The Redistributed Manufacturing in Healthcare Network (RiHN)

Redistributed Manufacturing (RDM) in healthcare involves moving production closer to the point-of-care, helping clinicians to deliver better outcomes through medical products, technologies and therapies that are available on-demand and tailored to patient needs.
The UK EPSRC first funded the RiHN in Feb 2015 and a cross-disciplinary team of six universities delivered pioneering feasibility studies and a comprehensive white paper to guide future research and investment.
Following a new award commencing in July 2020, the team has grown and the Network now seeks to fund novel applications of RDM for use in challenging mobile environments, supporting the practice of humanitarian, military and emergency medical care. 

Stay Connected...

Join Our Network

We are particularly interested in working with humanitarian and emergency services organisations, and any other beneficiaries of distributed forms of manufacturing technologies and systems.

Our Network provides opportunities for academic researchers to participate in our events, apply for feasibility study funding, submit papers to our special issues and collaborate with us in other ways to achieve our research aims.

RIHN's Current Funded Research

Want to see what RiHN is currently working on?

RiHN has up to £1.2m in feasibility study funding, with a larger team of investigators focused on new pioneering areas of RDM, supported by expert bodies involved in relevant areas of science and manufacturing engineering research, as well as military and emergency medicine.

To see what projects we have funded, click the button below:

Playlist

7 Videos

What is RDM?

The way we currently manufacture our goods is becoming increasingly unsustainable. The established centralised, off-shore, mass production approach is increasingly under threat from global economic volatility, political and security risks, international pandemics and climate change. Watch the video and find out what solutions Redistributed Manufacturing can offer to commonly faced challenges.

For more videos, our past funded feasibilities covered (I) cell microfactories for both autologous and allogeneic CATBTs; (II) 3D bioprinting of islet micro-tissues; commercialisation of ATMP/Device combination products, (III) 3D printing of a diagnostic medical device, and (IV) pharmaceutical products and supply chains. Click the button below to watch now.

Play Video

White Paper

“An interesting future possibility would be to take RDM into mobile or flexible locations, in cases where there is an acute and urgent demand for medical products or supplies, for example to meet the demands of humanitarian crises, natural disasters or emergencies. The first hours are critical for saving lives or reducing the chances of debilitating conditions; RDM systems could seek to deliver rapid diagnosis, production and testing in remote condition”

Contact Us..

The RiHN is a consortium of seven UK universities and the MoD Defence Medical Services and is guided by an advisory board with leading experts from the medical manufacturing, technology and innovation ecosystems.

For further information, please get in touch:

  • Prof Wendy Phillips, Programme Director
  • Dr Christopher Howell, Senior Research Fellow
  • Dr Helen Sanderson, Senior Research Fellow
  • Chloe Hughes, Website Administrator 

Address

Redistributed Manufacturing in Healthcare Network University of the West of England Frenchay Campus Coldharbour Lane Bristol BS16 1QY

-

Our Collaborators