D4D works with a wide range of healthcare technology users and their carers, clinical and healthcare professionals, inventors, charities, industry and academics to identify where a technology solution could greatly increase a patient’s quality of life but where no such solution currently exists. Particular expertise is in the fields of Assistive Technology, Urinary Continence Management and Renal Technology.

D4D also operates a user friendly website where members of the public can register their unmet needs and where inventors can apply to work with D4D to develop their ideas through to a marketable product.

How do we add value?

For each opportunity D4D will validate the unmet need and look at the technical, clinical and commercial potential and route to adoption within the NHS. This involves bringing together a team of healthcare experts, scientists and academics to assess the solution in a clinical setting, together with a  full range of professional services, including clinical engineering, prototyping, regulatory advice, health economics, market analysis, grant writing and IP management. 

Benefits to Patients

Patients and other users of technology are integral to the D4D process and involved at all stages of research and development. D4D will ensure that new products are tested with user groups and fit for purpose before entering the market. The aim of D4D is to ensure that the right product is developed in the right way and for the right reason.

Benefits to Industry

D4D works with industrial partners at all stages of the research, development and commercialisation process for new medical devices and technologies. An innovative model of buying out the time of clinicians, academics and other healthcare professionals to work on projects means that D4D has the ability to respond rapidly to industry needs and provide a single entry point for accessing and working with the NHS. 

The story so far

In the first four years since D4D was set up in 2008, we have:

• Reviewed over 250 unmet needs and project proposals
• Provided early-stage proof of concept funding to support 10 new project ideas
• Delivered 7 important advances in the healthcare technology field to date with a further 3 new advances planned in 2012
• Won over £4.5m in grant funding to support project development

As of April 2012 we are currently actively managing 24 projects with more in the pipeline.