The NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA) – an NHS England initiative delivered in partnership with England’s 15 Academic Health Science Networks and the Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC) now in it’s eighth year – has launched its latest call for applications for its 2023 cohort.
The NIA presents a fantastic opportunity for innovators with proven health solutions to receive bespoke support to scale their innovations, including a learning programme and mentorship. Previous NIA fellows include Asma Khalil and her innovation Home Monitoring of Hypertension in Pregnancy, Caroline Palmer and her innovation ChatHealth.
The call is open to local, national and international healthcare innovations supported by passionate individuals from any background, including SMEs, clinicians, charity/third sector and academics. For the 2023 intake, the NIA is seeking innovations that align with the NHS Core20Plus5 manifesto, while addressing key theme areas of elective recovery and operational challenges post-pandemic.
Therapy areas of interest, as outlined in Core20Plus5, are:
- Maternity
- Mental health and severe mental illness
- Cancer
- Respiratory disease
- Hypertension and cardiovascular disease
Additionally, the NIA is looking for innovations that address urgent and emergency care. All applicants must be able to demonstrate how their innovation actively alleviates health inequalities in practice.
To apply, you should be able demonstrate the following:
- Significant outcomes for significantly lower cost
- An evidence-base for your innovation that shows it is ready to be diffused across the NHS
- A personal set of strong values as well as a passion for learning and sharing your insight widely
- A commitment to scaling evidence-based innovations for patient and population benefit
- A commitment to understanding health inequalities and to improving equity of access, experience and outcomes through innovation.
Innovators from all genders, ethnicities and backgrounds are encouraged to apply for the accelerator. We know that many groups have been underrepresented in past cohorts and the NIA are keen to move toward a cohort of Fellows that better represents the diversity of the people served by the NHS.
The application period will close at 11.59pm on 28 October 2022. Interested in applying? Visit the NIA website to learn more about the application criteria and process, find dates for informational webinars, and access the online application portal: bit.ly/ApplyNIA
ICHP Senior Innovation Manager, Logan Ryan (Logan.Ryan@imperialcollegehealthpartners.com) is also available to support you in completing your application. For further information, contact the NHS Innovation Accelerator at nia@uclpartners.com.
