SBRI Healthcare has allocated £1.3 million to fund the development of 14 pioneering innovations specifically designed to address persistent women’s health challenges. The initiative, delivered in collaboration with the Health Innovation Network and supported by the Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC), will finance six-month feasibility studies spanning crucial areas such as gynaecological conditions, mental health support, and management of chronic conditions that disproportionately affect women.
The funding represents a significant push to bridge longstanding gaps in women’s healthcare research and technology. Each selected project demonstrates potential to transform standard care protocols and improve health outcomes for women throughout the UK. These innovations range from device-based interventions for childbirth complications to advanced diagnostic tools for conditions that have traditionally been difficult to diagnose and treat.
Transforming birth and perinatal care
The birth and perinatal care category received substantial attention, with three projects securing funding to address challenges in maternal health.
BirthGlide Limited received £99,836 to develop a specialised device that aims to prevent difficult births during the pushing stage of labour. The innovation focuses on reducing traumatic interventions that can lead to long-term health complications for both mother and child.
Women’s health during childbirth also stands to benefit from Peripear Ltd‘s project, awarded £90,779 to create a wearable device supporting perineal stretching during the second stage of labour. The device aims to reduce the incidence of perineal tears and subsequent complications.
The Essential Baby Company secured £77,098 for their haPPIE: SHE Cares project, which specifically targets support for Black and Ethnically Minoritised women during the perinatal period. The project acknowledges and addresses the documented disparities in maternal health outcomes among different ethnic groups.
Dr Sue Mann, National Clinical Director for women’s health at NHS England, expressed enthusiasm for these developments: “It’s fantastic to see new technologies evolving that could make a real difference to improving women’s health, from those experiencing gynaecological and fertility problems to supportive aids during childbirth. Innovations such as these can play more and more of a part in improving care for women.”
Reproductive and gynaecological health solutions
Five projects focusing on reproductive and gynaecological health secured funding, targeting conditions that have historically received insufficient research attention.
ScreenIn3D Limited was awarded £99,655 to develop an organ-on-a-chip platform designed to model embryo implantation, potentially advancing fertility treatment options and research capabilities.
Neotherix Limited received £99,981 to create an innovative device for recto-vaginal fistula treatment, addressing a condition that can cause significant distress and reduced quality of life.
Liberum Health Ltd secured £99,942 to develop a tampon-like device capable of delivering pain medication directly to treat menstrual pain and endometriosis. This approach could provide targeted relief for conditions that affect millions of women.
Signal Enhancement Diagnostics Limited was awarded £99,221 to create a blood-based test for endometriosis diagnosis, potentially revolutionising the diagnostic pathway for a condition that currently takes an average of 7-8 years to diagnose.
The final project in this category went to Spryt Ltd, which received £100,000 to utilise artificial intelligence to increase cervical screening rates in North Central London, addressing a critical preventative health measure.
Mental health and chronic conditions
The third category focuses on mental health and chronic conditions, with six projects receiving funding to address conditions that either uniquely affect women or present differently in female patients.
DDM Health Limited secured £78,063 to enhance their Gro Health platform specifically for women with chronic conditions, creating tailored digital health solutions.
Queen Mary University in collaboration with Samphire Neuroscience received £88,811 to validate the Nettle device for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that significantly impacts quality of life.
Holly Health Ltd was awarded £79,247 to develop a digital health coaching service specifically targeting binge eating challenges, which disproportionately affect women.
Unravel Health Limited secured £99,725 to create a hormone monitor designed for migraine prediction and management, addressing the hormonal triggers that often exacerbate migraines in female patients.
Lighthearted AI Health Limited received £99,125 to develop LightScope, a tool for detecting heart valve disease in women. This addresses the well-documented disparity in cardiovascular disease detection between male and female patients.
The final project in this category went to Signatur Biosciences Ltd, which was awarded £96,055 to advance OncoSignatur Breast for improved breast cancer prognosis, potentially enhancing treatment planning and outcomes for breast cancer patients.
Fostering innovation through partnership
The SBRI Healthcare programme demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in addressing healthcare challenges. The competition was open to a diverse range of organisations including private companies, public sector entities, third sector organisations, large corporations, SMEs, charities, universities, and NHS providers.
Verena Stocker, Interim Director of Innovation, Research, Life Sciences and Strategy at NHS England and Chief Executive Officer of the Accelerated Access Collaborative, highlighted the strategic importance of these investments: “The SBRI Healthcare awards help the NHS to develop new technologies and solutions to address some of the biggest healthcare challenges facing society. We have selected these innovations because they have the potential to make a big difference to women’s health.”
Beyond financial support, the programme offers awarded projects access to the NICE Metatool, which will help optimise their development plans and evidence generation strategies. This comprehensive support aims to facilitate the journey from concept to market, ensuring that promising innovations can successfully reach the patients who need them.
Future implications for women’s healthcare
These funded projects represent a significant step forward in addressing the historical underrepresentation of women in health research and technology development. By focusing specifically on women’s health challenges, the programme acknowledges the unique physiological and social factors that influence female health outcomes.
Swapnil Gadgil, CEO and Co-Founder of Therapy Box and Harley Street Physiotherapy, who served as Co-Chair of the SBRI Healthcare Women’s health panel, noted the quality of applications: “As Co-chair, it was inspiring to see so many groundbreaking ideas backed up with industry partners. By supporting high-risk, high-reward solutions, this competition has aligned with the NHS’s vision for better care and outcomes for women.”
The diversity of funded projects reflects the complex and multifaceted nature of women’s health challenges. From reproductive health to mental wellbeing and chronic disease management, these innovations aim to address women’s health holistically rather than focusing solely on reproductive functions.
The £1.3 million investment through SBRI Healthcare represents a commitment to elevating women’s health as a priority within the healthcare system. The success of these projects could potentially reshape how healthcare systems approach women’s health, moving from reactive treatment to proactive management and prevention strategies.
As these projects progress through their six-month feasibility studies, healthcare providers, policymakers, and patients will be watching closely to see how these innovations might transform women’s healthcare delivery across the UK and potentially worldwide.
