Health Innovation Manchester has published its annual Impact Report for 2020-2021, focussing on how the organisation has accelerated health innovation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report examines how HInM played a role as an integrated academic health science and innovation system, working on behalf of the Greater Manchester city region.

Health innovation is among Greater Manchester’s frontier sector strengths identified with the Greater Manchester Economic Vision and the Greater Manchester Local Industrial Strategy.

HInM’s interactive report, titled “Accelerating Health Innovation during COVID-19”, features thought-leadership pieces from the executive team, project case studies and impact data from the past 12 months.

It features information across the different pillars of HInM’s work:

  • Digital Disrupters – including accelerating vital data sharing through the GM Care Record, the rollout of a UK-first COVID-19 tracker for care homes and creation of the Smokefree Pregnancy digital platform
  • Health and Care Catalysts – including HInM’s role in a Greater Manchester-wide response to mental health, remotely monitoring patients through COVID Oximetry @Home and supporting pregnant women at risk of pre-eclampsia. It also features HInM’s work as an Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) and collaborating as part of the national AHSN Network.
  • Groundbreaking Researchers – including supporting the Greater Manchester Research Rapid Response Group to unite clinical and academic COVID-19 research. It also features updates from the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC) domains and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester research themes.
  • Industry partners – including support offered to SMEs, work undertaken as part of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programmes, the latest successful Momentum Fund winners and the launch of the Greater Manchester Research and Innovation Health Accelerator Programme.
  • Public and Community Involvement and Engagement – including how HInM works with PCIE groups and wider networks to ensure that the voices and lived experiences of local people are the heart of research and innovation.
  • The Utilisation Management Unit – including the support provided to urgent and emergency care coordination across Greater Manchester and facilitating learning and improvements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • HInM’s commitment to equality, diversion and inclusion also features, as does an updated on the innovation pipeline approach, governance and finance.

Professor Ben Bridgewater, Chief Executive of Health Innovation Manchester, said:

“As the pandemic progressed in the first few months of 2020 and began to significantly impact our NHS and care services, we needed to rapidly mobilise and play an integral part of the COVID-19 response. Health Innovation Manchester has worked hard to stand up and play its part in this as an integrated academic health science and innovation system, working on behalf of the Greater Manchester city region.”

He continued: “We would like to thank all our partners for their cooperation and collaboration during the pandemic, as well as continuing to share vital learnings and insights in order for us to constantly improve and develop as a system.”

Health Innovation Manchester annual impact report – 2020 to 2021 is available here.

Greater Manchester at the leading edge of Precision Health – Health Innovation Manchester