SBRI funds innovative healthcare

Eight companies have been chosen to receive up to £100,000 funding each to help them develop medical technologies to support people with long-term health conditions.

The East of England Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI East) is investing in medical innovations that address the needs of the growing number of chronically ill patients by reducing acute admissions and delivering care in the community.

Of the 70 companies that applied for SBRI East funding this year, the eight selected are:

• Advanced Therapeutic Materials (Warwickshire) for its technology for long-term management of venous ulcers and circulatory failure. Data from a 3D imaging device is used to design customised compression garments.

• Aseptika (Huntingdon) for its rapid, home-based test for bacterial respiratory infections in patients with cystic fibrosis.

• Edixomed (Edinburgh) for its dressing for chronic diabetic leg ulcers. The system delivers nitric oxide directly to the wound, increasing blood flow.

• Sky Medical Technology (Cheshire) for its disposable adhesive device for self-treatment of an overactive bladder by external neuromuscular stimulation.

• Pintrack (Essex) for its Outminder independent living solution, which offers the user support as well as enabling the carer to deliver support remotely via a mobile device.

• PneumaCare (Cambridgeshire) for its non-contact respiratory assessment system, which can diagnose deterioration in patients with COPD.

• PolyPhotonix (Sedgefield) for its home-based treatment for diabetic retinopathy and AMD.

• Radisens Diagnostics (Cork, Ireland) to add a kidney disease test to its point-of-care blood analyser platform, which diagnoses and monitors various chronic conditions.

Karen Livingstone, Director of Strategic Partnerships at NHS East of England, said: “It is heartening to see British companies seeking to develop healthcare technologies to benefit those living with long-term conditions. These new technologies will mean that in the future, more people will be able to receive treatment in their own homes. This not only makes for an improved patient experience but also saves healthcare resources and costs.”

SBRI East is supported by NHS East of England, the European Regional Development Fund and the Technology Strategy Board.