We aim to grow HealthTech research capacity, support flexible learning, and foster an inclusive, collaborative innovation community.
This page brings together useful resources, training opportunities, and tools for researchers, clinicians, and industry partners. We will be adding further resources and links over time.
If you need further support with your research projects or have suggestions for additional training content, please contact us at HRC-Emergency@mft.nhs.uk.
General
The Christabel Pankhurst Institute and Translation Manchester have created the Pankhurst Health Technology Translation Toolkit, a resource designed to support the translation of health technologies from research to patient benefit.
This toolkit is for academics, industry professionals, and NHS staff involved in the development of health technologies such as software as a medical device, non-invasive medical devices, and implantable/invasive medical devices.
The Innovator Training Scheme is a joint programme between the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and Translation Manchester and supports researchers to explore and develop innovations and routes to clinical impact, alongside industry partners, and exploit their research for the benefit of patients.
We are currently developing a training programme tailored for early career researchers, academics, industry professionals and NHS staff with an interest in Health Technology.
The programme will include:
- Online bite-sized training content relevant to HealthTech research
- Hosting workshops and expert-led masterclasses on key topics such as regulatory approval, sustainable innovation, and Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE)
As we develop our training programme, content will be uploaded to our YouTube channel.
Sustainability
For a helpful beginner’s guide on Innovating Sustainably, take a look at the Innovator Support Pack.
Developed by the Health Innovation Network, the pack features a wealth of resources for innovators and businesses, including background information on the NHS and sustainability.
The Health Innovation Network features useful information for innovators on their website.
Their Environmental Sustainability page outlines the commitment of the NHS to sustainability, and the role that innovators can play.
The Sustainable Healthcare Coalition have created the Sustainable Care Pathways Knowledge Hub, full with resources, tips, case studies and guidance for health workers and innovators looking to reduce the environmental impact of a care pathway.
Additionally, they have developed the Care Pathway Calculator to help healthcare workers and innovators estimate the carbon impact of a change to care pathway.
The Sustainable Healthcare Coalition have also developed the Sustainable Clinical Trials Knowledge Hub full of guidance, tips, and resources for researchers and clinical staff to help reduce the impact that their research has on the environment.
NHS England’s Greener NHS website has a useful section for industry/future suppliers which outlines their sustainability requirements for suppliers to the NHS.
Their Environmental Sustainability page outlines the commitment of the NHS to sustainability, and the role that innovators can play.
Further resources:
- Cabinet Office’s Carbon Reduction Plan guidance: PPN-0621-Carbon-Reduction-Plan-Template-Jan22.odt
- Information on product lifecycle accounting and reporting – for procurement purposes: Product-Life-Cycle-Accounting-Reporting-Standard_041613.pdf
- Guidance from the treasury on sustainable reporting: Sustainability_Reporting_Guidance_2020-21.pdf
For Health Technologists, the Department of Health & Social Care have released their Design for Life Roadmap (plans for all UK medical devices to embed circular economy principles by 2045) which sets out guidance for device innovators.
PPIE
Patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) means partnering with patients, carers and communities to shape health technologies. It helps ensure innovations are relevant, inclusive and effective by incorporating real-world needs, experiences and perspectives throughout design, development and implementation.
A set of guiding principles from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) to support purposeful and effective patient and public involvement and engagement in innovation.
Co-developed with patients, public contributors and partners, these principles promote good practice to support effective and sustainable partnerships.
NIHR have published official guidance to support funding applicants in planning how to work with diverse people and communities.
It outlines key expectations for applications and signposts to a range of useful further resources to help design, prepare and deliver effective PPIE.
‘How to involve and engage patients in digital health tech innovation‘ is an evidence-based guide developed by Boehringer Ingelheim and the University of Plymouth.
It brings together best practice in PPIE and offers practical advice and resources to support digital health innovators in effectively involving patients and the public.
We deliver our PPIE through Vocal, a nationally recognised team delivering PPIE in partnership with Greater Manchester.
Vocal creates opportunities for people to have a voice in health research and innovation, and their website includes practical examples, resources and case studies.
A practical toolkit from Cancer Research UK offering step-by-step guidance on developing and delivering activity. The toolkit includes planning questions, examples and considerations to support activity.
STEP UP: Strategies for Trialists to promote Equal Participation in clinical trials for Under-served Populations is a collection of guidance and resources to support more inclusive clinical trails.
Developed with input from trialists, clinicians, patients and the public, it provides practical recommendations to improve participation, including through effective PPIE.