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Invention for Innovation - Challenge Awards Committee

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Published: 08 July 2019

Version: 4.1 - January 2024

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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

NamePositionOrganisationExpertise
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