Prize to reward innovative solutions to challenges facing dementia, announced by Janssen Healthcare Innovation

A new prize is set to reward innovative ideas that can help re shape and improve the way dementia care is delivered.

Janssen Healthcare Innovation, an entrepreneurial team within Janssen Research and Development, in partnership with the NHS have announced the launch of the first NHS Innovation Challenge Prize for Dementia.

The prize has been designed to recognise the expertise of people working at the front line of dementia care, whose innovative ideas have the possibility to make a real and sustained difference to people affected by dementia. The winner will receive a prize of up to £150,000 provided by Janssen Healthcare.

Marco Mohwinckel from Janssen Healthcare Innovation said: “We hope this initiative will help identify forward thinking solutions to help transform care for people with dementia and better support their caregivers.”

Still in its first stages, the challenge is inviting healthcare organisations and professionals, patients, caregivers and patient groups to identify the key issues facing people with dementia. These suggestions and insights will help define the scope of the challenge.

Interested parties will then be invited to submit their innovative approaches to address the specified challenge.

Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health said: “Those who deal directly with people with dementia and those who are living with it themselves have unique insight into the condition. This insight could help to transform the type of care currently provided to this growing group.

“It’s no secret that dementia is one of the biggest challenges that we currently face in the UK.”

There are in the region of 800,000 people living with dementia and an estimated 670,000 family and friends acting as primary carers. The cost of dementia to health services is set to rise by £5bn over the next five years, with the aging population making dementia one of the biggest challenges facing society.

Janssen has a longstanding legacy of advancing neuroscience research dating back to the 1950s, when Dr Paul Janssen's discovery and development work led to one of the first breakthrough treatments for schizophrenia.

Mr Mohwinckel said: “Janssen Healthcare Innovation is committed to exploring and developing novel ways of delivering healthcare to improve patient outcomes, particularly in areas of significant need such as dementia. We are delighted to be the first industry partner to support the NHS in these important innovation challenges."

Submissions for ideas to help define the scope of the challenge close on 20 March 2013.

For further information about the NHS Innovation Challenge Prize for Dementia, visit: www.challengeprizes.institute.nhs.uk/the-challenges/partnership-challenges/