NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Accelerated Surgical Care

Talking Point Tuesdays - NICE: Making an Early Assessment
2025-02-18 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Hybrid Event, United Kingdom
Join us on Tuesday 18th February at 09:00 AM at The Catalyst (10:00AM for online attendees) for a morning of insightful discussions and networking opportunities. At this exciting event, you’ll learn about NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) and hear about some key updates.
Background
The Innovation Observatory is the gateway to the NICE Technology Assessment (TA) Programme for industry, preventing delays in bringing new and repurposed medicines to the UK market through the early identification and tracking of new and repurposed medicines and health technologies.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) TA programme provides UK healthcare guidance through Technology Appraisals and Highly Specialised Technologies assessments. A NICE recommendation is crucial for market access to the NHS in England and Wales. The Innovation Observatory is the first step in the process and we work closely with our pharmaceutical industry partners.
We provide the ‘gateway’ to NICE by submitting potential topics that meet the NICE Topic Selection criteria for medicines as set out in the NICE Topic Selection Manual. We follow the development of new and repurposed medicines from at least two years before estimated UK license to provide a timely notification to NICE. This early notification triggers the NICE TA process and allows NICE to provide new guidelines as close to the license date as possible.
The Innovation Observatory has a strict confidentiality agreement which means we only share confidential information with selected policymakers.
Sign up to this informative event
With a range of knowledgeable speakers and an expert panel available for your questions – don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity!
This event is funded by NIHR and free to attend. Attendance is available either online or in -person at The Catalyst in Newcastle. It is open to nationwide small and medium sized businesses operating in the health and life sciences sector.

NIHR Developing Research Leaders Programme for Allied Health Professionals - Information Webinars
2025-02-18 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-03-06 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-03-18 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-03-26 12:00 - 13:00 | Microsoft Teams
This programme provides funded time for you to explore your own ways to build research capacity and capability in your organisation, and to develop a positive research culture in support of your team, service and organisational priorities.
You will use your knowledge, skills and personal experiences to motivate and enable others to get involved in research activities that help improve health and care outcomes.
We are looking for motivated AHPs from various health and social care backgrounds who aspire to develop as research leaders, are good at connecting with others, and who bring fresh ideas to drive a positive research culture.

Launch of NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in In Vitro Diagnostics
2025-02-21 09:30 - 15:00 | Storey Club, Storey Club, Paddington Central, 4 Kingdom Street, London, London, United Kingdom
The HRC IVD is a centre of expertise offering research and navigation services for innovators at all stages of IVD development. Hosted by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, we help innovators translate their ideas into the clinical setting. Our initial focus is on cancer, infectious and respiratory diseases, critical care, primary and social care.

Attend the launch and discover:

Our aims and ambitions for the HRC

Our services, networks, and facilities

Success stories from industry

How we bring together the ecosystem to accelerate IVD adoption by the NHS

There will also be networking opportunities and lunch is provided.

Building global futures - AI and Healthcare
2025-02-24 13:00 - 17:00 | University of York, York Guildhall, Coney Street, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 9QL, United Kingdom
Are you ready to collaborate, innovate, and reimagine healthcare? Hosted by the University of York in partnership with Amity University, India. This event will bring together leading academics, industry leaders, and innovators to explore how cutting-edge research and partnerships can shape the future of AI in healthcare.
Why You Should Join Us:

Co-create solutions: Dive into hands-on, interactive sessions to tackle real healthcare challenges.
Learn and share: Hear from experts, share ideas, and be inspired by the latest in AI and healthcare.
Connect globally: Work alongside researchers, developers, clinicians, and innovators with global perspectives.

This event will feature a wide range of research overviews, keynote speeches, and panel discussions that provide both theoretical insights and practical perspectives on AI’s role in transforming healthcare. Additionally, it creates space to explore how partnerships between academia and industry can accelerate progress in this vital field.
Through collaboration, academia and industry can harness their collective expertise to drive groundbreaking advancements in AI for healthcare, addressing global challenges with innovative, practical, and impactful solutions.
We hope you can join us to explore the potential for partnership and innovation in this exciting and critical area.

West Yorkshire Innovation Festival
2025-03-03 08:00 - 2025-03-07 17:00
From the Industrial Revolution onwards, West Yorkshire has been a hotbed of innovation, where ground-breaking discoveries and transformative practices go hand in hand to power our economic success and prosperity.

Returning for its third year, the West Yorkshire Innovation Festival brings together businesses, entrepreneurs of all ages and backgrounds, and experts to share resources and support, and showcase the innovation happening across the region.

Created by the West Yorkshire Innovation Network and coordinated by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the festival aims to encourage ideas and collaboration to create new opportunities, positive change and foster a culture of innovation to help supercharge our businesses.

Understanding the Link Between Oral Health & IBD
2025-03-03 17:30 - 19:00 | Hybrid Event, United Kingdom
Oral health can provide crucial insights into systemic diseases like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). This hybrid workshop aims to raise awareness of how conditions such as Orofacial Granulomatosis (OFG) can be linked to underlying gut diseases like Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC)
🔬 Learn from Experts
Gain insights from leading specialists, including:

Dr. Tathyane Nakajima Teshima – NIHR Clinical Lecturer & Expert in Oral Medicine, UCL
Professor Andrew Smith – Senior Lecturer in Innate Immunity, UCL Eastman Dental Institute

🧪 Discover the Latest Research

Explore the connection between oral symptoms and IBD
Understand the role of biomarkers in early detection & disease management
Learn about future advancements in precision medicine

💬 Engage & Ask Questions

Recognise early symptoms & improve disease management
Participate in a live Q&A with specialists
Connect with patients, caregivers, researchers, and healthcare professionals

LTHT Innovation EXPO
2025-03-04 15:00 - 18:00 | Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Old Medical School, Thoresby Place Great George Street Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3EX, United Kingdom
Join us at this exciting EXPO event, hosted by the Innovation Pop Up, to find out about the latest cutting-edge developments in health technology innovation. Guests will have the opportunity to interact with Innovation Pop members who will be demonstrating their latest innovations, as well as an opportunity to network with regional innovation partners and colleagues from across LTHT. The event will also showcase our future ambitions and plans for the new Innovation Hub based in the Old Medical School.
To confirm your place, please RSVP using the registration link and if you have any questions, contact innovation.lth@nhs.net

Addressing the diversity challenge: Using data to identify the right research locations
2025-03-05 14:00 - 15:00 | Microsoft Teams
Health research regulators across the globe are encouraging researchers to increase the diversity of people taking part in clinical trials. The Health Research Authority (HRA) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have all issued or updated inclusion and diversity guidance in the last 12 months.
With these changes ongoing, one thing is certain: inclusive research is better research. In the UK our data capabilities are rapidly expanding and creating new ways to target research locations that offer opportunities to engage diverse populations.
You will hear from:
– Esther Mukuka, NIHR Director of Research Inclusion
– Laura Bousfield, NIHR National Research Delivery Director
– Mark Evans, NIHR Research Data and Digital Transformation Manager
Join the webinar to hear the latest in this evolving conversation and hear about emerging solutions.

Healthcare and Innovation Forum
2025-03-12 12:30 - 17:00 | Squire Patton Boggs, 60 London Wall, London,, EC2M 5TQ, United Kingdom
We are delighted to invite you to attend the Healthcare and Innovation Forum, an exclusive event bringing together thought leaders, innovators and industry experts to explore the most pressing challenges and emerging opportunities within the healthcare sector.
As healthcare continues to evolve in response to global trends and technological advancements, this forum will provide a platform for in-depth discussions on critical topics, including decarbonisation, healthcare policy, M&A and the growing role of HealthTech and AI.

National HealthTech Series - Birmingham
2025-03-13 | GBS Birmingham, Norfolk House, Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham, West Midlands, B5 4LJ, United Kingdom
Each event will involve a series of keynote speeches, panel discussions, pitch sessions, interactive roundtable discussions, careers fairs and super connect networking sessions involving stakeholders from across the healthcare, education, industry, startup and non-profit sectors. All sessions will include Q & A providing attendees with opportunities to get involved including the interactive workshops focused on the following topics that you can register to participate in on your registration.

Talking Point Tuesdays - Health Economics
2025-03-18 09:00 - 12:00 | Hybrid Event, United Kingdom
Join us on Tuesday 18th March 2025 at 09:00 AM at The Catalyst for a morning of insightful discussions and networking opportunities. At this exciting event, you’ll learn all about Health Economics as well as finding out about you can get involved with the HTC – Health Technology Committee and HEG – Health Economic Group.
Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity!
This event is funded by NIHR and free to attend. Attendance is available either online or in -person at The Catalyst in Newcastle. It is open to nationwide small and medium sized businesses operating in the health and life sciences sector.

Shaping the Future of Healthcare
2025-03-19 12:00 - 13:30 | Microsoft Teams
The healthcare landscape is evolving rapidly, and organisations and businesses that can adapt and innovate will lead the way. Discover how academic partnerships can create new pathways for growth and expansion in the healthcare sector. These partnerships have the capacity to generate and sustain business growth, leading to improved competitiveness, process improvements, productivity, and ultimately profitability.
In this webinar, we will:

Outline the steps to connect with academic institutions, including NHSA universities, and highlight Innovate UK funding opportunities and ways to access pioneering health research that can drive innovation in your business or organisation.
Teach you how to collaborate with leading academic institutions, tap into their expertise, and explore the funding required to bring your health-related products and services to market.
Share how academic partnerships can create new pathways for growth and expansion in the healthcare sector, helping you bring your health-related products and services to market.
Provide key contacts to facilitate future interactions and foster innovative collaborations.

NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre Online Seminar Series: Tips for a Successful Grant Application
2025-03-19 12:30 - 13:30 | Microsoft Teams
We are delighted to host the NIHR Leeds BRC Seminar Series on the topic “Tips for a Successful Grant Application” on Wednesday 19th March 2025 from 12:30 to 13:30.

Please sign up using the link below by this Monday 17th March 2025, 10 am:
https://forms.gle/FC9ygTPYNtDcyQ4V6

Please see the flyer for more information.

The meeting link will be distributed to those who have signed up on the day before the event.

The sessions will be recorded. Recordings will be available about a couple of weeks following the event on our YouTube channel using the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/@nihrleedsbiomedicalresearc4165/videos

NIHR webinar: Approaches to Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) - Thursday 20th March at 11.30am
2025-03-20 11:30 - 12:30 | Microsoft Teams
NIHR are hosting a webinar on Thursday 20th March at 11:30am aimed at anyone funded or applying for an NIHR Award, as well as staff accountable for public involvement in their research projects/ roles.

The webinar will cover:
• NIHR’s definition of PPI
• Public Partnerships Strategic Commitments
• The importance of involving members of the public in research
• Expectations of PPI in NIHR
• Different approaches in PPI

Register here

Women in IP - Connected Bubbles
2025-03-26 12:00 - 14:00 | Horizon Leeds, Kendall Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1JR, United Kingdom

HealthTech Leeds Launch
2025-03-26 13:00 - 16:00 | Nexus Leeds, Nexus at Leeds University, Discovery Way University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 3AA, United Kingdom
Welcome to the HealthTech Leeds Launch!
Join Nick Plant & the new directors of HealthTech Leeds (formally Centre for HealthTech Innovation) Ruth Wilcox, Hemant Pandit, and Christoph Walti.
Meet and hear from researchers in HealthTech from across the university, learn about and have your say on the new programme of activities launching to bring more opportunities to forge connections and develop your research.
Keynote address and talks to be followed by a breakout workshop(3-4pm) focused on developing connectivity across our areas of research strengths.
Whether you’re a seasoned expert in the field or just curious about the intersection of health and technology, we’d love to see you there!

NHS Net Zero 2025
2025-03-27 09:30 - 14:30 | Microsoft Teams
The NHS Net Zero online conference will focus on the NHS’s commitment to becoming the world’s first net-zero healthcare system by 2040. This event will bring together healthcare leaders, sustainability experts, and policymakers to discuss strategies for reducing carbon emissions and improving environmental sustainability across the NHS. Key topics include reducing the carbon footprint of healthcare operations, adopting sustainable energy solutions, greening supply chains, and encouraging eco-friendly clinical practices. Attendees will gain insights into overcoming challenges in the transition to a net-zero system, with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and the role of digital technology in achieving sustainability goals. This conference is essential for those looking to drive environmental change within the healthcare sector.

SurgTech 2025
2025-04-03 08:00 - 2025-04-04 17:00 | Queens Hotel, New Station Street City Square, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 1PJ, United Kingdom

Workshop on AI and data driven methods for Health Challenges Invitation
2025-04-03 09:30 - 15:00 | University of Leeds, Parkinson Building, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
Dear colleagues,
We are pleased to invite you to an upcoming workshop designed to foster collaboration and the development of interdisciplinary research ideas for external grant applications that address Health Challenges (details of the challenge areas listed below).
Event Details:
Date: 3rd of April 2025
Time: 09:30-15:00
Location: TBC on campus at the University of Leeds.
About the Workshop:
There are huge opportunities in developing and applying AI techniques to health challenges, ranging from using tools to analyse MRI images, applying physics-inspired machine learning to understand blood flow in the heart, through to analysing population-level health data and informing the design of better cities to reduce air pollution. These are just a few examples—there are many more exciting areas where AI can make a difference in health. The workshop will explore a wide range of opportunities and challenges, including ensuring AI methods are safe, reliable, and equitable in situations that can directly impact people’s health.
Who Can Participate:
We are looking for Leeds academics and clinicians with expertise in;
· fundamental or applied research that is applicable to challenges in health;
· AI tools, techniques and methods that can be applied to health challenges;
· exploring new ways to solve health challenges, especially those with access to relevant data.
Participants should be able to commit to the full duration of the workshop and a follow-up support session and be planning to submit an external research grant application in the next 12-18 months. If you are a clinician interested in the workshop but unable to commit to the full duration, please let us know.
Benefits to taking part: The opportunity to develop new and existing collaborations; dedicated time with experienced facilitators to help develop interdisciplinary research ideas; support for the preparation of grant proposals based on developed ideas.
The agenda for the workshop is attached for your reference.
Register online by the 27th March. Spaces are limited, so we encourage early registration.
If you have any questions, please contact Bharat Pokhrel b.pokhrel@leeds.ac.uk.
Health Challenge Areas:
· Challenge area 1 – Transforming early prediction and diagnosis:
o Tools to advance earlier diagnosis and detection of disease – developing novel tools, including cutting-edge AI-driven technologies, non-invasive sensors, devices, and advanced medical imaging, to enhance early diagnosis and disease detection through improved image visualization and interpretation.
o Novel techniques for patient specific diagnosis – new methods for recognizing abnormal data patterns and leveraging advanced digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, modelling, simulations, and digital twins, alongside data analytics, to predict susceptibility to illness.
· Challenge area 2 – Improving population health and prevention:
o Population models: developing new tools and technologies, such as AI-driven models, to analyse population data and support communities and health professionals. By leveraging advancements in machine learning, these tools can predict variations in disease phenotypes at individual and population levels and forecast infectious disease spread, offering valuable guidance and early warnings.
o Predictive approaches to a healthy society: developing novel tools and technologies, such as digital twins, to model wellness and understand normal health. It involves creating systems to monitor disease, detect deviations, and identify risk factors. By harnessing digital technologies and data analytics, these tools can discover indicators of susceptibility, stratify at-risk groups, and support personalised interventions to help individuals stay healthy and avoid complications.
o Engineering healthier environments: advancing research on smart cities, assistive technologies, robotics, and AI to transform the built environment into a proactive tool for health and wellbeing. This includes preventing infection spread, redesigning spaces to promote wellbeing, and creating future living environments.

Talking Point Tuesdays - Digital Health Tech
2025-04-08 09:00 - 12:00 | Hybrid Event, United Kingdom
Join us on Tuesday 8th April 2025, at 09:00 AM at The Catalyst for a morning of insightful discussions and networking opportunities. At this exciting event, we’ll dive into the world of digital health tech and explore new cutting edge digital health technologies that are solving unmet needs in the Health and Life Sciences sector.
Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity!
This event is funded by NIHR and free to attend. Attendance is available either online or in -person at The Catalyst in Newcastle. It is open to nationwide small and medium sized businesses operating in the health and life sciences sector.

NIHR i4i Webinar: Call for Innovations to Reduce Waiting Lists and Times
2025-04-08 15:00 - 16:30 | Microsoft Teams
The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme is a translational research funding scheme aimed at supporting SMEs to de-risk early-to-late stage innovative technologies for ultimate use in the NHS or social care settings.
The NIHR i4i Programme will launch a commissioned funding opportunity on the 9th of April 2025. We are inviting applications to enhance timely access to care through the development, clinical validation and/or real-world evidence generation of transformative and disruptive innovations.
Offering uncapped funding per project over a 24-36 month period, its primary aim is to support the development of innovative health technologies aimed at reducing waiting times and waiting lists for individuals in need of care, in any setting.

How to build public trust in Secure Data Environments
2025-04-28 10:00 - 13:30 | Nexus Leeds, Nexus at Leeds University, Discovery Way University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 3AA, United Kingdom
Join the LIDA Health Committee for an insightful debate on Secure Data Environments (SDEs). These platforms allow researchers from both public and commercial sectors to securely access and analyze patient data. The recently released Sudlow Review highlights the importance of SDEs and recommends developing a UK-wide framework for their standards and accreditation, emphasizing the need to maintain public trust.
But what is ‘public trust’ and how can the conditions for its flourishing be embedded into policies and technical standards? Is the goal of cultivating ‘public trust’ in a secure and audited platform appropriate, or should we focus on engineering out the need for trust through robust technical controls? Just who/what are we trusting, and what are we trusting them to do? Join us for an engaging discussion with experts from diverse fields, including applied ethics, patient advocacy, and health technology.

Methods for Evaluating Models, Tests and Biomarkers (MEMTAB) international conference
2025-04-29 08:00 - 2025-05-01 17:00 | University of Birmingham, Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom
MEMTAB is the leading international conference about methods to evaluate models, tests & biomarkers for healthcare. It allows debate & dissemination of best methods for developing, evaluating & identifying reliable models, tests & biomarkers for use in clinical practice.

In 2025, for our 7th International conference, we return to the University of Birmingham and raise the conference theme: “Methodology That Stands the Test”.
We want participants to push our understanding of what constitutes the research evidence needed for models, tests and biomarkers to be reliably endorsed, communicated and deployed in practice.

Nexus Connect: Health Innovation and Regulation
2025-04-29 16:00 - 18:00 | Nexus Leeds, Nexus at Leeds University, Discovery Way University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 3AA, United Kingdom
Want to connect with like-minded people in business, technology and academia?
Nexus Connect invites you to come together with the regional innovation community. Enjoy refreshments, a lively panel discussion and meaningful conversations.
This time, we’re talking about health innovation and regulation in the health-tech sector. Our expert panel will discuss their personal accounts of the regulatory system together with challenges, solutions and potential collaboration opportunities.
You’ll walk away with contacts and advice that’ll last much longer than an afternoon.
Who’s it for?
Nexus Connect is open to anyone with an interest in innovation and collaboration, regardless of role, seniority or sector.
We welcome:

All Nexus member businesses

Entrepreneurs and professionals, at all levels, from innovative and tech-led businesses

University of Leeds academics and professional staff

Student engagement event: is a career in research for me?
2025-05-01 10:00 - 13:30 | Microsoft Teams
Are you curious about research? Want to become more involved but don’t know where to begin and what opportunities are available to you?
If you are a student or recent graduate in health and social care, are considering a career in research, or just want to know more, you are invited to register for this virtual event. The day will look to inspire and attract students to a career in research, providing an introduction to what a career in research entails, and highlight the benefits of research within health and social care.
By the end of the day, you will have a clearer understanding of the many opportunities to get involved in research, why research can benefit your career and hear from inspirational speakers and peers about how they got into research

NWSTC Surgical Workshop Sandpit Day.
2025-05-02 09:00 - 16:00 | University of Liverpool, The Library Room - Liverpool Guild of Students, Liverpool, L3 5TR, United Kingdom
We are delighted to share the details of the upcoming North West Surgical Trial Centre (NWSTC) – Surgical Workshop Sandpit Day.
‘Bring your ideas to the table’ an opportunity for you to discuss any trial ideas you may have, as well as learn from the experts.
This event is aimed at all surgical specialities and all grades.
Tickets for this event are FREE but a £30 deposit will be required when registering for the event, which will be refunded upon participation to the day.
Please note, you can still attend the event without paying but you will NOT be catered for. Please bring your own refreshments and lunch.
Don’t miss this opportunity, get your tickets today!

Agenda

09:15-09:45
Registration with tea & coffee

09:45-10:00
Prof Michael Jenkinson – RCSEng and University of Liverpool Chair of Surgical Trials
Prof Cliona Kirwan – RCSEng and University of Manchester Chair of Surgical Trials

Welcome

10:00-10:30
Dr Girvan Burnside – Reader in Medical Statistics

Trial Design

10:30-10:35
Questions

10:35-11:05
Mrs Michaela Brown – Speciality Lead Statistician

Defining the research question

11:05-11:10
Questions

11:10-11:40
Refreshment Break

11:40-12:10
Prof Michael Jenkinson – Professor of Neurosurgery

The BASICS Principle – Creating impact from your trial

12:10-12:30
Questions and prep for sandpit sessions

12:30-14:00
Lunch break and networking

14:00-14:30
Prof Andrew Schache – Professor in Head & Neck Surgery

The role of TXA in free flap surgery

14:30-14:35
Questions

14:35-15:30
All – Group Participation

Sandpit Session – Bring your ideas

15:30-15:50
All – Group Participation

Feedback

15:50-16:00
Prof Michael Jenkinson and Prof Cliona Kirwan

Close to the day

‘How digitalisation increases health inequities’
2025-05-06 17:30 - 18:30
