The funding competition is now open
Q&As
A chance for anyone interested in this funding competion to ask questions about the call and the subject area. All answers will be posted on this page so that any potential applicant can access the same information.
Further information regarding the context for the challenge can be found in the video recording of the Information Session on 19 April 2017 - we do recommend that you watch the video before completing your application.
Answers to general questions about the SBRI Framework can be found on the SBRI Framework page
1. When will the funding competition open
2. When will the funding competition close?
The deadline for applications will be midnight, Monday 29 May 2017
3. How will the successful applications be chosen?
Proposals will be assessed by an expert group of selected assessors and final selection will be made by the Strategic Management Board. Information on the assessment criteria will be available on the Invitation to Tender (available to potential applicants after registration when the competition opens)
4. Can I submit more than one application?
Yes, you can submit more than one application.
5. Is this only open to Scottish companies?
No, the funding competition is open to any organisation of any size based in the European Union (EU) that can demonstrate a credible and practical route to market.
6. Will I be able to access patient input?
Yes, we are putting together patient panels that the funded feasibility projects can access. We will also be able to facilitate the distribution of surveys for patients through various patient engagement channels.
7. Can you give an example of a PROM?
A minimum PROM would be something like the EQ-5D . But your proposed system should be flexible enough to adapt to whatever needs to be asked.
8. Can you give an example of a PREM?
A minimum PREM would be a single question like this
But your proposed system should be flexible enough to adapt to whatever needs to be asked.
9. Are there PROMs in use which relate to patients' use of medication, e.g. adherence to prescriptions, side effects, beliefs about medications etc.?
Not currently in routine use in standardised form, but there are various diaries in use across the NHS that patients use for recording their medications and side effects. These are also in use in clinical trials. Most are in paper format.
There are some self-report outcome measures that are used in research studies which can provide data on adherence and beliefs about medication, for example the MARS tool (Medication adherence rating scale) so in theory, such tools could be used for certain groups of patients routinely, where adherence is a particular issue.
10. Please give guidance on the frequency at which PROMs/PREMs are used. For example, is a patient asked to provide data just once, or the same questions at intervals (how long?). Would frequent responses be a desirable outcome of this project?
This is very variable and depends on the situation and use case. We would hope a PROMs solutions to be sufficiently flexible for all of these as options. For example, at present, many centres use daily diaries to assess patient-reported toxicity from chemotherapy, using a simple likert scale for key symptoms e.g. sore mouth, nausea and vomiting. Such diaries provide useful information on how patients are tolerating chemotherapy in between 3 weekly doses. To some extent, the frequency of current data gathering is related to constraints of current processes, but the need for frequent responses will depend on the situation – if a patient is at home and clinicians are trying to gather regular information about how well a symptom is controlled, for example, it may be particularly helpful to have feedback from that patient every day, or more than once a day, for a short period of time. However, for other patients, it may be that a monthly, or three monthly, or six monthly questionnaire would provide sufficient information for care planning and decision making.
11. Can I make edits to my application after I have submitted it?
If you wish to make an edit after you have submitted your application you may make an Edit Request. Guidance on how you can submit an edit request can be found at http://help.submittable.com/knowledgebase/articles/394815-how-can-i-request-an-edit-on-my-submission . However the Edit Request functionality will be turned off after the application deadline of midnight 29 May and no further changes can be made to your application.
