£5 million fund to tackle fatal drug deaths across the UK
Twelve projects awarded a share of £5 million to reduce rates of fatal drug overdoses, as part of Vaccine Taskforce style approach to tackle health challenges.
Projects will look at how artificial intelligence (AI) and other innovative technologies can detect overdoses to alert healthcare professionals, family and local communities to provide emergency life-saving support to people who use drugs
Technology to support those in need and contribute towards Prime Minister’s priority to cut waiting lists As part of the Reducing Drug Deaths Innovation Challenge, which aims to reduce drug-related deaths across the UK, the Office for Life Sciences is investing in 12 promising projects to develop technologies aimed at improving detection, response or intervention in potential drug-related deaths.
It supports the addiction mission, one of the government’s healthcare missions targeting the biggest healthcare challenges, including through funding innovative research into improved treatments and life-saving technologies to accelerate their development and rollout.
Building on the Vaccine Taskforce model, which led to one of the most successful vaccine roll outs in the world and ensured millions got a COVID-19 jab, the government will continue to harness world-leading research expertise, remove unnecessary bureaucracy, strengthen partnerships and support the new healthcare challenges.
More widely, funding will help the Prime Minister’s objective to improve urgent and emergency care and increase the resources available to healthcare professionals to treat drug overdoses.