D4D offers awards to develop assistive and renal technologies

31 August 2011

Devices For Dignity (D4D) is offering £30,000 in a proof-of-concept competition designed to accelerate the development of promising ideas in the healthcare technology sector.

The funding will go towards commercialising technology that supports D4D’s goal of providing dignity and care to people with long term conditions.

D4D has uncovered unmet clinical needs in two major healthcare themes, assistive technologies and renal technologies. The competition’s aim is to advance the development of an available product, service or treatment.

One winner per theme will be awarded £15,000 and entrants will be given the opportunity to work with D4D’s national expert networks, resources and specialist clinicians, bridging the gap between initial concepts and securing grant funding and attracting early stage investment.

The awards are open to UK healthcare businesses, healthcare professionals, academics and individuals who are innovators and inventors, as well as users, patients and carers.

Professor Wendy Tindale, D4D’s Clinical Director said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for medical technology innovators because it is a huge step towards turning an idea into something concrete.”

For more detail and to enter the Awards online, visit the D4D website: www.devicesfordignity.org.uk/ucnc

Further information

Devices for Dignity (D4D) is a National programme, hosted by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, working with people, clinical and healthcare staff, inventors, charities, industry and academics, to bringing real solutions to areas of clinical and patient need in assistive technologies, urinary continence management and Renal technologies.

Devices for Dignity (D4D) is supported by the National Institute for Health Research, the Technology Strategy Board, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Medical Research Council, with additional support from the Department of Health Innovation Team.

For further information see: www.devicesfordignity.org.uk/