COLLABORATION IN THE
HEALTHCARE CIRCUIT
As AHSNs begin to connect the dots, we look at examples
of our member companies working in partnership.
In this issue we are focusing on collaboration and working together. This coincides with
the launch of the new Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) and building of their
region-wide networks.
In May, NHS England confirmed the designation of 15 new AHSNs, which aim to transform
healthcare by putting innovation at the heart of the NHS to improve patient outcomes as well
as contributing to economic growth.
AHSNs present a unique opportunity to pull together the adoption and spread of innovation
with clinical research and trials, informatics, education, and healthcare delivery. They will
develop solutions to healthcare problems and ensure existing innvoations spread more
quickly by building strong relationships with scientific, academic and industrial communities.
Continuing this theme of strong relationships and collaborative working, we are highlighting
examples of our member companies working together and collaborating on projects to
achieve success.
Paxman Coolers Ltd is the leading global expert
in scalp cooling equipment. The company’s revolutionary
scalp-cooling technology addresses one of the most
distressing side-effects experienced by cancer patients
going through chemotherapy – hair loss.
In 2009, Paxman approached Medilink member Blueprint
Product Design in order to bring the product aesthetics upto-date and redesign the casing of the scalp cooling device.
The current Orbis model (pictured) was launched in 2010.
To further develop the scalp cooler, Paxman and the UK
government are investing over £580,000
on two ongoing projects.
These projects will see Paxman
collaborate with two University of
Huddersfield schools (alongside
Blueprint). For these projects, Paxman
was uniquely awarded Knowledge
Transfer Partnership and Technology
Strategy Board funding at the same time.
Paxman are utilising the University of Huddersfield School
of Applied Sciences’ cutting-edge cell biology techniques to
help identify the mechanisms that govern patients’ variable
responses to scalp cooling in order to provide further
invaluable medical evidence of scalp cooling techniques.
The University of Huddersfield are also working on creating
a more comfortable cooling cap for the patient which is
more effective in application and cheaper to mass produce.
Richard Paxman, Managing Director of Paxman, said:
“I am a strong advocate of sharing best practice between
experienced healthcare companies. Although Blueprint is a
product design company, they have substantial experienced
in healthcare, and I would support any collaboration with
companies who are well versed in the healthcare sector.”
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