Ampersand today announces Innovate UK grant win to develop digital therapy solutions for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Posted on 22 May 2020

TechForce19 and DigitalHealth.London accelerator company Ampersand Health announces it was selected from over 8600 applications to receive funding by the UK Government to develop digital self-management solutions for shielding RA patients.

London, May 22, 2020 – The UK government today announced that 800 innovative businesses and start-ups – including Ampersand Health – are set to benefit from a £40 million investment to drive forward new technological advances, particularly as a response to the Covid19 outbreak.

Ampersand Health uses behavioural and data science to personalise pathways and support better self care for people with long term inflammatory conditions. Its apps are designed to improve patients’ mental health and quality of life by helping address their stress management, medicine adherence, sleep quality, relationships and more; with courses for food choices and flare management in development. 

The company’s intervention for Crohn’s and Colitis patients was selected by NHSX and DHSC to be part of Techforce 19. As part of the programme, Ampersand showed that people who took its courses for just one week experienced improvements in disease related quality of life and reductions in anxiety and depression.

The Innovate UK funding will allow the company and its partners – including the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society – to invest in and evidence similar new behavioural medicines for people living with inflammatory arthritis. 

A version of the platform is available for free – for the NHS via G-Cloud 11 and for patients via the app store. 

One patient notes of the app, “I was diagnosed with RA and a lot of medications, appointments, blood tests and exercises were thrown at me. I have had such a hard time keeping track of my medications and appointments and this app helps me keep everything organized in one place. It reminds me to take my medications on time”.

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About Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a complex and serious, systemic autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the joint tissue causing inflammation, stiffness, pain and extreme fatigue. This chronic disease, which chiefly impacts upon joints can also affect other organs such as the heart, eyes and lungs; and when left untreated, can cause serious disability and extra articular complications which can be life limiting.

About Ampersand Health 

Ampersand Health is a social purpose company, founded by doctors and patients to improve the health and happiness of people with long term inflammatory conditions.

The company is pioneering the development of behavioural and data-science based digital therapies for people with immune-mediated diseases like Crohn’s, Colitis, Arthritis and Psoriasis.

Ampersand Health is recognised in the Digital Health Global 100, and has won the HSJ Award, the NHS Ideas Lab, the NHS Hackfest and competitive grants from government and industry. The company was selected for PWC Scale Health and the NHS’s DigitalHealth. London accelerator.

Ampersand Health is also one of the 18 digital innovators currently supporting vulnerable people during the COVID-19 outbreak as part of the TechForce19 challenge.

My Arthritis is free for patients and can be downloaded from the AppStore (iOS) and Google Play (Android).

Media Links:

• Image link: https://www.ampersandhealth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/MyArthritisxInnovate_Post-2.png
• My Arthritis – App Store download link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/my-arthritis/id1431862637
• My Arthritis – Google Play download link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nhs.ibd.com.rheumatology&hl=en_GB

More on the Innovate UK  grant here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/digital-innovations-tested-to-support-vulnerable-people-during-covid-19-outbreak

For more information, please visit https://www.ampersandhealth.co.uk

Press Citations and Patient Enquiries: Rawane Jabara (rawane@ampersandhealth.co.uk)

NHS Enquiries: Jeremy Andrews (jeremy@ampersandhealth.co.uk) 

Other Enquiries: info@ampersandhealth.co.uk 

SOURCE Ampersand Health