The East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN) are seeking innovative solutions to diagnose and treat cancer – and there are two weeks left to claim a share of the funding. We've issued a call for proposals with funding of up to £300,000 available – the deadline is Monday 26 January.

The initiative coincides with NHS England's announcement (11 January) of a national task force that will look at ways to improve cancer survival rates and help save thousands more lives throughout the country.

Cancer is one of the biggest health challenges facing the East Midlands, affecting 23,000 people across the region every year. One in every three East Midlands residents is likely to be diagnosed with cancer during their lives – and a quarter will not survive.

EMAHSN's call for proposals is aimed at the NHS, third sector, social services, industry and academia, and was launched following EMAHSN's first 'Innovation Exchange' event on 1 December in Nottingham. It was attended by over 150 people who are leading the region's approach to addressing cancer, including representatives from the NHS, universities, patients, charities and industry.

Cancer is one of the priority areas for EMAHSN, an organisation that brings together the NHS, universities, industry and social care to transform the health of the East Midlands' 4.5m residents and stimulate wealth creation.

The call for proposals aims to identify proven innovations that can be quickly spread throughout the region; improving health outcomes and patient experience as well as delivering greater efficiencies. Support could include:

• Assessment and evaluation of projects
• Funding and promotion of successful projects across the region and beyond
• Overcoming barriers to putting innovations into practice.

EMAHSN Commercial Director Chris Hart said: "Cancer is a huge health challenge: across the East Midlands one in every three people is likely to be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their lives and a quarter will not survive.
"There is tremendous expertise in the East Midlands and we have funding available to support industry and the NHS to rapidly identify and spread innovative solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
"The call for proposals is the first in a series linked to our Innovation Exchange Events that aim to build shared understanding, develop collaboration and address the region's biggest healthcare challenges."

The next Innovation Exchange will take place on 27 January and will focus on diabetes prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

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Note to editors:

Open this link for East Midlands Cancer Statistics and for more on the call for proposals visit the call for proposals page.

• The East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN) is one of 15 Academic Health Science Networks in England. EMAHSN brings together the NHS, universities, industry and social care to transform the health of the region's 4.5M residents and stimulate wealth. Current priorities focus on identifying and spreading innovations that address challenges including cancer, obesity, diabetes, mental health, respiratory disease, stroke, liver disease and support for frail older people.
• The recent Cancer Innovation Exchange event was organised in partnership with the East Midlands NHS Strategic Clinical Networks and Medilink East Midlands and it was the first time in the East Midlands that experts from all sectors have come together to address the cancer challenge

Media enquiries: Chris Taylor 0115 748 4242 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Lucy Hose 0115 748 4243 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.