Devices for Dignity: The NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in long term conditions (D4D: NIHR HRC in LTC) has developed an adaptable approach to addressing unmet clinical needs. After a clinical need has been identified, we use our networks of patients and experts to independently refine and validate the need. Once we know exactly what the problem is, and that it has a high clinical priority, we can start exploring creative conceptual approaches to addressing the problem, before moving towards producing and refining prototypes. This approach ensures that valuable time and resource are not wasted in developing technologies that are ultimately unlikely to reach the clinic or marketplace.

Having developed prototypes, we then evaluate how they can work in clinical practice and as part of people’s daily lives. This helps us to obtain the evidence that we need in order to achieve the vital CE mark, and to provide the information needed by clinical departments and NHS purchasers to enable the device to be used in clinical practice.

When we initiate a project, we work closely with people with experience in industry to ensure that the needs of manufacturers and distributors can be anticipated, such that once we have obtained a CE mark, the device can be licensed, produced, and supplied.

We also work directly with companies that are currently developing innovative technologies that approach us with their own project concepts and devices, where NIHR Devices for Dignity HRC are able to add value to the need validation, product development, value proposition and exploitation planning. You can find out more about ways in which we do this in our ‘Work with us’ section.