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The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has awarded over £3 million to fund 35 innovative medical technology projects targeting the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of acquired brain injury (ABI).
Awarded through the Invention for Innovation FAST 4 scheme, the projects will run for 6 to 12 months and focus on conditions including traumatic brain injury, stroke, tumours, and infections. The initiative aims to improve patient recovery, reduce long-term disability, and ease the economic burden on the healthcare system.
Among the funded innovations is ‘FIT4Labour’, a decision-support tool for maternity teams to identify babies at risk of brain damage or death during labour. The funding will support real-world clinical testing to improve safety and outcomes during childbirth.
Another project, ‘Virtue’, will explore the use of virtual reality (VR) for cognitive rehabilitation in stroke survivors. The 12-month trial at Countess of Chester Hospital will involve 80 patients, testing how immersive VR environments can aid recovery.
Professor Mike Lewis, NIHR’s Scientific Director for Innovation, stated:
“Tackling acquired brain injury requires innovative thinking, and we’re delighted to support these promising projects through the FAST scheme. We look forward to seeing these technologies deliver better treatments and improved outcomes for patients at critical points in their lives.”
The awards also respond to key evidence gaps highlighted in the 2024 Concussion in Sport Research Forum report, and were developed in collaboration with the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Brain Injury and the Defence Medical Services.
