Re-Distributed Manufacturing in Deployed Operations - Workshop

EPSRC资助的医疗保健网络(RIHN)(www.rihn.org.uk)于2015年2月启动，由六所大学(威斯康星大学、拉夫堡大学、诺丁汉大学、剑桥大学、纽卡斯尔大学和布鲁内尔大学)组成的联盟提供，代表社会科学和工程学的学科。来自RHN的调查人员与国防部的国防医疗服务组织合作，提议领导一个专家研讨会，探索一个新的引人注目的研究领域，探索部署行动中再分布式制造(RDM)的潜力。这包括将与RDM相关的新技术和系统(例如，生物打印机、添加剂层制造)应用于远征性的军事和民用应急和人道主义行动。再分布式制造(RDM)的定义是：“改变制造的经济和组织的技术、系统和战略，特别是在地点和规模方面”。在医疗保健领域，RDM涉及使生产更接近临床需要或使用的点，并增强提供个性化药物的能力。里恩正在领导一项议程，以推动英国医疗制造研究的影响。虽然RDM包括从集中式生产向分散式生产转变的概念，但现有的研究继续假设一定程度的稳定环境条件和固定的静态位置(例如医院/诊所/家庭)。然而，RDM可以在流动医疗情况下提供挽救生命的好处，在这些情况下，在变化的和偏远的地点存在紧急和不可预见的需求，例如应对自然灾害和紧急情况(例如最近的埃博拉危机)，以及在战场情况下快速治疗士兵。这通常需要反向供应链视角，从基于患者需求的需求开始。在部署的行动中，有多种医疗条件可以受益于快速反应治疗，包括但不限于皮肤和组织爆炸伤、失血性休克以及骨骼和肌肉修复。EPSRC资助的研讨会旨在：“审查和确定RDM在已部署操作中的应用，并制定一个议程，提供将从根本上改变医疗和患者结果的研发开拓者”。研讨会提供了一个机会来(A)定义医疗和制造要求，以及(B)评估英国在这一专业领域的研发能力。它还为民间组织和国防组织之间的学习和交流提供了一个独特的论坛。为了权威性地探索RDM在这一新兴专业领域的潜力，该团队将聘请一系列专家和利益相关者，包括国防部的关键决策者、急救医学从业者和医学工程研究人员。RHN小组将利用研讨会的成果为未来的供资提案提供信息，该提案将详细说明调查的具体目标领域的理由，以及将实施这些研究的研究领导和合作伙伴。在适当的情况下，该提案将考虑将受益于早期供应商参与(ESI)的RDM应用(民用和国防)，并创新英国/Catapult在产品和服务开发中的参与，这些产品和服务有可能将医疗保健提供转变为一线服务。相关见解还将出现在一份更广泛的RIHN白皮书中，为医疗保健利益相关者未来医疗研发投资的RDM提供指导。

The EPSRC funded Re-Distributed Manufacturing in Healthcare Network (RiHN) (www.rihn.org.uk) was launched in Feb 2015 and is being delivered by a consortium between six universities (UWE, Loughborough, Nottingham, Cambridge, Newcastle & Brunel), representing disciplines from both the social sciences and engineering. Investigators from RiHN working with the Ministry of Defence's Defence Medical Services organisation propose to lead a specialist workshop to explore a new compelling area of research, exploring the potential of Re-Distributed Manufacturing (RDM) in deployed operations. This encompasses the application of new RDM-related technologies and systems (e.g. Bioprinters, Additive Layer Manufacturing) in expeditionary military and civilian emergency and humanitarian operations.Re-Distributed Manufacture (RDM) is defined as: "Technology, systems and strategies that change the economics and organisation of manufacturing, particularly with regard to location and scale" . In healthcare, RDM involves bringing production closer to the point of clinical need or use and enhancing the capability to deliver personalised medicine. RiHN is leading an agenda to advance the impact of UK medical manufacturing research. Whilst RDM includes the notion of a shift from centralised towards decentralised production, extant research continues to assume a degree of stable environmental conditions and fixed static location (e.g. hospitals/clinics/home). However, RDM can deliver life-saving benefits in mobile medical scenarios, where there is urgent and unforeseen demand in changing and remote locations, such as in response to natural disasters and emergencies (e.g. recent Ebola crisis), and the rapid treatment of soldiers in battlefield scenarios. This often requires a reverse supply chain perspective, starting with the requirement based on patient need. There are a variety of medical conditions that could benefit from rapid response treatments in deployed operations, these include and are not limited to blast injuries to skin and tissue, haemorrhagic shock, and bone and muscle repair. The EPSRC funded workshop aims to: "review and identify applications for RDM in deployed operations and create an agenda for delivering R&D pathfinders that will radically transform medical treatments and patient outcomes". The workshop provides an opportunity to (a) define both medical and manufacturing requirements, and (b) take stock of UK R&D capability in this specialist area. It also provides a unique forum for learning and exchange between civilian and defence organisations. In order to authoritatively explore the potential of RDM in this emerging specialist area, the team will engage a range of experts and stakeholders, to include key decision-makers in MoD, emergency medicine practitioners, and researchers in medical engineering. The RiHN team will use the outputs of the workshop to inform a future funding proposal, which will set out detailed justification for specific target areas for investigation, as well as research leads and partners who will implement these studies. Where relevant, this proposal will consider RDM applications (civil and defence) that will benefit from Early Supplier Involvement (ESI) and Innovate UK/Catapult involvement in the development of products and services that have the potential to transform healthcare delivery to front line services. Relevant insights will also feature in a wider RiHN white paper offering guidance to healthcare stakeholders for future RDM in healthcare R&D investment.