Published: 1st February 2023
The Innovation Accelerator Fund is an initiative driving pathology innovation across South East London to help us lead the way in service development for the benefit of our patients. Today (Wednesday 1 February) the latest Progressive Award application window opened, allowing up to £75,000 to be applied for to fund a new innovative project or idea.
This application window closes on 24 February 2023, however there will be another opportunity to apply to the Progressive Award during October. This year will also see the launch of the Transformative Award, the highest level of the Innovation Accelerator Fund which will welcome applications of up to £500,000 to fund large-scale projects which seeks to transform operational entities. The Agile Award, meanwhile, makes up to £10,000 available for individual projects, with applications welcome to this category all year round.
All colleagues within the South East London Pathology Partnership, including those in non-laboratory roles, may apply for funding, as well as students and colleagues within Guy’s and St Thomas’, and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trusts.
The panel that reviews the applications is looking for imaginative proposals that would positively benefit the partnership and our patients, whether that is through the adoption of new assays, applications, or capabilities. Some examples of projects that have already been awarded funding include the application of artificial intelligence to aid histopathological lymph node assessment in breast cancer patients and the development of digital droplet PCR assays to monitor chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) levels in patients with haematological malignancies following CAR-T therapy.
More information on the Innovation Accelerator Fund and details on how to apply can be found here: https://sel.synlab.co.uk/iaf
Professor Dominic Harrington, Chief Scientific Officer at Synnovis
