Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, has recently announced that it will be awarding more than £300,000 to the Exeter HealthTech Research Centre and Sanome to further develop MEMORI – an AI platform that aims to detect hospital-acquired infections days earlier.

This grant, provided through Innovate UK’s Digital Health Technology Catalyst (DHTC), will support the continued development and testing of MEMORI, which is set to revolutionize the way hospitals detect and manage infections.

Hospital-acquired infections, also known as healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), are infections that patients acquire during their stay in a hospital or other healthcare facility. These infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality, leading to longer hospital stays, higher healthcare costs, and even fatalities. In the UK alone, it is estimated that HAIs affect around 300,000 patients every year, leading to over 5,000 deaths.

Currently, the detection of HAIs relies on traditional methods such as laboratory testing, which can take days to provide results – by which time the infection may have already spread to other patients. This is where MEMORI comes in. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, MEMORI can analyze vast amounts of patient data in real-time, enabling early detection of potential infections and allowing for prompt intervention.

The Exeter HealthTech Research Centre and Sanome have been working on the development of MEMORI since 2018 and have already received support from Innovate UK through previous grants. This latest grant will enable the team to conduct further research and testing to evaluate the effectiveness of MEMORI in detecting HAIs.

According to Dr. Sanjoy Chatterjee, Director at the Exeter HealthTech Research Centre, “This grant from Innovate UK will enable us to take MEMORI to the next level, ensuring its accuracy and reliability in detecting HAIs. Our ultimate goal is to save lives and reduce the burden of HAIs on patients and the healthcare system.”

The potential impact of MEMORI is significant. Not only will it help in the early detection of HAIs, but it will also assist in the timely management of infections, reducing the risk of transmission to other patients and improving patient outcomes.

Furthermore, MEMORI has the potential to enhance the overall efficiency of healthcare systems. By reducing the time and resources needed for HAI detection and management, hospitals can redirect their efforts and resources towards other critical areas of patient care.

The grant from Innovate UK is a testament to the potential of MEMORI in revolutionizing healthcare. As stated by Dr. Linda Magee, Head of Health and Life Sciences at Innovate UK, “We are delighted to support the development of MEMORI through our DHTC program. This project has the potential to not only significantly improve patient outcomes but also reduce the burden on the NHS in terms of time and resources.”

The support from Innovate UK is a significant milestone for MEMORI and brings it one step closer to being implemented in healthcare facilities. With continued progress and success, MEMORI has the potential to become a game-changer in the fight against HAIs.

In conclusion, the awarding of the £300,000 grant from Innovate UK to the Exeter HealthTech Research Centre and Sanome is a momentous step towards advancing MEMORI – an AI platform that aims to detect hospital-acquired infections days earlier. This support will enable further research and testing of MEMORI, bringing it one step closer to revolutionizing the way HAIs are detected and managed, ultimately improving patient outcomes and the overall efficiency of healthcare systems.