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The HRC in Long-term conditions (Devices for Dignity) acts as a catalyst for the development of innovative medical devices, healthcare technologies and technology-dependent interventions that help people to live well for longer. Working alongside patients and carers with lived experience of long-term health conditions, the team accelerates equitable access to HealthTech that has evidenced benefits for people with inter-related conditions, supporting them to live their lives well for longer with impacts on dignity, independence and life quality. Their commitment is to bridge the gap between pioneering research and practical application, ensuring that beneficial healthcare products and transformative interventions reach patients who need them most, improving quality of life and advancing healthcare worldwide
About HRC's theme
Long-term conditions refer to chronic diseases that are frequently incurable, often degenerative, and require consistent monitoring, treatment and management. Their prevalence increases with age, and in many cases, people experience co-morbidities, including mental health conditions which are commonly experiened alongside long-term physical conditions.
Support provided
- Project oversight and direction.
- Establishment of project teams including clinical, patient, academic and design partners as required.
- Concept validation and scoping of clinical 'fit'.
- Clinical evidence planning, from proof of concept to large scale trials.
- Regulatory guidance and strategy development.
- Patient and public involvement and engagement.
- Dissemination planning.
- Support with funding applications.
- Market analysis including proof of market.
- Exploitation strategy development.
- Adoption and implementation planning.
- Relationship building and signposting within the NHS, health and social care, and technology sectors.
- Diabetes
- Long-term neurological conditions
- Women's health
- Kidney care
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Rehabilitation, assistance and restorative technologies
- Methodological innovation
- Pathways to implementation and impact
- Agile project management
- Deep product lifecycle knowledge used to progress projects through challenges and blockers.
- Care pathway knowledge and care pathway analysis
- AI and data
- Health economics partnership
- The Healthcare Scientist Innovation Fellowship Programme (by approval only)
Find out more
HRC website
HRC LinkedIn
Contact details
HRC Address & Postcode
NIHR HRC in Long-term conditions (Devices 4 dignity)
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
D33 Royal Hallamshire Hospital
Glossop Road
Sheffield
S10 2JF
Host Trust and University
Hosted by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with 11 Trusts and Universities nationwide
Available support
Technology Readiness Levels supported
1 - 9
How to access support
Innovators register interest by completing a brief, 6 item Collaboration Request Form through the HRC's website portal, providing company information and support request information. Requests are reviewed by the HRC team each Monday, and if relevant and within the remit of the HRC, they will work with their national expert networks as part of a validation of need process and will then liaise with the innovator on next steps. This information is used to develop the project if they decide to work with the innovator. If they decide against working with an innovator, they provide all the gathered information and do a warm handover to another more suitable service.