As the focus of the current SBRI Healthcare funding competition focused on stroke and technology aligns with a number of D4D core themes (neurological, assistive tech, rehab tech, human factors etc), D4D are interested in collaborating with industry lead partners to develop bids.

D4D are focusing on the competition challenge themes of:

• Rehabilitation
• Life after stroke

Of particular interest are technology solutions that consider one or more of the following:

• Augment rehabilitation interventions e.g. through integrated feedback to patients about recovery
• Provide effective home / community rehabilitation that meets the needs of specific groups of stroke survivors e.g. ethnic groups, young people, stroke severities, and those with multiple health conditions
• Improve communication abilities and associated ‘thinking’ skills (cognitive communication disorder)
• Respond to healthcare inequalities
• Assistive technologies that could be adapted / personalised to meet user needs considering a range of aspirations, lifestyles, ages, co-morbidities and contexts
• Address the importance of exercise / physical activity in recovery and risk of secondary stroke.

D4D are keen to work with ‘connector’ organisations like the MIC network for quality referrals to companies where some due diligence has been undertaken on the company and potential solution – this is mainly due to the timescales and the amount of work involved to build robust relationships to build quality bids.

D4D are looking at TRL 3+ who can evidence consideration of commercialisation strategy and commitment to meaningful PPIE.