BACKGROUND
IgniteData was established in 2014, by co-founders Richard Yeatman and Dan Hydes, who met in 2013 whilst both consulting in the NHS. Richard with a focus on systems and technology, seeking to streamline the manually intensive processes with his experience and knowledge of Electronic Health Records (EHR), whilst Dan’s primary focus was on assessing commercial opportunities and potential deals for the NHS.
Introduced through work connections, they discovered that they both had a shared passion for clinical trials and had shared experiences; patient recruitment was slow, inefficient and sometimes expensive. Data collection records from trials was cumbersome. Skilled staff were removed from the critical clinical trials front line, to manually handle inordinate amounts of data for inputting, processing and finally analysis, meaning a large margin for human error which is known to result in huge levels of expensive monitoring to avoid skewing trial results.
The key to solving these issues? Getting the right people and processes in place, using the records ethically and efficiently to support research.
THE SPARK OF AN IDEA
Richard and Dan joined forces, with a shared focus on investigating how they could bring about improvements and streamline processes within the clinical trial sites.
Using EHR data, they originally set-about researching how they could best achieve their goal to improve the whole process of patient recruitment, finding the right patient, assigning them to a trial and then, how to keep them and their data managed once enrolled on the trial. This would hopefully reduce the manual processes at trial sites, improve efficiencies, reduce cost and ultimately help to speed new treatments to patients.
As time moved on and they received greater feedback from the industry, they both realised the technical challenge many wanted to solve, was automating this same EHR data into clinical study databases.
THE FSE GROUP ADDS FUEL TO THE FIRE
Ignite Data was going from strength to strength with their patient recruitment agency and real-world evidence studies consultancy. Processes were becoming joined up and a million miles away from the inordinate systems and duplicated processes of the past.
IgniteData worked with The FSE Group who, via the Thames Valley Berkshire Expansion Loan Scheme provided £300k by means of an expansion loan. This would enable the business to achieve their future growth and expansion plans along with researching and developing new apps.
IDEA TO REALITY – IGNITE DATA IS “GRANTED” FUNDING
To help fund their research and development, Richard and Dan were put in touch with Granted Consultancy who were able to work with the team and guide them through the application process to secure £750k grant funding from the UK Government’s innovation agency, Innovate UK.
IGNITE DATA AND ITS BRIGHT SOLUTIONS
Utilising the grant funding, IgniteData were preparing to create a paradigm shift in clinical research with their cloud-based app known as “Archer.” The beauty of “Archer” is that it can open directly in hospital electronic records, making the collation of certain patient data electronic, more streamlined and negating the need for duplication and manual input (EHR to EDC). This also means that skilled staff remain on the critical clinical trials front line, where they are needed most.
IgniteData offers multiple solutions, but it is “Archer” the digital research assistant, which deals with reducing the manual processes at trial sites to improve efficiency, reduce cost and help speed new treatments to patients. (EHR to EDC). This is all achieved through an EHR communication technology known as HL7® FHIR®.
BURNING BRIGHTLY INTO THE FUTURE
Richard Yeatman, Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer at Ignite Data commented: “For Dan and I, this has been a really exciting journey. We have poured our combined knowledge into designing and delivering smarter solutions in the real-world using EHR data. IgniteData’s technology enhanced solutions allow its pharma and clinical research organisation (CRO) clients to find sites for research and clinical trials, recruit patients for their research and integrate EHR data. Acting as an interoperability aggregator for electronic health records and study database connections, IgniteData plays an important role in connecting the ecosystem. Our deeptech platform integrates key data systems, reducing the need for manual input, eliminating duplication and increasing data integrity.”
Cheryl Weeks, Head of Funds, South East comments: “Working with Richard and Dan was a real pleasure. Having both had similar experiences delivering technology within the NHS, their combined knowledge is phenomenal. Both bring different experiences to the table but with shared experiences of systems and processes, which has led to the success of IgniteData. We were pleased to secure £300k term debt finance to help them further expand their business, grow their team and keep up to date with the technology required to develop new apps.”
Jon Williams, Director, Granted Consultancy: "Assisting IgniteData in securing over £750k of grant funding to accelerate the development of their innovation is something myself and our in-house grant writing team feel very proud to have been a part of. Their technology is a market-leading solution that will help catalyse a radical shift in the way that clinical research is currently conducted. Over multiple successful awards, we've worked closely with the IgniteData team to ensure best fit between grant funding opportunities and the company's strategic needs, so we share their passion for their innovative product and look forward to continuing to support them as they continue to grow and scale their business."
TVB Expansion Loan Scheme is part of TVB Funding Escalator, an £11.3m initiative funded by Thames Valley Berkshire LEP. The escalator, which also includes a Trade Finance Loan Scheme and a Growth Equity Fund, provides eligible companies with loans and equity funding between £50,000 and £300,000 for activities that will deliver high-growth and employment opportunities.
To find out more about IgniteData and to arrange to speak with an Archer expert, contact them directly or visit their website:
Tel: 0118 453 0403
Email: contact@ignitedata.co.uk