Technologies must be for use in prehospital environments.

The UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is launching a new GBP1.5 million competition to discover novel technologies for managing non-compressible haemorrhages (NCHs).

NCH refers to bleeding that occurs deep inside the body, meaning no direct pressure or a tourniquet can be applied effectively. It’s a leading cause of preventable death in conflicts.

Launched on 9 September on behalf of the Defence Medical Services, the competition specifically requires NCH mitigating technologies for use in prehospital environments in both combat and civilian scenarios. It follows an initial request for information launched at the beginning of the year to explore the market’s capabilities.

Companies with capabilities starting at technology readiness level two to four are encouraged to apply for the competition before 4 November, with the possibility of several proposals being funded, DASA said. 

While unable to provide clarity on delivery timeframes, a DASA spokesperson reiterated to DSEI Gateway that several projects could secure future funding, from other sources, “to progress through the technology readiness levels in order to potentially be taken into capability in the future”.

Although perhaps not receiving much attention, NCH is a serious issue in conflicts. Analysis in Jama Surgery found that in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, around 80–90% of potentially survivable deaths were due to haemorrhage (before reaching a surgical facility).

Ukraine is likely to face similar challenges, considering its long and deep frontline, meaning major hospitals are far from the action.