Reducing Drug Deaths Innovation Challenge

In 2024, the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) in Scotland, in partnership with the UK Office for Life Sciences (OLS), launched a £5 million Reducing Drug Deaths Innovation Challenge to address the rise in drug-related deaths through technological and digital solutions.

Professor Alex Baldacchino was clinical lead for the Reducing Drug Deaths Innovation Challenge to address the rise in drug-related deaths through technological and digital solutions. This £5 million initiative was a partnership of the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) in Scotland, in partnership with the UK Office for Life Sciences (OLS). NHS Fife was selected to manage the project.

The objectives were to develop, test, and validate innovative prototypes for detection, response, and intervention in potentially fatal drug overdoses. In phase 2, launched in 2024, seven companies received 12 months funding to further develop promising prototypes.

Professor Baldacchino outlines his leadership in the Challenge Call and emphasises the importance of collaborative research and innovation projects that aim to develop accessible, life-saving products for individuals and communities affected by addiction.

These successful companies shared learning from their experience at our 3-day Summit on Innovation in Addiction Medicine. They outline their successful projects and describe how participation in the Challenge Call, collaborations across sectors, and involvement of people with lived and living experience support development of these innovative responses.

ASSESSOR. Dr Alberto Oteo Perez, University of Glasgow

Saving SAM. Dr Claire Ann Banga, eMoodie

LifeSavr. Ayub Shoaib , NOMW Health

CHAI999. Philippa Morgan-Jones, SCIENAP

Ultra-portable fast-dispersal buccal naloxone for constant carriage. Mariana Gonzalez Utrilla, King’s College London

RescuePatch. Ali Al-khattawi, MESOX