NIHR HRC in Paediatrics and Child Health

The NIHR HealthTech Research Centre (NIHR HRC) in Paediatrics and Child Health is one of 14 NIHR HRCs funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research. The NIHR HRC scheme launched in April 2024 and replaced the MedTech and In-vitro diagnostics Co-operatives (MICs). The NIHR HRCs work with patients, businesses, universities, and NHS Trusts to support the development of medical devices, diagnostics, and digital technologies. The NIHR HRC in Paediatrics and Child Health is the only HRC dedicated to children, young people, and their families.

The NIHR HRC in Paediatrics and Child Health will build on the last five years of NIHR Children and Young People MedTech Co-operative (NIHR CYP MedTech) and aims to continue transforming the lives of children and young people living with long-term conditions, and their families.

The HRC supports the development of paediatric health technologies across three core themes and two cross-cutting themes, each led by expert clinicians and researchers around the UK:

• The Early Lifetheme develops technologies for safe births, infection screening, resuscitation, and monitoring with the aim of reducing brain injury, death, and disability in preterm and term babies.
  Professor Don Sharkey, Nottingham.
• The Long-Term Conditions in Childhood theme aims to empower children with chronic conditions to manage their health through early detection, home monitoring, personalised self-management, and mental health support.
  Professor Heather Elphick, Sheffield.
• The Transition theme aims to reimagine the journey from child to adult healthcare through education, self-management, readiness assessment, and service evaluation technologies.
  Dr Priya Narula, Sheffield & Dr Helena Gleeson, Birmingham.
• The cross-cutting Mind & Body Integration (MBI)theme champions holistic innovation at the interface of physical and mental health.
  Professor Paul Fletcher & Dr Kathryn Beardsall, Cambridge.
• The cross-cutting Child Health Artificial Intelligence Network (CHAIN)theme leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to revolutionise paediatric care through data linkage, predictive analytics, and multi-site implementation.
  Professor Andrew Taylor & Professor Neil Sebire, London.