The integrated care SBRI challenge

The National Health Service England and Eastern Academic Health Science Network have opened multiple new SBRI competitions with £2.5million funding available in Phase 1 to develop technologies and innovative solutions that can provide better health outcomes.

The integrated care SBRI challenge appears the most relevant to the VCS. Its purpose is to identify and understand population cohort(s) at risk of becoming complex patients, determined by physical, mental and social health.

The assumption underpinning this challenge is that the identification of these population cohort(s) will enable the development of person-centred, integrated models of care focused on preventing avoidable escalation of complexity and care need. This will improve quality of life for individuals, improve the effectiveness of interventions, prevent avoidable admissions and have a more significant population impact.

Potential responses to the challenge therefore need to consider:

• How to draw together information on risk markers from multiple data/information sources regarding physical, mental and social health;
• How to use this information to identify increasing risk prior to unplanned interactions with emergency services and identify a cohort(s) of individuals most likely to benefit from person-centred, integrated care; and
• How to create an affordable, scalable solution for clinical commissioning groups.

It is anticipated that applicants responding to this challenge may need to develop partnerships with providers and commissioners to ensure the effective design, development and testing of projects. Applicants should also consider how they will prove project feasibility within a defined geographical area within the six month period for phase 1 contracts.

Phase 1 is intended to show the technical feasibility of the proposed concept. Development contracts will be awarded for a maximum of six months and £100,000 per project. 

Projects that have completed Phase 1 successfully will be eligible for Phase 2 in 2014. Phase 2 contracts are intended to develop and evaluate prototypes or demonstration units from the more promising technologies in Phase 1.

Briefing events to learn about the competition will take place on Tuesday 3 June in Birmingham and Monday 9 June in Daresbury, Cheshire.

For further information, including the application process, visit www.sbrihealthcare.co.uk.

The closing date for applications is Thursday 10 July.