Health Innovation Challenge Fund takes flexible approach
5 March 2012
The scheme is moving away from the themed call approach and will instead invite proposals across a series of research topics. This list of topics is valid for each of the two funding calls in 2012 and in 2013, allowing applicants to submit proposals when their research project is at an appropriate stage in development.
Five areas of research interest have been identified:
- clinical applications of genetics
- early detection and diagnosis of chronic diseases
- minimising the impact of trauma and serious injury
- informing clinical management through software-based analysis of complex datasets
- repurposing of medicines and medical devices.
Now in its third year, the Health Innovation Challenge Fund is supported in equal measure by the Department of Health and the Wellcome Trust. The aim of the scheme is to facilitate high-quality translational health research: technological developments that can deliver economic and patient health benefits to the UK and build on the country's excellence in science.
Through the provision of 'gap-bridging' funding, the initiative will stimulate the delivery of technologies, products and interventions with clinical applicability within the NHS in a three- to five-year time frame.
The scheme is currently open to applications across the five areas of research interest. Proposed projects must have already demonstrated proof of principle, supported by experimental data, and must anticipate completion of first testing in man within the duration of the project.
The next preliminary application deadlines for the scheme are 14 May and 3 September 2012.
