELUS Network Groups to ensure effective delivery of the CAELUS 2 project activity. The HISES CAELUS Network Group will oversee/undertake all supporting activity in relation to South East region CAELUS 2 drone activity including the development of detail use cases for live flight trial and for digital twin activity, ensuring all appropriate governance arrangements and approvals are in place. In February 2023, all the NHS CAELUS Project Managers in Scotland involved in the project attended a full-day workshop with AGS Airports and the University of Strathclyde (UoE) and on 24th March 2023, along with CAELUS Clinical Leads and other stakeholders, will attend a Digital Twin workshop at the UoS.

Patient Connect Pilot

Patient Connect is a new application that has been developed in conjunction with NHS Scotland and Microsoft. In August 2022 we began the first ever pilot of Patient Connect with patients and family members in NHS Lothian. This was split between ICU in Western General Hospital and the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. The pilot has now come to an end, and we are looking forward to the results of a focus group with members of the NHS Lothian ICU Steps Patient and Public Involvement group.

Catch up with Digital Health and Care Scotland 2023 on-demand now!

Holyrood Connect’s 12th annual Digital Health and Care conference returned to Edinburgh in February 2023. All sessions from this year’s event are now available to watch on-demand. Simply click the ‘Watch on Demand Now’ button.

Register for MDMC Conference 2023

The Medical Device Manufacturing Centre (MDMC) will host their 2nd Annual Conference on 31st May 2023 which will bring together industry, NHS, and academia to discuss the latest services offered in the life sciences and healthcare sector. The morning session focus is on the services that SMEs can access to accelerate innovation. The afternoon session will explore the activities and services in health and care offered by organisations such as Scottish Enterprise, the Centre for Process Innovations, and the DHI. If you are interested in the latest MedTech news and tips, or seek further insight into growing your business, come along and be a part of this invaluable opportunity to network with like-minded individuals, companies and stakeholders.

Pre-announcement of Joint Transnational Call for proposals “Healthcare of the Future”

The Scottish Government’s Digital Health and Care Directorate team is a partner and work package leader in a new Horizon Europe funded project European Partnership on Transforming Health and Care Systems (THCS). THCS core activity is the funding of research and innovation projects through joint transnational calls on common priorities and topics. THCS will launch its first Joint Transnational Call for proposals aiming to encourage the optimization of patient care pathways and contribute to the transition towards more sustainable, efficient, resilient, ethical, high-quality, and accessible person-centered healthcare systems. You can register here to attend a webinar about the call on Wednesday, March 16th from 13.00 – 14.30 CET.

First Data Strategy for Health and Social Care published

Scotland’s first data strategy for health and social care has been published. It sets out what the consistent and improved use of data means for individuals, for health and social care professionals, and for researchers and innovators, as well as setting out how and when its priorities will be delivered.

Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster Meeting

The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), in partnership with the Scottish Government Digital Mental Health Programme Team, are hosting the next Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster Meeting on Tuesday 21st March 2023, 10am – 3pm, in-person, at Playfair Hall Surgeons Hall, Edinburgh.

NEW EVENT: Design for the future of...wearables

As modern wearable technologies become more sophisticated, the data and connectivity that they can provide has wider application in areas such as healthcare. The opportunities for those developing technological solutions are significant but those operating in this area must have a clear understanding of their market, their regulatory frameworks, and the key steps towards commercialisation. Design plays a crucial role, from early-stage concept development through to manufacture scale up. During this event taking place 1 – 5pm on 23rd March in Glasgow, you will hear from those who have successfully navigated this journey.

Basics of Innovation Procurement

Innovation procurement is potentially one of the more powerful innovation policy instruments currently available. It describes problems that shall be solved or functions that shall be fulfilled by means of procurement, rather than the products to be purchased. This webinar taking place 11am – 12pm CET on 22nd March 2023, will introduce the main aspects of innovation procurement and its importance. The aim of this session is to increase awareness regarding the benefits of the innovation procurement in the healthcare sector.

Latest funding opportunities

Check out the latest health and care funding opportunities from across the sector on the funding section of our website.