Precision Medicine Technologies: Shaping the Future

The aim of this competition is to support the commercial development of precision medicine (PM) technologies.

Innovate UK define precision medicine technology as innovations that enable early and accurate diagnosis which will help with patient management or therapy selection. This includes combining knowledge of clinical biomarkers with advances in diagnostic technologies and data analysis. Precision medicine is also commonly referred to as stratified medicine or personalised medicine.

You must explain clearly how your proposed technology will improve precision medicine. It must make it easier for medical professionals to choose an appropriate patient treatment. You must justify why the proposed technology or service will help with the selection of the most appropriate treatment for the patient.

You can apply to carry out either:

• a business-led feasibility study
• collaborative research and development

For feasibility study projects you must include project plans that demonstrate you intend to:

• perform initial technical activities
• clarify the value proposition of the concept
• work with the relevant organisations and groups to develop a clear understanding of the technical, operational, clinical and regulatory requirements, and the challenges you expect to have in encouraging medical professionals to adopt your technology
• determine which regulatory and health technology assessment process would be most relevant
• analyse the progress so far and produce a clear development plan

For collaborative research and development proposals you must follow one of these themes:

• rapid and accurate diagnosis of commonly misdiagnosed ailments, to help pick cost-effective therapies that are already on the market, such as B12 supplements for pernicious anaemia
• mental health and precision psychiatry
• paediatric and maternal-foetal medicine
• inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis, respiratory, autoimmune, Crohn’s and transplant rejection

Your proposal must demonstrate a clear understanding of:

• the market potential
• possible routes to market
• intellectual property issues
• commercialisation strategies

All projects must involve at least one UK based business.

Feasibility study projects must be led by a UK based business either:

• working alone or
• working with other businesses or research organisations

Research and development projects must:

• be collaborative and led by a UK based business of any size or research and technology organisation (RTO)
• include at least one other grant-claiming organisation, such as an NHS organisation, another healthcare provider, a business, a Catapult or other research technology organisation, a research base or a third-sector organisation

For feasibility studies and industrial research projects, you could get funding for your eligible project costs of:

• up to 70% if you are a small business
• up to 60% if you are a medium-sized business
• up to 50% if you are a large business

For experimental development projects which are nearer to market, you could get funding for your eligible project costs of:

• up to 45% if you are a small business
• up to 35% if you are a medium-sized business
• up to 25% if you are a large business

Feasibility study projects: total project costs of up to £100,000 and last up to 12 months. Industrial research and experimental development: total costs up to £2 million and last up to 24 months. Projects must start by 1 November 2018.