EPSRC: Interdisciplinary Research Collaborations (Ircs) in Sensing Systemsfor Healthcare

EPSRC: Interdisciplinary Research Collaborations (IRCs) in Sensing Systemsfor Healthcare Technologies

For many of the promising opportunities to transform healthcare to be realised, such as stratified medicine and self management of health, significant advances are needed in the ability to predict, diagnose and monitor, in real time and /or at point of care. These in turn rely on research that can create novel technology platforms that can determine, sense physical and environmental factors, and integrate, analyse and interpret this data for decision making purposes. The scale of the challenge requires a concerted approach from the engineering and physical sciences research community.

Proposals will be invited for large-scale, interdisciplinary research collaborations (IRCs) to bring together UK research strengths in engineering and physical sciences to address these challenges within Healthcare Technologies through a critical mass approach and to maximise the opportunities for impact.

A budget of up to £25 million will be available to support up to 3 collaborations of the order of £8 - £12 million each, for 5 years.

These IRCs will be expected to work with each other to create a focus for national research endeavour. To this end, a proportion of thetotal value of the grant is to be used to draw in expertise from outside the initial collaborations. The expectation is that collaborations will build on existing research strength and be able to demonstrate strong connectivity with clinical research environments and clinical and industrial end-users and will be required to produce a strategy for end-user engagement as part of their bid.

Scope:

Collaborations are expected to bring together research expertise from engineering and from the physical sciences around a clear research agenda. They should be holistic in approach, encompassing multiple aspects of sensing systems. These could for example focus around (a)making progress within a specific disease state (b) or bringing together novel technological platforms that can impact on one or more disease states. Research Collaborations would be expected to demonstrate strong and appropriate engagement with industry and clinical expertise.

The large research collaborations should bring together the broad range of disciplines necessary to address the challenges detailed above. The engineering and physical sciences research required includes (but is not limited to):

• Novel sensor technologies/tools to detect and measure physical conditions and biomedical markers in real time;
• Integration of sensors to a system, and into daily life;
• Data capture in real time;
• Conversion of data and information into knowledge (and therefore a timely decision).

Application process and Timescale:

The call will open in mid March and close in early June, so applicants will need to be prepared for the short timescales. Prospective applicants will be asked to complete an “Intention to Submit” form by 16.00 on Monday 16th April 2012. By completing this form the applicant is committed to attending a briefing workshop on the call which is to be held in early May. Decisions will be made by December 2012.

Please note: An institution may only lead on one bid. Each bid must have a Director who will run and oversee the collaboration.

Further details will be available online in March.

Contacts: Hannah Maytum

Mamta Thangaraj