Generating Additional Innovation and Research Opportunities during COVID 19 in Device and Technology Development and Associated Clinical, Patient, and Research Activity Benefits through a Clinical Engineering Innovation and Research Team (CEIR)

Hopkins Chris

doi:10.35840/2633-8939/7205

Abstract

One positive development from the trials supported during the COVID-19 period has been a much-strengthened relationship between the Research & Development (R&D) and Clinical Engineering departments. Companies seeking to develop new technologies needed to get rapid regulatory approval from the Medicine's & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for CE marking. Achieving such approval required the expert technical input of clinical scientists and engineers within the clinical engineering department, alongside the input of experienced researchers, adept at designing studies and gaining ethical approval. Simply put, we found our local supply chain could not interface with the NHS without Clinical Engineering and R&D support.

Highlights

The Research and Development (R&D) department has over several years been successful in working closely with industry to support research studies leading to the development of new drugs and technologies
It has invested in a dedicated researcher development and grants function, which supports staff from across the University Health Board (UHB) to design research studies, often working with external partners, leading to the development of new technologies that improve health outcomes for patients
Providing a quality assurance service to develop PPE visors. Both Research & Development (R&D) and Clinical Engineering considered there to be significant merit in continuing this joint working through the establishment of a joint function that:

Summary

Introduction

The Research and Development (R&D) department has over several years been successful in working closely with industry to support research studies leading to the development of new drugs and technologies. It has led to far more clinicians wishing to be involved in studies that enable their patients to be offered treatments only available through participation in a trial. This has been supported and encouraged, as innovation and R&D have become core business and key pillars of the UK Government and Welsh Government response

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion