NIHR HealthTech Research Centre for Brain Injury

Project details

Full project title: NIHR HealthTech Research Centre for Brain Injury

Duration: 2024-2029

Project lead for CPHWB: Professor Julie Mytton (Co-Lead for Prevention and Education theme)

Research partners/collaborators:

  • Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Lead Institution)
  • University of Cambridge
  • University of East Anglia
  • University of Essex
  • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
  • Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
  • University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
  • Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
  • Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (HealthTech Research Centres Programme)

Project summary

We propose to establish a HealthTech Research Centre (HRC) specialising in conditions affecting the brain and spine. These conditions affect large numbers of people and often have a significant impact on their quality of life. The HRC aims to support new technologies designed to improve the experience of people affected by these conditions and make these technologies more widely available. These aims will be achieved in three stages:

Stage 1 will identify new technologies that may be useful to fill gaps in what is currently available in the health and care system. We will seek to meet providers of solutions, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises, to better determine the potential impact of their technology. In parallel, we will also improve our understanding of unfilled gaps in the care of specific conditions by holding structured workshops with patients and professionals. Promising solutions identified from this process will undergo a more comprehensive review of their potential by patients, and legal and medical experts before proceeding to the next stage.

Stage 2 will evaluate reviewed solutions to study how effective they are in achieving their proposed purpose. We will approach this by undertaking the entire evaluation process, including designing and delivering the study and disseminating our findings. We will also offer support for individual aspects of existing studies using our team’s expertise in patient involvement, health economic evaluation, and strategic planning.

Stage 3 will support implementation of evaluated solutions within their intended real-world setting. We will deliver this together with our partners, including Academic Health Science Networks and NHS Commissioning Groups. In addition to evaluating the impact of the solution on existing care pathways, we will also support solution providers to commercialise their innovation within the UK and beyond.

To tailor the support provided at each stage, the HRC will consist of five clinical themes headed by world-leading experts covering different aspects of care for brain and spine conditions:

  1. Prevention and education
  2. Acute care and monitoring
  3. Diagnostics
  4. Restoration
  5. Life course

A sixth enabling theme will also provide specific expertise across all clinical themes, including research delivery, technology adoption, health informatics, and public involvement.
Our objectives will be delivered by a core team providing internal know-how to support the work of the theme leads, forming a national network together with our NHS, academic, industrial, public body, and charity partners.

The UWE Bristol team are co-leading the Prevention and Education theme and supporting one PhD student who will be conducting research to inform the prevention of concussion in women’s youth sport.

Female football players having sports training on a playing field. 

Key output

Project contact

For further information about the project, please contact Professor Julie Mytton (julie.mytton@uwe.ac.uk).