Exeter to become part of £42m health tech network

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the University of Exeter has been successful in a £3m bid for government funding to form a HealthTech Research Centre for Sustainable Innovation.

It will be part of a network of 14 newly-established NIHR HealthTech Research Centres (HRCs) based in leading NHS organisations across the country, which were jointly awarded almost £42m to drive life-changing research into health and care technologies for the next five years.

Cathryn Love-Rouse, Chief Operating Officer of the NIHR HRC in Sustainable Innovation said: “We look forward to working collaboratively across England as part of the HRC network. Our focus will be on five core themes, centred around the unique needs of the population of the South West.

"These include projects focused on sustainability and environment, diagnostics and biomarkers, frailty and rehabilitation, big data and artificial intelligence (AI), and capability and capacity building”.

Professor Chris Fox, Co-Director of the South West HealthTech Research Centre added: “It’s a huge privilege for Exeter to be leading industrial engagement. We will set the agenda for the next five years when it comes to the priorities for patients and industry through the 14 regional HRCs.

"The network will bring together the extensive skills and experience of the HRCs to support the development and evaluation of technology. Improving this technology will mean better support and care for patients, as well as increased accuracy and assessment speed.”