Bilirubin testing in infants SBRI open
Innovative solutions are being sought for near-patient bilirubin monitoring of newborns in an SBRI hosted by the West of Scotland Innovation Hub on behalf of NHS Scotland.
The open innovation challenge is an opportunity to enhance family-centred care at home for jaundiced babies who do not need to be in hospital and address issues around equitable access to healthcare.
While some babies will require hospital treatment, this separation of otherwise well babies who could be at home has an enormous impact on families and bonding, in addition to reducing the availability of scarce cots within Neonatal units, beds within maternity hospitals and avoidable costs to the NHS.
This challenge affects babies and parents in every maternity hospital and so the scalability and hence impact of solutions will be significant.
The challenge is now open for applications from the Public Contracts Scotland website until 13th December 2023.
Applicants can apply for a share of £220,000, inclusive of VAT over a 2-phase competition. Phase 1 is allocated £60,000 for up to 4 projects. Phase 1 projects can range in size up to total costs of £15,000 inclusive of VAT. Phase 2 is allocated £160,000 for up to 2 contracts. Phase 2 projects can range in size up total costs of £80,000 inclusive of VAT.
Innovation Clinical Lead Dr Neil Patel said: "We are delighted to share details of the recently-launched Near Patient Bilirubin Testing Challenge. Innovative solutions are needed to address this universal problem. The challenge is a terrific opportunity for organisations to work with clinical teams and access funding to develop new approaches which will bring huge benefits for babies, their families and clinical services."
The Women's & Children's Health Innovation Portfolio, the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office (CSO), the Scottish Government Directorate for Children and Families and the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow and Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity are funding this Small Business Research Initiative.
You can watch a briefing on the challenge here.