NHS Fit for the Future Dementia Challenge

Funding to support a real-world evaluation of innovations and clinical interventions for the NHS that have the potential to shorten the time it takes to diagnose dementia in the NHS and enhance early detection of clinical change following diagnosis.

The Research and Development (R&D) MAP Health Mission is inviting expressions of interest from healthcare professionals and industry to identify, develop, validate and implement innovations and clinical interventions for the NHS that have the potential to ensure that, by 2029, 92% of patients referred for dementia assessment receive a diagnosis within 18 weeks of referral. The challenge is seeking interventions and innovations that:

• Shorten time to dementia diagnosis.
• Enhance early detection of clinical change following diagnosis.
• Are capable of deployment from 2029.

Clinical interventions must have been evaluated in at least a single-site pilot.

They must deliver at least one of the following:

• Shortened time from referral to dementia diagnosis.
• Improved staging of disease state.
• Improved prognostic data to guide patient and carer support.
• Reduced resource requirement.
• Enhanced efficiency.
• Better patient outcomes.
  

Technological innovations must:

• Be intended for dementia diagnosis or tracking disease progression in people already living with dementia.
• Be medical devices and have, or be near to, regulatory clearance (UKCA or CE mark).
• Have evidence of clinical safety and efficacy through randomised controlled trial data or clinically robust real-world evidence.

All interventions and innovations must:

• Have been tested with user groups.
• Be suitable for routine use across the NHS.
• Have a roadmap for implementation in the NHS.
• Have support from a clinical champion to support real-world evaluation and rollout across the UK if agreed milestones are met.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the resources required to train and support adoption.
• Show the value of the innovation for stakeholders.

Evidence of efficiency gains or health economic benefit is desirable.