August 2023 Newsletter

Menopause Innovation Challenge Closing Soon

The Scottish Health Industry Partnership (SHIP), part of the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office (CSO) has partnered with CivTech to fund a Menopause Innovation Challenge. This Challenge seeks to empower women to access the right support for their needs, by helping them to understand and identify the best options for individualised support; understand which self-help measures may be useful and to manage symptoms in the workplace; and to access medical support. Deadline for applications is 22nd August 2023. Successful applicants are given funding, intensive support, and space at the CivTech Studio, where they spend four months working hand in hand with their Challenge Sponsors and NHS Scotland Innovation Hubs to build a prototype or ‘Minimum Viable Product’.

Rory Maguire joins the HISES team as part of Project CAELUS

Rory has recently joined the HISES Team as a Project Manager for the South East of Scotland working on the UK’s first medical drone delivery Project CAELUS (Care & Equity – Healthcare Logistics UAS Scotland). He is excited about the opportunity to be part of the CAELUS team and progressing the project to live flight trials and removing remaining barriers to safely testing using drones within Scotland’s airspace. Rory’s passions lie in working in a dynamic environment as part of a motivated team, seeking to enact change.

Emily Stewart joins the HISES team as Innovation Project Manager

Emily has recently joined the HISES team after spending 2 years within the NHS Lothian Digital & IT team, having worked on various TrakCare projects.

In her new role as Innovation Project Manager, she will manage the Improving Multimorbidity SBRI project and oversee the local management of the Mental Health SBRI project, both with Phase 2 launches in October 2023. Additionally, she will provide Project Management support to projects in the areas of diabetes, stroke, and dermatology.

Professional Development Award – Technology Enabled Care SCQF Level 7

NES are funding a further cohort of 50 candidates to participate in the Professional Development Award in Technology Enabled Care (SCQF Level 7) starting in September 2023. This award has the dual benefit of better embedding preventative interventions into health and social care, whilst contributing to building knowledge and skills in delivering services differently to help ease pressures across services. The award will be delivered online, over an 18-week semester and is aimed at those who are working in social work, social care, health or housing organisations, including those working in care at home or care homes, across the public, private and third sector. Applications will close at 23:59 on 31st August 2023. Successful applicants will be notified by 5th September with student enrolment begins week commencing 11th September 2023.

Health Data Science Online Course – Applications Open

Do you want to learn how data science can improve the quality of care or service that you provide? This online course, delivered by the University of Edinburgh will introduce you to the key foundations and data skills necessary for data-driven innovation in health and social care.

On this 11-week course, you will:

• Learn how data be used to improve analysis and reporting
• Gain practical experience in working with data
• Understand about the ethical and legal implications of working with healthcare data

There are a limited number of fully funded places available for applicants in Scotland. To check your eligibility, visit the application page. Apply by 11th September 2023 to join the next cohort beginning 18th September 2023.

Could you be an assessor for Innovate UK?

Innovate UK is looking to expand their assessor pool to review applications in the Health and Life Sciences area. Assessors are sought from a range of backgrounds including, but not limited to:

•            Neuroscience (neurodegeneration, neurotech)

•            Infectious disease (including AMR and vaccines)

•            Female health innovation

•            Oncology

•            Mental health

If you’ve held senior positions in these areas and can demonstrate a track record of success in developing, commissioning, or implementing health and life science innovations, join Innovate UK and be part of a vibrant community of experts dedicated to driving innovation forward.

Exciting Opportunity: CSO Innovation Academic Fellowship for NHS Scotland Early Career Innovators

We are excited to announce the launch of a new round of the CSO Innovation Academic Fellowship, aimed at empowering early-stage innovators within NHS Scotland. This fellowship presents a unique opportunity for NHS Scotland clinicians (non-consultant grade doctors, dentists, NMAHPs and healthcare scientists) early in their careers to pursue a higher degree (MD or PhD) with 100% funding, including university fees. Up to 3 places will be available across Scotland. Applications close at midday on 12th October 2023.

Applicants can carry out projects in one of these impactful themes:

1. Innovation in Cancer Pathways

2. Innovation for Long Term Conditions Optimization

3. Innovation for Long Term Conditions Diagnostics

Lothian, Fife, and Borders colleagues interested in applying can contact Innovations@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk for informal enquiries.

NIHR Expanded Access - i4i Programme

From Autumn 2023, researchers based in Scotland will have increased access to NIHR funding including the NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) Programme. The (i4i) Programme is a translational research funding scheme aimed at medical devices, in vitro diagnostic devices and digital health technologies addressing an existing or emerging health or social care need. NIHR are hosting two webinars that will cover the remit and application process for the (i4i) Programme.

You can register via the Eventbrite website by following the links below:

11 September from 10.30am to 12.00pm

13 September from 10:00am to 11.30am

Pregnancy and Perinatal Innovation call

InnoScot Health is seeking forward-thinking pregnancy and perinatal care innovations that can help support NHS Scotland to improve women’s health. It’s an important area with vast opportunities to improve the outcomes of maternity and neonatal care for all women, babies, and families and place more focus on mental health and inequalities. The package of support for health and social care staff with ideas to support NHS Scotland includes up to £25,000 of initial funding, regulatory support, project management and the innovation expertise of InnoScot Health.

CivTech & Techscaler agree to close working relationship

CivTech have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Scotland’s start-up support programme, Techscaler. The initiative will allow their alumni companies to access Techscaler’s membership and should help develop a world-class start-up ecosystem in Scotland.

Steven Drost, CSO of Codebase, which runs the Techscaler programme, said: “The Techscaler- CivTech partnership is designed to provide a playbook in Scotland for our most exciting and ambitious GovTech start-ups.”

Empowering healthcare professionals to transform services through innovation webinar

Introduced and led by InnoScot Health’s Head of Project Management Gillian Henderson and Project Manager Paula Sweeten, the next webinar will be a fantastic chance for attendees to learn more about the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP), hear first-hand experience of participants, and be inspired to get involved in driving forward healthcare innovation.

The webinar will take place on 17th September from 12 – 1pm.

Scotland's Health Research and Innovation Conference

Join us at Scotland’s Health Research and Innovation Conference to celebrate five decades of health research and innovation; and explore how we work together to transform future healthcare. An exciting programme has been developed showcasing a progressive, innovative Scotland. It offers an opportunity to reflect on all that has been collectively achieved during this time, whilst looking to the future, and opportunities to unlock and accelerate Scotland’s health research and innovation potential. To stay up to date with latest news, speakers and registration launch dates, please join the mailing list or follow on social media via #CSOat50.

The Scotsman Data Conference 2023

How will data and artificial intelligence (AI) shape the way we live and work in the future? How will they shape future healthcare, future energy supplies, the future workforce and more? And how is Edinburgh leading the way as it seeks to be Europe’s Data Capital of the future? Join the Scotsman Data Conference 2023 on 27th September 2023 at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh find out more.

Digital Lifelines Scotland Annual Conference 2023

The Digital Lifelines Scotland Programme is a collaboration between the DHI, Scottish Government, Scottish Drug Deaths Taskforce, Drugs Research Network Scotland, Connecting Scotland, Technology Enabled Care, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, COSLA and the Simon Community Scotland. The Programme is gathering significant momentum and has supported over 1,100 people at risk of drug-related death or harm to date. The second annual conference will be held on 5th September 2023 at the Perth Concert Hall. This event will bring together cross-sector colleagues to share knowledge, explore further opportunities for collaboration and identify how we best use digital to help reduce drug-related harm in Scotland.

DigiFest2023 - Registration & Abstract Submission is Open!

DigiFest23, Scotland’s annual digital health, housing, and care event, will combine a programme of free-to-attend, virtual and in-person satellite sessions from October 2023, with a one-day in-person event on Thursday 14th December 2023. The one-day in-person conference on 14 December 2023 is taking place at the University of Strathclyde, Technology & Innovation Centre, Glasgow. Registration is now open and the deadline for abstract submissions is 5pm on 9th October 2023.

Edinburgh University’s data science hub – new director announced

Edinburgh University’s Data Science Hub has announced that Professor Ruth King will take over as Director after Professor Michael Rovatsos, who has led the centre since January 2018, stepped down. Professor King, an international leader in statistics, is “delighted to be joining the Bayes Centre” to continue its focus as a force for “societal progress”.

Clinical Academic Fellowships

The Clinical Academic Fellowship Scheme is now open for applications! This scheme aims to build research capacity in the Scottish NHS as such it provides the opportunity for clinical professionals early in their career to undertake a PhD. The eligibility for this scheme includes doctors and dentists in training, GPs, GDP’s, NMAHPS, Healthcare scientists and Pharmacists. Applications close at 12pm on 12th October 2023.

Latest Funding Opportunities

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