NIA Selects Transformative Approaches for Healthcare Needs

Twelve innovators (‘Fellows’) and innovations, including Cyted’s platform for the earlier detection of disease through a proprietary machine learning and digital pathology infrastructure have been selected to join The NHS Innovation Accelerator’s (NIA) award-winning programme in 2021. Offering solutions to some of the NHS’ most pressing needs, the selected technologies will be supported over the next three years to scale across England for the benefit of NHS patients and staff.

This year, the NIA sought evidence-based innovations that address key NHS priorities: supporting the workforce, mental health and COVID-19 response. From remote patient monitoring and diagnostics to virtual clinical training for staff, the 2021 cohort represents a range of solutions that are set to transform the health and social care system in England.

Each innovation – and its representative Fellow – were selected through a robust, multi-stage assessment process involving a college of expert clinicians, patients and commercial leads drawn from a range of organisations including NHS England and NHS Improvement, NHSX, the Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) and NICE.

The announcement in March marked the sixth cohort joining the NIA, which is an NHS England and NHS Improvement initiative delivered in partnership with England’s 15 AHSNs, hosted at UCLPartners. Since it launched in 2015, the NIA has supported the uptake and spread of 74 evidence-based innovations across more than 2,475 NHS sites.

In recognition of the new cohort, Professor Stephen Powis, Chair of the NIA and National Medical Director for NHS England and NHS Improvement, said: “After a year like no other for the NHS, the importance of innovation has never been more clear. From the way we deliver services to how we support the health and social care workforce, innovation has proven critical to ensuring we remain able to care for NHS patients and staff effectively and efficiently. The 12 innovations joining the NHS Innovation Accelerator in 2021 meet the needs of the NHS at this critical time and will be supported to scale across England for even greater patient benefit.”

Marcel Gehrung, CEO, Cyted, commented: “It is an honour to have been selected for this programme.  Cyted’s mission is to work to build a world where disease is prevented rather than treated, and we see collaboration with NHS England as a vital part of this challenge. I am very much looking forward to working with the NIA team over the next three years.”

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