22 projects will receive funding as a part of the DASA Themed Competition: Veterans’ Health Innovation Fund, run on behalf of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs.
Some £5M in funding has been awarded to the projects which improve the techniques and pathways for meeting veterans’ physical and mental health needs.
Outputs from this competition will improve UK capability to save and enhance lives through the advancement of technologies, interventions and treatments in health. This will enable better future commissioning of treatments.
Funding has been awarded to a variety of projects, including: Four linked projects by Imperial College London to develop prosthetics, including innovative implants to treat limb pain. The projects will make use of cutting edge surgery techniques and how they can improve prosthetics for patients.
NuTissu, a company specialising in advanced material technology, will develop E-Plasters – an innovative wound healing technique that uses advanced biomaterials and electricity to accelerate the healing of skin wounds. The E-Plasters will be explored to see how they could improve veterans’ quality of life, and also reduce the costs of long term chronic wound care.
Scientists at the University of Birmingham will use biomarkers in blood and saliva from veterans who have suffered traumatic brain injury to develop an algorithm to predict prognosis and treatment.
The University of Exeter and company IonaMind will develop and evaluate AI powered tech to treat depression and anxiety in female veterans.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Johnny Mercer said: “I’m delighted that we’re providing funding to these projects today. Utilising the latest developments in research and clinical care, these initiatives will spur innovation and new techniques to treat veterans – both with physical and mental health conditions – who have been injured in the line of duty.
Secretary of State at the new Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, Michelle Donelan, said: “It is great to see the Office for Veterans’ Affairs providing funding to drive forward cutting-edge science and technology that will change lives.
“Starting with those who have been wounded while serving this country, these initiatives have the potential to be utilised more widely, putting UK healthcare at the forefront of innovation.”
The Veterans’ Health Innovation Fund is one of many schemes put in place by this government to improve the healthcare on offer to veterans across the country. These include Op COURAGE and the Veterans Trauma Network.
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Post written by: Vicky Maggiani
Vicky has worked in media for over 20 years and has a wealth of experience in editing and creating copy for a variety of sectors.
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