Help shape the future of obesity care innovation
Innovate UK is seeking stakeholders to help shape new and innovative community-based care pathways to improve access to weight management services.
Eli Lilly and Company Limited is working in partnership with the Department for Science Innovation and Technology via Innovate UK only to run a session at the Sandpit 1 event, co-design the agenda and content for the Sandpit 2 event, and any potential competition brief that may be published.
Innovating obesity interventions towards lasting health
Obesity is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer and a major contributor to ill health. With obesity costing the UK health service more than £11 billion each year, action to tackle the condition is urgently needed. The government has committed to working with industry to trial innovative approaches to treating obesity as part of a rounded package of care.
We’re interested in hearing from you if you might have a role to play in innovating obesity pathways, including, but not limited to:
- Companies of any size, including SMEs and social enterprises, providing weight management services
- Digital providers with experience in prescribing or wider weight management services
- Human centred design experts or system integrators
- NHS funders (ICBs, Health Boards etc) interested in piloting community-based models of weight management care
- Public sector organisations providing weight management services
- Charities or voluntary groups with specific focus on obesity or obesity related health conditions.
Background
An introductory webinar was held on 13 February 2025 exploring the background to the need for innovation in the provision of weight management services within the NHS across the UK. You can watch recording, view the slides and the Q&A document here.
How to get involved
Complete our short questionnaire to register your interest and help shape the future of obesity care innovation.
On 13 March and 10 April, we’re hosting ‘sandpit’ events in Central London to bring together experts across the sector, starting with a deep dive discussion into the challenges of obesity care and working towards practical solutions in collaboration with the health and care system.
A sandpit is an intensive, interactive workshop where a diverse group of stakeholders from different backgrounds, organisations and skillsets come together to brainstorm and develop new ways to tackle complex challenges through open discussion and collaborative idea generation, often leading to the identification of potential funding opportunities for innovative solutions.
- 13 March: The first sandpit is aimed at deconstructing and reframing this complex challenge into defined, human-centred problem statements.
- 10 April: The second will focus on supporting creative ideation and validating practicable, safe, effective and efficient solutions.
Whether or not you plan to attend our sandpit events, we need your input.
If you have any questions on this activity, please contact us here: healthylives@iuk.ukri.org.