SHARE: a remote tool for automated speech and language language assessment of children and personalised interventions.

Project Information

SHARE

Grant agreement ID: 101072133

DOI

10.3030/101072133

Project closed

EC signature date 16 May 2022

Start date 1 June 2022

End date 30 November 2022

Funded under

• European innovation ecosystems

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 75 000,00

Coordinated by

KIDS SPEECH LABS LIMITED
Ireland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SHARE (SHARE: a remote tool for automated speech and language language assessment of children and personalised interventions.)

Reporting period: 2022-06-01 to 2022-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Waiting times for speech and language therapy services have been growing for years. We have built an innovative technology platform, SHARE, that supports speech and language therapists (SLTs) in meeting the needs of children and families who are referred for speech and language therapy. Our proprietary technology achieves this through a breakthrough remote model of care that enhances existing care pathways by promoting children's home-based speech and language therapy prior to entering care pathways. As a result, SHARE will ensure more children and families get support from the earliest sign of concern.
We have been developing the SHARE platform since 2018 and it has now achieved technology readiness level (TRL) 5. The overall goal of the Women TechEU project is to advance the business readiness level of the SHARE platform to catalyse a further equity investment in Kids Speech Labs in 2023 and to ultimately support SHARE market deployment. To achieve this we established the following specific objectives for the project:
1) Expand our commercial activities in Ireland and the UK to demonstrate the market opportunities in order to support our fundraising activities.
2) Develop a regulatory roadmap and clinical validation strategy.
3) Further engage with private investors and prepare for our next equity round.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The activities performed and the main achievements of the Women TechEU project include:
1) Develop commercial relations in Ireland and the UK: a) Screening study performed with 90 children across 5 pre-schools in Dublin in partnership with the Irish Healthcare System (HSE); b) Secured second study with the HSE for 2023; and c) Engaged with 4 UK-based healthcare organisations, among which 2 have signed up to a 30-person study in 2023.
2) Develop a regulatory roadmap: a) Progressed our Quality Management System (QMS) by completing and obtaining approval from the HSE for our Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) and IT Security Assessment Questionnaire; b) Progressed our Digital Technology Assessment Criteria (DTAC) by receiving a readiness report; c) Assessed the NICE clinical guidelines to support our clinical validation strategy; and d) Commenced building a health economic model for SHARE.
3) Prepare for equity investment: Engaged with 3 new venture capital firms and 2 Angel investor networks.
In addition, from the Women TechEU mentoring and coaching support we advanced our knowledge of the UK National Health Service (NHS) procurement process and identified new approaches to finding partners.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Through our screening study we found 50% of children being flagged by parents or teachers with a suspected delay were developmentally on track; while a cohort of children that were not flagged, did actually have a potential development delay. We can therefore conclude, with confidence, that current referral and screening protocols are not efficient: healthcare systems are clearly wasting resources and missing children out of the system. Our second study found a 30% increase in early discharge in families who actively engaged in home-based programs while on long waiting lists.
We have validated that remote screening and tailored support helps families and improves how SLTs can manage their caseloads and support families. As a result, SHARE can: improve experience for parents; save SLT time and resources; and triage cases.
The key needs to ensure further uptake and success include: a) greater evidence of the impact of the SHARE platform within the healthcare system; b) a clear commercialisation roadmap; and c) a new capital injection in 2023 to fund our studies and our lengthy commercialisation roadmap.

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