The funding committees for the NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) Programme are multidisciplinary, comprising academic, clinical and commercial experts, as well as patient and public members. i4i has five committees: three for Product Development Awards (committee A, committee B and committee C), one for Challenge Awards, and one for Connect.
Committee members - Challenge Awards
| Name | Position | Organisation | Expertise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professor Nick Lemoine (Chair) | Director, Medical Director | Barts Cancer Institute, NIHR Clinical Research Network |
Professor Lemoine is a world leader in pancreatic cancer research and has interest in the development of oncolytic virotherapy and cancer vaccines. |
| Ms Joanna Smart (Deputy Chair) | Investor Director | BGF |
Ms Smart has been active in the life sciences sector for over 20 years, as a CEO, non-executive chair and board director with experience in operating roles in SMEs, startups, global biotech, and investment banking. |
|
Mr Michael Duffin |
Director of Client Success |
Inicio Health LTD |
Mr Duffin has a clinical background in physiotherapy, and a commercial background with experience in pathway transformation, real world evaluation, and digital health. |
| Associate professor Iain Hennessey | Clinical Director of Innovation | Alder Hay Children’s NHS Foundation Trust | Dr Hennessey is a consultant paediatric and neonatal surgeon with expertise in surgical simulation and clinical innovation. |
| Dr Zarnie Khadjesari | Associate Professor in Health Sciences | University of East Anglia | Dr Khadjesari has expertise in digital health research and implementation science. She is experienced in both quantitative and qualitative research methods. |
| Mr Stuart Mealing | Associate Director (Health Economics and Outcomes Research) | York Health Economics Consortium Ltd | Mr Mealing has experience in the development and review of cost-effectiveness and budget impact models and working with medical devices and the modelling of orphan/ultra-orphan conditions. |
| Professor Steve Morris | CEO | Ingram Networks Ltd | Professor Morris has experience in the development of medical devices from concept to regulatory approval and first human use. |
| Ms Stella O'Brien | Public Committee Member | PPI Representative | PPI Representative |
| Mr Sebastian Orton | Partner, Corporate | Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP | Mr Orton is a corporate finance lawyer with specific expertise in equity capital markets and raising finance for companies in the life sciences sector |
| Professor Amar Rangan | Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery | Universities of York and Oxford | Professor Rangan is a specialist shoulder and elbow surgeon and has experience in clinical effectiveness and translational research. |
| Dr Chris Sampson |
Senior Principal Economist |
Office of Health Economics |
Dr Sampson is an expert in health economic evaluation, with a particular interest in mental health and digital therapeutics. |
| Professor Wendy Tindale | Director | Sheffield Teaching Hospitals; NIHR Devices for Dignity MIC | Professor Tindale is a Consultant Medical Physicist and is experienced in collaborative MedTech development and NHS implementation |