To continue our efforts to help improve the health and wellbeing of our local population, we are broadening our research programmes and attracting greater external funding so we can do more. By working in partnership with business and organisations within the region and beyond, we are developing new products and services to support our health and social care system.
Developing health innovations to improve quality of life
The Advanced Wellbeing Accelerator is Sheffield Hallam’s flagship innovation programme lead by our world-leading Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC).
The programme supports early-stage health and wellbeing companies bringing together researchers, investors, industry, clinicians, and patients in one location to develop technology driven innovations. Participating businesses have the opportunity to secure up to £20,000 of R&D support from the University to accelerate product development, alongside a host of other benefits, to get them market ready. In its first phase from April 2020 onwards the programme supported 28 UK and international businesses.
In December 2022 the Advanced Wellbeing Accelerator entered its second phase and supported a further 12 UK and international SMEs. There were four local businesses accepted onto the second programme, which was sponsored by investment and commercialisation specialists InterMedi Group, including:
- Active Orbit Limited based in Sheffield, allowing individuals to track all their daily activity, uses behavioural science to encourage an active lifestyle and rewards them for the levels of activity they achieve and maintain
- Elecura based in Sheffield, delivering an all-in-one business management platform for social care providers that enables and promotes a best-in-class and easily auditable service
- Motion Exercise CIC, based in Sheffield, designing and remotely delivering interactive and inclusive exercise programmes tackling social isolation and increasing physical activity, amongst older adults
- Physiobuddie, based in Yorkshire, an innovative, secure digital-first service that provides its users with remote step-by-step progressive rehabilitation
Zeezy Qureshi, CEO and co-founder of Motion Exercise CIC, said:
"The Wellbeing Accelerator was a great programme to be a part of. It gave us access to world-leading academics and a network that has unlocked exciting opportunities. The team at the AWRC really takes time to get to know you and your business and that means they're well placed to provide the best possible support."
Improving cancer patients health and wellbeing through exercise
Active Together is a recent example of this collaborative approach between Sheffield Hallam’s AWRC and Yorkshire Cancer Research.
Active Together is an evidence-based service designed to help patients in Sheffield who have bladder, upper gastrointestinal, colorectal and lung cancer cope better with their treatment by providing physical activity, nutritional and psychological support before, during and after treatment. This pioneering approach to cancer treatment supports a patients’ physical and mental health based on individual needs and treatment. Read more about a participant's story in this Civic blog post.
Dr Kathryn Scott is Chief Executive at Yorkshire Cancer Research.
"At Yorkshire Cancer Research, our aim is for 2,000 more people to survive cancer every year in Yorkshire. Together with the pioneering team at Sheffield’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, we are taking a huge leap into creating a world-leading programme."
