People with potentially life-changing injury, trauma and illness deserve the best rehabilitation. New technology is key to advancing this. The NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Rehabilitation based at Nottingham University Hospital focuses on developing and applying new technologies to transform patients’ lives.
Medical advances have significantly improved survival rates after major injury and illness. However, these life-saving advances have not been matched by the same improvement in rehabilitation to ensure recovery towards good quality of life. For many patients, their ongoing needs are currently not met, and it is estimated that one in three people will require rehabilitation at some point.
The recently published Darzi report, “Investigation of the National Health Service in England” quoted that: “At the start of 2024, 2.8m people were economically inactive due to long-term sickness. That is an 800,000 increase on pre-pandemic levels with most of the rise accounted for by mental health conditions. Being in work is good for wellbeing. Having more people in work grows the economy and creates more tax receipts to fund public services. There is, therefore, a virtuous circle if the NHS can help more people back into work. More than half of the current waiting lists for inpatient treatment are working age adults. And there are long waits for mental health and musculoskeletal services, too, which are the biggest causes of long-term sickness. Improving access to care is a crucial contribution the NHS can make to national prosperity*”
The day focused on highlighting how industry and specifically SME’s can access support to accelerate the development of new technologies to support rehab, with this event specifically focusing on innovation for the working age and older populations. Delegates were treated to an excellent overview of the RehabHRC, established in 2024 and funded for five years, in response to the clinical and academic excellence in the East Midlands. As part of the day delegates were also able to book private meetings with the theme leads to enable the development of collaborations, as well as commercialisation advice such as funding, intellectual property, public patient involvement and health economics. Further innovation events well be held throughout the year.
Gosia Khrais, Commercial and Marketing Manager of Charnwood Campus, Science Innovation and Technology Park commented: “NIHR funded programmes such as the RehabHRC are an excellent way for our well recognised medtech and rehab cluster in the Midlands to accelerate patient care improvements and drive economic growth in a sector that is worth £20.5bn GVA per annum. Our excellent collaborative environment is an essential component for starting or growing a business in our region. Please reach out to us if you would like to know more about our world leading facilities and business support programme”
Professor Dan Clark, Lead for the NIHR RehabHRC and Head of Clinical Engineering Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust said: “The NIHR HealthTech Research Centre for Rehabilitation (RehabHRC) unites researchers, companies, charities, patients, and the public to advance technology that aids patient rehabilitation following life-altering injuries, trauma, and illnesses. We were thrilled to host our inaugural Innovation Day at Charnwood Campus, where innovators collaborated with clinical and technical experts, along with patient representatives and the public, to develop ideas for new rehabilitation technologies. It was an immensely successful and enjoyable event, which we anticipate will serve as a launching pad for impactful new technologies.”
*Independent investigation of the NHS in England – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
To learn more about the accelerating life science opportunities at Charnwood Campus, visit www.charnwoodcampus.com
To keep up to date with what is planned next by the NIHR RehabHRC please visit their website hrc-rehabilitation.nihr.ac.uk