A ground-breaking partnership to develop digital health apps has won the 2017 Oxford Academic Health Science Network Best Public-Private Collaboration Award.
The prize was presented at Oxford Town Hall this evening (Thursday 5 October).
The winning partnership comprises the University of Oxford, Oxford University Innovation, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Drayson Technologies. They signed a strategic research agreement earlier this year to evaluate, develop and commercialise digital health applications including GDm-Health for the management of gestational diabetes which is one of only two NHS-approved apps available on the NHS apps library.
Pictured above, left-right, are: Lord Drayson of Drayson Technologies, John Harris of OBN, Lionel Tarassenko from the University of Oxford, Paul Durrands of Oxford AHSN and OBN Awards host Sally Le Page.
The Oxford AHSN award recognises innovative partnerships between universities, industry and the NHS which will ultimately benefit patients.
Professor Gary Ford, Chief Executive of Oxford AHSN, said: “This project is a very worthy winner of our 2017 Best Public-Private Collaboration award. It encapsulates everything this prize was set up to reward.
“Partnership across the research and innovation pathway has been at the heart of this clinically-led initiative from day one.
“Our clinical innovation adoption team coordinated the roll-out across NHS trusts in our region and our strategic and industry partnerships team brought together Lionel Tarassenko from the University of Oxford’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Paul Drayson, the head of Drayson Technologies.
“The result is a ground-breaking collaboration between the university, a commercial partner and the NHS which will bring investment back into the public sector.
“It’s already on the list of approved NHS apps and promises to improve the lives of hundreds of pregnant women.”
Lord Paul Drayson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Drayson Technologies, said: “This award is a real boost for our partnership, as we work together to ensure that patients benefit from clinically-led digital innovations and real-world insights born out of Oxford’s world-class medical research and that this generates a financial return back into the NHS trust and the university.”
The shortlist for the 2017 Oxford AHSN Best Public-Private Partnership Collaboration also included:
- Johnson and Johnson/Janssen for ongoing collaborative work in the field of health and wellbeing, including work in mental health, inflammatory bowel disease and digital innovation. Partners included Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and the NIHR Oxford Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care.
- Sarissa Biomedical for work to develop a simple point of care diagnostic blood test (SMARTChip) as an aid to emergency stroke identification leading to better patient outcomes and more efficient use of NHS resources. Partners include Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the South Central Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust, other AHSNs and universities.
The prize was presented at the 2017 OBN Awards by Dr Paul Durrands, Chief Operating Officer of the Oxford AHSN. He said: “The quality of the shortlist this year was outstanding, demonstrating the range, scope and impact of the partnerships across our region. This made the judges’ task very hard indeed.”
The judges were, however, unanimous in their decision. The judging panel comprised:
- Dr Nick Edwards, Chair of MedInnovate and Chair of Oxford AHSN Strategic and Industry Partnerships Oversight Group
- Chris Goard, Non-Executive Director, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; former Group Marketing Director of Taylor Nelson Sofres plc
- Nigel Tipple, Chief Executive, Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership
Feedback from the judges on the winner:
- “Very innovative for the region giving potential for sustained benefits to patients and the healthcare system”
- “Has huge potential to impact greater spread of ideas and improved patient outcomes”
The Oxford AHSN Best Public-Private Collaboration Award is now in its fourth year. Previous winners include the Structural Genomics Consortium, Isansys Lifecare and Cranfield University. Read more here.