Professor Mike Lewis, scientific director of innovation at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) (Credit: NIHR)
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has announced more than £1.5 million of funding for 17 healthtech projects to reduce waiting times for children and young people who need mental health care and support.
Children and young people in the UK often face long waits for mental health services and neurodevelopmental assessment, which can worsen conditions, disrupt education, increase family stress and increase health care costs.
NIHR funding is for solutions that can help to streamline services, detect problems earlier and provide timely, personalized support.
These include AI and digital tools designed to recognize early signs of autism, predict what support children may need and link physical and mental health on one platform.
Professor Mike Lewis, Scientific Director of Innovation at the NIHR, said: “We are proud to announce NIHR funding for 17 innovative health technologies that will make a real difference to children and young people who need mental health support.
“Reducing waiting times is vital to improving mental health outcomes, and by innovating in both community and hospital settings, we are helping children and young people get the care they need.”
The projects are funded through the Innovation for Innovation (i4i) Funding at the Speed of Translation (FAST) program in partnership with the NIHR HealthTech (HRC) Research Center in Pediatrics and Child Health.
One project will develop and test an AI triage tool within a digital health platform called EnrichMyCare, which is used across the NHS to help families share important information about their child’s needs and development.
The new AI tool will recommend the right care pathway, predict which services need to be engaged and reduce pressure on physicians, helping families get help sooner.
Another project is testing a digital triage system to prioritize children on the neurodevelopmental waiting list based on severity of need. It uses HealthTracker, an established tool in child health services that collects information from families and monitors symptoms.
Professor Paul Dimitri, NIHR HRC Director in Paediatrics and Child Health, said: “Children and young people with mental health challenges and neurodevelopmental conditions including ADHD and autism deserve timely, personalized care and technology has a vital role in making this possible.
“At HRC, we are focused on accelerating innovations that reduce delays, empower families, and support physicians with smart devices.
“The NIHR i4i FAST funding to support these companies in developing vital technologies is an important step towards building a more responsive and equitable system for the children and young people who need it most.”
Meanwhile, in July 2025, two medical technologies tackling brain injury from Addenbrooke’s Hospital, part of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, received a share of £3m in funding from the NIHR through the i4i FAST Awards.