Improving health in Scotland through innovation

Funding for scientific and technological health projects.

More than £6 million will be invested as part of the Accelerated National Innovations Adoption (ANIA) programme to help people with type 2 Diabetes, stroke patients and babies born with a rare genetic condition.

A national digital intensive weight management programme will support 3,000 people recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. With £4.5 million invested over three years the project is expected to help around 40% to achieve remission from the condition by the end of their first year in the programme.

Two additional projects will look at pharmacogenetics – how a person's genetics affect their response to certain drugs.

A total of £1.1 million will support testing of recent stroke patients to determine if they have a genetic variation that impairs the benefits of a drug commonly prescribed to reduce the risk of secondary stroke and which would mean an alternative drug should be considered for them.

A programme to provide a genetic test for newborn babies will also receive £800,000 funding to determine if they have a genetic variation which puts them at risk of permanent hearing loss if they are treated with a common emergency antibiotic.

Cabinet Secretary for Health Neil Gray said:

“In January the First Minister laid out our vision for Scotland's NHS with digital innovation being a crucial part of our plans to reform health services. So I am pleased to announce funding for these projects which demonstrate the transformative potential of scientific and technological innovation to improve health and social care.

“These projects have life changing effects for those who will benefit from them, resulting in improved health outcomes and a better quality of life.

“Innovation is transforming healthcare and delivering medical benefits for the people of Scotland and the NHS, which will see reduced pressures as a direct result of projects just like these.”

Chief Executive of NHS Golden Jubilee, Gordon James, said:

"The approval of these innovative projects through the Accelerated National Innovation Adoption (ANIA) pathway is a significant step in delivering transformative innovations at scale to benefit patients all across Scotland.

“Lead by the Centre for Sustainable Delivery (CfSD), this project to deliver the diabetes remission programmes, pharmacogenetic testing for stroke, and genetic testing for newborns was an incredible example of collaboration from NHS organisations and colleagues to deliver the highest possible standard of patient care.

“The ANIA pathway is an initiative by NHS Scotland aimed at expediting the integration of high-impact innovations into healthcare services, and that's exactly these new programmes will offer for more patients across Scotland than ever before.”

Background

Chief Scientist, Prof Dame Anna Dominiczak said:

“Scotland's triple helix of industry, academia and our NHS are working in partnership to lead a scientific revolution which has the power to transform healthcare.  These are excellent examples of research enabled, clinically beneficial and cost-effective innovations, which should be prioritised for national adoption”

The Accelerated National Innovation Adoption pathway is coordinated by the national Centre for Sustainable Delivery at NHS Golden Jubilee and draws on expertise from NHS National Services Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Public Health Scotland and NHS Education for Scotland. It introduces proven medical innovations into the NHS to improve healthcare.

The Type 2 Diabetes remission programme involves diet replacements such as soups, shakes or bars containing around 900 calories a day for the first 12 weeks. Participants will then receive intensive online support from dietitians, health and well-being coaches as they reintroduce healthy, nutritious food to their diet to maintain weight loss over the 12 month programme.  3,000 patients will be supported over three years.  The majority will benefit from an average 10% weight loss and reduction in blood pressure. All of which reduce the risk of heart disease and the need for patients to take multiple medications.  The first patients will be recruited into this programme in January 2026.

Professor Mike Lean, Clinical Senior Research Fellow/Honorary Consultant (Medicine), University of Glasgow said:

“This is very good news for people living with type 2 diabetes. It is also a very welcome reward for years of clinical research and development in Scotland, to establish a reliable diet programme for substantial weight loss and remission of type 2 diabetes.  The research was mainly funded by the charity, Diabetes UK, and by Scottish Government.

“Providing a proven pathway to remission for 3,000 people, using a digital programme to people in their own homes, is a very significant step forward, and a statement of intent from the Scottish Government.  It will also amplify the message widely  to other patients and their families, that this condition can be put into remission with weight loss.  Human appetite is a very powerful, genetically-driven, force, so many people are not successful without extra support.  This professionally-supported diet programme will allow people in Scotland who most need help to be successful” 

Judith Kennon, Healthcare Engagement and Systems Change Manager at Diabetes Scotland said:

“Remission from type 2 diabetes can be life-changing, transforming health and potentially reducing the risk of serious long-term complication of diabetes. We know that for people living with type 2 diabetes, remission can be challenging, and having support throughout their weight loss journey is critical.      

“We welcome this announcement and hope the new digital weight management programme will mean more people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in Scotland have the chance to put their condition into remission."

Building on a successful trial in NHS Tayside, patients who have had a stroke will receive a lab-based genetic test to identify if they are one of the 30% of people have a genetic variation that means they do not respond to a drug commonly prescribed to reduce the risk of a secondary stroke.  This programme will begin in October and be rolled out to all Territorial Boards within 12 months. Once fully implemented, the programme will test around 60,000 patients over a three-year period, with an estimated 20,000 given a different drug which will work for them.

Dr Alex Doney, Honorary NHS Consultant Physician – University of Dundee and NHS Tayside said:

“Patients expect to be prescribed the most effective and safe medicines available. Testing for common genetic variation using advanced genomic technologies makes it increasingly feasible for doctors to choose the optimum medicine for individual patients.  The initiatives announced today are welcome news and this will help pave the way for realisation of broader future patient benefits of genomic technology in the NHS.”

Building on a successful trial at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, newborn babies will receive a point of care genetic test to quickly establish whether they are one of the 0.2% at risk of permanent hearing loss if they are treated with a common emergency antibiotic.  This programme will begin in October and be rolled out to all Territorial Boards within 18 months.  Once fully adopted over 3,000 newborn babies a year will be tested, with those that require an alternative antibiotic receiving it.

Dr Helen McDevitt, Consultant Neonatologist, Royal Hospital for Children, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and Leonard Gow Lecturer, Child Health, University of Glasgow said:

“National deployment of this innovative point of care genetic test will prevent deafness in a significant number of susceptible newborn infants each year in Scotland. This is potentially life changing for babies and their families. Patient care will be improved immeasurably by enhancing the safety of current antibiotic treatments. It's exciting that Scotland is at the forefront of developing precision medicine from birth onwards.”