WMAHSN is working in partnership with NHS England and the AHSN Network to lead a new search for the world’s best health innovators to help improve patients’ lives. The NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA) 2016 launches today after 3 million people benefit from the first wave in just nine months. The NIA aims to improve lives through fast tracking cutting-edge, low-cost innovations to the forefront of the NHS.
As our Academic Health Science Networks across England enter the fourth year of operation, we have worked together to present our second national impact report, which is launched today. It demonstrates the depth and breadth of our work – not just within our own area, but also our collaborations to address issues of national importance.
The West Midlands Genomic Medicine Centre (GMC) has launched its new website, packed with education and training information to prepare staff to work with the 100,000 Genomes Project and embed genomics knowledge through all NHS professional groups.
A European project which aims to improve healthy living and active ageing is inviting micro and small enterprises, spin-offs and start-ups from all over Europe to submit applications for the EIT Health Business Plan Aggregator, which will reward the best business plans in medtech, biotech and digital health.
Companies are being invited to bid for funding to develop solutions to improve patient flow in acute care and independence for children with long-term conditions in the latest competition from SBRI Healthcare which launches on 8 June. Successful companies can receive up to £100,000 phase 1 feasibility funding each to develop products that improve patient flow in acute care, and self-care options for children with long-term conditions.
Exploring the new iCentrum building in virtual reality is now possible thanks to an innovative new application. The iCentrumVR app has been launched following the opening of the building in March 2016, which is home to Innovation Birmingham’s Serendip® Smart Cities Incubator programme. There are four sector-specific Serendip® quarters, with the WMAHSN collaborating in the Digital Health quarter.
You can learn all about whole genome sequencing with the Health Education England Genomic Education Programme’s online course, 'Whole Genome Sequencing: Decoding the Language of Life and Health'. The three week course covers the fundamentals of genomics and looks at the processes of sequencing and interpreting results for patients through a series of articles, videos, animations and discussions with leading genomics experts.
At the recent WMAHSN conference - Long term conditions: making innovation happen in the NHS - the WMAHSN's Clinical Lead for long term conditions, Dr Ruth Chambers, grabbed the opportunity to interview the event's guest speaker, Dr Phil Hammond. Following the conference, Ruth and Phil discussed the technology enabled care services (TECS) available, and what the barriers to uptake were from both patients and practitioners.
A seven year old Wolverhampton boy is the first in the city to take part in a ground-breaking NHS project which aims to unlock the secrets of human genetics to transform future treatments and care. Nile Thackery Lunn has a number of complex health issues which doctors have been unable to diagnose. As part of the 100,000 Genomes Project, Nile’s entire genome will be sequenced and compared with his parents’ DNA and the results of other people who may have similar symptoms.
A WMAHSN programme seeking to improve the relationship between adults’ social workers and general practice teams has moved on a step with the publication of training materials to help both professions work together more effectively. The integrated working of GPs and social workers programme has two major components: undertaking qualitative fieldwork with groups of professionals from the two services, which looked at the current perceptions and experiences of collaboration with one another; and developing training materials that would enable the two services to work better together.
Following the huge success of the first year of the NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA), the AHSNs are pleased to announce that NIA 2016 will open for applications from healthcare innovators on Friday 17 June 2016. Every year, the NIA looks for the best national and international healthcare innovators.