Achievements

The main achievements of the first phase were:

• Development of a classification of users of medical devices.
• A survey of industrial methods in the medical device sector.
• Demonstration for the first time that the ‘experience curve’ (similar to cost-volume curve) applies to healthcare products.
• Methodological development to articulate the value of safety in medical devices.
• Progress on the transferability of cost-effectiveness results from country to country.
• Methodological development in supply-side theory, including pricing strategy.
• Pathways analysis of the impact of telemedicine and point of care technologies.
• A preliminary set of tools for technology communities in industry and the NHS.
• Built a team that communicates across disciplinary and university boundaries.
• Development of staff:
  • One former Research Fellow now has a Chair in China.
  • Another ran a team at the National Co-ordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment.
• Studies with commercial partners that have made a difference to industry and have yielded important insights into what decision-making support is needed and
• £600k of industrial cash and nearly £900k of additional grant and RDA funding.