LONDON, 13 February 2013 – Today Janssen Healthcare Innovation, an entrepreneurial team within Janssen Research & Development, LLC (Janssen), in partnership with the National Health Service (NHS), announced the launch of the inaugural NHS Innovation Challenge Prize for Dementia.
Designed to harness the expertise of those working at the frontline of dementia care in the UK, this NHS Innovation Challenge Prize aims to inspire innovative ideas to help reshape and improve the way dementia care is delivered. A prize of up to £150,000 is being provided by Janssen Healthcare Innovation for solutions that can make a real and sustained difference to the lives of those affected by dementia – both directly and indirectly.
Dementia is one of the greatest health challenges facing society today, particularly against the backdrop of an ageing population.[1] Some 800,000 people are currently living with dementia in the UK, with an estimated 670,000 family and friends acting as primary carers.[1] The financial cost of dementia is also significant. An estimated £23 billion is spent on health services each year and this is predicted to increase by £5 billion over the next five years.[1]
“Janssen Healthcare Innovation is committed to exploring and developing novel ways of delivering healthcare to improve patient outcomes, particularly in areas of significant need such as dementia. We are delighted to be the first industry partner to support the NHS in these important innovation challenges. We hope this initiative will help identify forward-thinking solutions to help transform care for people with dementia and better support their caregivers,” said Marco Mohwinckel from Janssen Healthcare Innovation.
Janssen has a longstanding legacy of advancing neuroscience research dating back to the 1950s, when Dr Paul Janssen’s discovery and development work led to one of the first breakthrough treatments for schizophrenia. Over the last half century, Janssen has discovered, developed and launched many innovative treatments for brain and central nervous system (CNS) conditions. Globally, Janssen has committed more than $12 million annually to public and professional education sponsorships and philanthropy in the field of neuroscience and mental health
Calling for support to define the challenge
To ensure the Challenge prize is addressing the greatest areas of need, the first stage invites those at the frontline of dementia care to identify the key issues facing the treatment, diagnosis and/or ongoing management of people with dementia. Healthcare organisations and professionals, patients, caregivers and patient groups are being encouraged to share their insights and suggestions to help define the scope of the challenge. Once this is agreed, interested parties will be invited to submit their innovative approaches to address the specified challenge. An expert panel comprising a mix of champions of innovation in the health service, including NHS clinicians and managers, and innovation leaders from academia, industry and other sectors will be responsible for assessing the Challenge submissions and recommending the winner(s).
Deadline for defining the scope
Submissions for ideas to help define the scope of the challenge close on 20 March 2013. For further information about the NHS Innovation Challenge Prize for Dementia, visit: www.challengeprizes.institute.nhs.uk/the-challenges/partnership-challenges/.
Notes to Editors
About Janssen Healthcare Innovation
Janssen Healthcare Innovation is an entrepreneurial team within Janssen Research & Development, LLC (Janssen), one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. The Janssen Healthcare Innovation team is developing transformative integrated care businesses and building enabling technologies that harness the broad and differentiated capabilities of Johnson & Johnson to address the fundamental challenges of healthcare delivery. For more information about the team, go to www.janssenhealthcareinnovation.com.
About NHS Innovation Challenges
The NHS Innovation Challenge Prizes have been created to recognise and reward ideas that tackle some of the most challenging areas in healthcare. Now in their third year, the scheme rewards innovative healthcare practices and ideas that have demonstrated a positive impact in the local context where they have been implemented, but which have not yet received wider recognition. The Prizes are awarded for innovations that respond to the specific challenges set, and promote the widespread diffusion of these successful innovations throughout the NHS, fostering a culture that encourages the identification, development and spread of innovative ideas.
In addition to the NHS Innovation Challenge Prize for Dementia there are nine NHS Innovation Challenges and three NHS Breakthrough Challenges currently open. An Expert Panel of leading innovators from academia, industry and the service has been appointed to recognise and reward high-quality innovations in care.
Visit www.challengeprizes.institute.nhs.uk for more information.
References
[1] Alzheimer’s Society. Alzheimer’s Society Dementia 2012 Report. Available at http://alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/download_info.php?fileID=1389
For further media information, please contact:
Nicole Tripney, Red Health
T: 020 7025 6497 (direct)
M: 07919 232 349
E: nicole.tripney@redconsultancy.com
Jeannine Nolan,
Janssen Healthcare Innovation
M: 07768 242 602
E: jnolan@its.jnj.com