Health MVP
Up to $1.6 M is available in R&D funding for Victorian SME Health solutions providers.
About
The Health MVP is a $15 million competitive grants program that encourages innovation in healthcare. Through the Health MVP, the Victorian Government is seeking solutions to healthcare challenges in order to achieve better health outcomes, improve healthcare service delivery and deliver economic benefits for Victoria.
Feasibility Study Recipients
The following Feasibility Study projects are underway and due to be delivered in 2013. Follow the links for more information on each of the participating SMEs.
- Circulatory Shock Identification – OptoTech is working with Ambulance Victoria to investigate a simple and safe non-invasive method for early detection and treatment of circulatory shock in critically ill patients.
- Pain Management Device – Bionic Enterprises is working with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre to investigate an innovative, simple and more cost-effective pain alleviation device, based on a custom electrode array and a miniature stimulator.
- Donor Organ Preservation – Perfusion Solutions is working with Alfred Health to investigate a new preservation technique for donor organs involving the use of perfusion instead of simple ice storage.
- Glaucoma Implant - Grey Innovation is working with The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital to investigate a surgical implant to improve the outcome of surgery for glaucoma.
- Bidirectional Flow Cannula – MTMM is working with Alfred Health to investigate a bidirectional peripheral cannulae solution to reduce the risk of limb complications during surgery.
- Non-invasive Arterial Calibrator – Procept is working with Monash Health to investigate a solution to make cardiac output and oxygen consumption measurement simpler, safer and less costly.
- Ovarian Activity Home Monitor – Planet Innovation is working with Austin Health to investigate a point-of-care microfluidic device that will allow women undergoing assisted reproductive treatment to reliably monitor their ovarian activity at home.
- Plaque Removal Device – APS Innovations is working with Dental Health Services Victoria to investigate a device that will offer a plaque removal solution for children and people with disabilities who do not have the manual dexterity required to effectively brush their teeth, independent of an adult or carer.
- Respire Nebuliser – Grey Innovation is working with Alfred Health to further investigate developing a miniature nebuliser, the Respire™ system, for the treatment of chronic respiratory illnesses such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
- Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Point of Care Test – Grey Innovation is working with The Royal Women’s Hospital to investigate a simple, fast, accurate and low cost nucleic acid detection test for STIs for use in community health clinics by community health workers.
- Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) Model of Care – MedTech Healthcare is working with Peninsula Health to investigate a method of remote monitoring for CHF patients to automatically report (in real-time) personal health data to clinicians, via the internet or portable smart devices. This will enable CHF patients to remain in their home for longer and reduce periods of hospitalisation.
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Anti-Viral treatment – Biota is working with Monash Health to investigate a safe anti-viral for the treatment of children under five who present with symptoms of human RSV, a major cause of respiratory illness in young children.
Successfully completed Feasibility Studies will be assessed for further funding of up to $1.5million over two years for the Validation stage to undertake R&D (including clinical trials) to further progress the solution.
Objectives
The Health MVP objectives are to:
- support greater levels of innovation in health-outcome focused agencies and industry in order to improve health outcomes and/or the productivity of healthcare spend or service delivery
- support the growth of innovative SMEs in order to deliver economic benefits for Victoria such as increased jobs, exports, investment and productivity
- support clinical translational research as a key mechanism for improving health and/or improving the productivity of healthcare service delivery or spend
- encourage clinical trials in Victoria in order to capture the social and economic benefits of a local endeavour
- encourage a greater level of collaboration between and within public and private sector organisations.
Benefits
For Victorian public sector entities the Health MVP provides support to identify problems and collaborate with industry to develop solutions that will improve health or healthcare service delivery and reduce costs.
For SMEs the Health MVP provides a new source of funding to develop products, processes or services and the opportunity to develop and validate new technology in response to a real customer demand. This provides a sound position to secure further investment and/or commercial opportunities.
The Victorian community will benefit from:
- improved public sector health service delivery and productivity
- early access to new and innovative technologies with the capacity to improve the health and wellbeing of Victorians and
- more focused private sector R&D, leading to new business ventures, future investment and economic benefits.
Feasibility Study
The Health MVP Feasibility Study aims to determine and document the viability of the solution proposed by the SME. The study will be undertaken by the SME, and provides the opportunity to develop the partnership between the Host and the SME.
In preparing to commence the Feasibility Study, the Host and SME will establish and agree on governance arrangements to support the objectives of the study and ensure that the Feasibility Study Report comprehensively details the activity and outcomes of the study.
The main steps in undertaking a Feasibility Study are:
- Appoint an experienced Project Manager in both the SME and the Host’s organisations to manage the project
- Develop a Work Plan to detail the study’s delivery time, deliverables etc., including a milestone plan and assigned responsibilities.
- Appoint a Project Advisory Group and any necessary external advisors
- Undertake the study in accordance with the prepared workplan
- Maintain regular communication with the Host and other relevant stakeholders
- Deliver a Feasibility Study Report in accordance with the Work Plan – including drafts of the Report as agreed at 10 weeks from inception and a presentation to the Host/Project advisory group and DBI on final study findings.
Funding
Feasibility Study
SMEs approved to undertake Feasibility Study will enter into a funding agreement of up to $100,000 with the Host to develop a Feasibility Study Report. The funding agreement will include the terms of the funding, monitoring, evaluation and reporting processes required to ensure that the project is well managed between the Host and the SME.
The Host will administer and acquit the funding and manage the development and completion of the Feasibility Study in accordance with the terms of the funding agreement.
The key milestones for the Feasibility Study are:
- the execution of the contract between the Host and SME
- the delivery of a draft report at between eight and ten weeks (as agreed in the Host/SME contract)
- the submission of the final report at between 12 and 16 weeks including a presentation to the Host and Health MVP staff (as agreed in the Host/SME contract).
Validation
SMEs that progress to Validation will enter into a new funding agreement. Health MVP funding of up to $1.5 million per project over a period of up to two years will be made available (granted from DBI to the Host) to SMEs to conduct the R&D project. The funding agreement will include the terms of the funding, monitoring, evaluation, agreed milestones and deliverables required by DBI to ensure that the project is well managed between the Host and SME.
The Host will administer the funding and manage the development and completion of the Validation stage in accordance with the terms of the funding agreement.
Eligibility
To be eligible, SME applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- be located or be largely based in Victoria
- be a non tax-exempt company incorporated in Australia under the Corporations Act 2001, with a significant portion of the applicant’s current business activities, employees or assets residing within Australia
- have a combined turnover (including each related body corporate) of less than $60,000,000 for each of the three financial years prior to lodgement of the application or have fewer than 250 employees (with 10% variance allowed)
- be able to demonstrate that it owns, has access to, or has beneficial use of any existing IP needed to carry out and/or commercialise the product
- be willing to undertake not less than 80% of the R&D work in Victoria for the duration of the Validation stage
- have the Principal Investigator based in Victoria for the duration of the Validation stage.
Expert Assistance
Writing a good quality grant application is a critical element in the application process. An application needs to be well thought through, written concisely, have clear objectives and purpose, and show clear links to the objectives of the grant guidelines.
The grant application must answer all questions, provide all required information and respond to the merit criteria. It should also reflect your organisation’s business strategy.
Writing a good application takes time and effort, and requires particular writing skills.
Bulletpoint are expert grant consultants and can assist with all aspects of grant preparation.
Call us on (03) 9005 6789 or email to discuss further.
We can assist with demonstrating:
- the benefit to the SME and wider economy
- the of benefit to health agencies and Victoria
- Magnitude of benefit to patients
- Barriers to success
- Feasibility of proposed solution
- Project management and delivery capabilities
- Governance
- Investment readiness
More Information
Previous Recipients
Absorbable rib prosthesis – Ingeneus will work with Alfred Health to investigate a rib fixation prosthesis as well as the instruments needed for use in chest trauma surgery.
Portable body movement sensor – Procept will work with Austin Health to investigate a movement analysis device for the management of patients with complex movement disorders from neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease and traumatic brain injury.
Antibiotic delivery system – Osprey Medical will work with Melbourne Health’s Diabetic Foot Unit to investigate a means of delivering an infusion of antibiotics to the tree of the leg with minimal escape of the drug into the patient’s circulation system.
Pharmacogenomic decision support system – Genes FX will work with Melbourne Health’s Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics to investigate a personalised drug safety system that can be integrated into current hospital practices.
Beneficial re-use of biosolids – Earth Systems will work with Melbourne Water to investigate sustainable and beneficial uses of biosolids including recovery of valuable products, reduced volumes of waste, reduced operational costs through on-site energy generation and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Algae biomass to biogas - Algae Enterprises will work with Melbourne Water to investigate the production of biogas from algae biomass grown in wastewater for renewable energy generation.
Smart sensors for large diameter water pipes - Hawk Measurement will work with Melbourne Water to investigate low-cost, reliable and durable methods of attaching existing sensor technology to large diameter pressure water pipes, and connecting fibre optic sensors between pipelines to form a network of fibre sensors that will provide early warning of faults or defects.
Infant feeding teat – APS Innovations will work with the Royal Children’s Hospital to investigate cost-effective prototypes of a range of infant feeding teats designed to meet the specific requirements of both healthy and difficult feeders.
Ophthalmic Outreach Diagnostic Platform - Ingeneus will work with the Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital to investigate an easy-to-use slit lamp and tonometer for the assessment of eye health by a GP, in particular the diagnosis of glaucoma.
Vehicle On-board Unit Auditing Station - Cohda Wireless will work with VicRoads to investigate a freight on-board unit auditing and monitoring station that operates with both the Intelligent Access Program and existing tag technology.
Interactive Patient Journey Board - Alcidion will work with Western Health to investigate a product that gives real-time information on the current status of all patients within the health service.
Passive Stormwater Treatment Technology – Enviro Stream Solutions will work with Yarra Valley Water to investigate a practical water treatment product that allows pathogens to be removed from stormwater, which can then be used for non-drinking purposes such as garden, laundry and toilet flushing.
Media Release
Ten innovative Victorian companies have been awarded funding of up to $100,000 to undertake feasibility studies as part of the Health Market Validation Program – a $15 million competitive grants program designed to encourage innovation in healthcare.
Minister for Technology Gordon Rich-Phillips said the companies had been awarded funding under the feasibility study stage of the program to investigate whether new technologies can solve healthcare challenges identified by Victorian hospitals and health services.
“The Health Market Validation Program supports collaboration between the public health sector, researchers and companies and is an initiative of Victoria’s Technology Plan for the Future – Biotechnology,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.
“The program aims to improve health services for Victorians and capitalise on Victoria’s strength as the leading state for medical research and innovation, to create commercial and export opportunities for Victorian companies.
“Under the first stage, we sought challenges in areas such as dental, reproductive, emergency and children’s health, and we then went to market seeking Victorian companies to propose solutions to these problems.
“Once successfully completed, the feasibility studies will be assessed for further funding for the validation stage to undertake R&D to develop solutions over two years,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.
Companies receiving funding of up to $100,000 to carry out feasibility studies are:
- OptoTech (working with Ambulance Victoria) to investigate a safe non-invasive method for early detection and treatment of circulatory shock in critically ill patients.
- Bionic Enterprises (working with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre) to investigate a simple and more cost-effective pain alleviation device to address chronic pain.
- Perfusion Solutions (working with Alfred Health) to investigate a new preservation technique for donor organs.
- Grey Innovation (working with The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital) to investigate a surgical implant to treat glaucoma and improve the outcome of eye surgery.
- Procept (working with Monash Health) to investigate a solution to make cardiac output and oxygen consumption measurement simpler, safer, and less costly.
- APS Solutions (working with Dental Health Services Victoria) to investigate a device that will offer a plaque removal solution for children and people with disabilities.
- Grey Innovation (working with Eastern Health) to further investigate developing a miniature nebuliser for the treatment of chronic respiratory illnesses; and a second project working with The Royal Women’s Hospital to investigate a simple, fast, accurate and low cost nucleic acid detection test for sexually transmitted infections for use by healthworkers in community health clinics.
- MedTech Healthcare (working with Peninsula Health) to investigate a method of remote monitoring for chronic heart failure patients to automatically report (in real time) personal health data to clinicians, via the internet or portable smart devices; and
- Biota (working with Monash Health) to investigate a safe anti-viral for the treatment of children under five years of age who present with symptoms of human respiratory syncytial virus.
