Psychologists awarded funding to help develop innovative technology solutions to improve healthcare
Psychologists at the University of Sheffield are among those to be awarded a share of £42 million to establish 14 new centres across England that will drive life-changing research into health technologies.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has awarded the grants to fund the establishment of HealthTech Research Centres (HRCs) from 1 April 2024, which will work with businesses to support the development of medical devices, diagnostics and digital technologies.
Each HRC is being hosted by an NHS organisation in England, bringing industry, academia and the health and care system together.
NIHR Devices for Dignity HealthTech Research Centre, led by Professor Wendy Tindale OBE, is being hosted by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and has been awarded £3m. Professor Jaime Delgadillo, from the Department of Psychology, is co-lead for its mental health research theme.
“Our HRC will place a strong emphasis on supporting people with co-existing physical and mental health conditions.
We are well positioned to improve the mental health of people with chronic illnesses and also to address health inequalities that affect this population.
Professor Jaime Delgadillo
Clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychology
Technologies created by the HRCs aim to enable people to:
- better monitor their health
- diagnose ill health sooner
- improve management of conditions including cancer, dementia, cardiovascular and respiratory disease.
HRCs will also work with companies to develop and test products to support rehabilitation and help those with social care needs to maintain their independence. They will work closely with carers, patients and users at all stages.
The HRC scheme replaces the NIHR Medtech and In Vitro Diagnostic Co-operative (MIC) scheme, which comes to an end in March 2024.
The HRCs will develop technology for hospitals and in general practice as well as for use within community and social care settings. This will enable patients to benefit from these innovations wherever they come into contact with the health and care system.