NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Accelerated Surgical Care

Embedding public partnerships in MRC funding applications
2026-03-24 14:00 - 15:00 UTC | Online, United Kingdom
It is likely to be of most interest to researchers, research office professional services staff supporting grant applications, public involvement and engagement community.
MRC is encouraging its research community to consider how public partnerships can inform and improve research and be of mutual benefit.
Agenda:

Why public partnerships matter
The difference public partners can make
When and how to include public partnerships:

Considering opportunities throughout the research cycle
Guidance on integrating public partnerships into research applications

Questions to the panel

When registering for the webinar you can submit advance questions for the panel (up to 17 March) and you can use Q&A functionality at the webinar.

Surgical Innovation Ideathon by RCS England I-Hub in partnership with LIHE
2026-03-25 09:00 - 18:30 | London Institute for Healthcare Engineering (LIHE), London Institute for Healthcare Engineering - LIHE 100 Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE1 7AR, United Kingdom
Dissect validated surgical problems into commercially valuable solutions through the power of surgeon, academic and industry collaboration.

RCS England and London Institute for Healthcare Engineering (LIHE) are delighted to announce this in-person, Surgical Innovation Ideathon event uniting surgeons, research academics and industry to accelerate meaningful surgical innovation.

Manchester Health Series 2025/2026
2026-03-26 08:00 - 17:00
The free-of-charge events in Manchester will take place on:
26th March 2026 (Nuclear Medicine)
They will feature keynote speakers, fireside chats, roundtable discussions, expos, pitch sessions, one-to-one clinics (where possible), super connect networking sessions, and more. Empact Ventures will support you to get super connected with potential partners, clients, funders or business support during and after the event through its warm, curated email introductions process, in addition to your networking.
To reserve your place, please fill in the registration form below, and if you have any questions, please email jemma@empact-ventures.com

NIHR Yorkshire and the Humber HCP internship kick off meeting
2026-04-17 09:30 - 16:00 | Cloth Hall Court, Leeds
Welcome to Cohort 1 of the NIHR Yorkshire and the Humber HCP internship programme

Welcome to Cohort 1 of the NIHR Yorkshire and Humber Community of Research practice HCP internship programme.
Our first meeting includes:

Introducing our interns and faculty
Meeting the team
Heaingr from a member of the NIHR academy
Finding your budy
And asking your questions

Looking forward to meeting everyone.

RCS England Future of Surgery Festival
2026-04-20 - 2026-04-21 | ICC Birmingham, Broad Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B1 2EA, United Kingdom
A celebration of surgery, shaped by you.
On 20 and 21 April 2026 we are bringing together surgeons and surgical teams for a first-of-its-kind UK festival dedicated to the future of surgery. A space for connection, inspiration, and collaboration, our vision is to unite the best and brightest minds from all career stages and specialties because your questions, insights and experiences will help shape the conversations that matter most. And meaningful change happens when we come together.
More than an event
With over 25 hours of high-quality curated content to choose from and many opportunities to meet peers and collaborate in facilitated sessions, you’ll be able to design your own programme. Whether it’s hearing from thought leaders and trailblazers, accessing practical advice and support, or being newly inspired, this is your opportunity to explore what’s important to you and to contribute to the future of the profession.
If that’s not enough, you’ll also be able to explore the latest technology, soak up the atmosphere and come away feeling energised by this celebration of surgery and the people, like you, who shape it.
Themes that matter
Festival topics will span innovation, workforce and wellbeing, diversity, equity and inclusion, global surgery and more, reflecting the issues shaping surgical practice today and tomorrow.
Be part of it. Find out more on our dedicated festival website.
Register your interest to be the first to receive the programme and hear when early bird booking opens. Have a question or an idea? We would love to hear from you – email the team.

NIHR RSS SME Funding Application Development Retreat
2026-04-21 09:30 - 17:00
Get ready to dive into funding tips and tricks to boost your Health and Life Sciences / Social Care application game at this retreat.
NIHR RSS SME Funding Application Development Retreat
Join us on April 21, 2026 at 9:30 AM (BST) for a relaxed and productive day focused on SME funding applications. This in-person retreat is perfect if you want to get hands-on help and connect with others working on similar projects. Whether you’re just starting or need a boost to your application, this event will give you the support and insights you need. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to collaborate and learn!

Engineering Medical Innovation for Scale - InFact x SETT x NIHR Webinar
2026-04-22 09:00 - 10:00 | Online, United Kingdom
Are you a MedTech innovator, researcher, or clinician working to bring a device, diagnostic or treatment technology to market? Do you find yourself curious about how to bridge the gap between promising science and a scalable, trial-ready solution?

Join inFact, the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Accelerated Surgical Care, and the Southampton Emerging Therapies and Technologies (SETT) Centre for a practical webinar exploring how engineering expertise, rigorous process, and the right partnerships can dramatically accelerate MedTech commercialisation — and what that looks like in practice.
This webinar is hosted by inFact, a New Zealand-based MedTech engineering company with a mission to halve the time it takes for medical innovations to reach market. With teams spanning mechanical design, embedded systems, industrial design, software, materials science, and regulatory compliance, inFact partners with innovators globally to take science from the benchtop to clinical trials and beyond.

What we’ll cover:
Reflections on the MedTech innovation and the challenges facing innovators today
A deep-dive case study: how inFact partnered with the University of Auckland to transform a complex laboratory process into a clinical trial-ready oxidative stress detection device and consumable, all while the science was still being developed
The systematic engineering approach inFact applies across all MedTech projects: de-risking, staged development, regulatory alignment, and clinician-centred design
An interactive discussion to understand where UK innovators are experiencing the most friction on their commercialisation journey and how partnerships can help
This session is designed to be practical and participatory. Come ready to share your challenges and co-create solutions.

Who should attend?
This webinar is relevant to MedTech founders and startups, academic researchers commercialising technology, NHS clinicians developing devices or diagnostics, NIHR grant holders, and innovation managers working across the UK health and life sciences ecosystem.

About InFact
InFact specialises in working with scientists while the science is still evolving. They provide design and engineering capabilities in the early stages so you can scale up your clinical and scientific programmes. Their extensive reach into specialist global suppliers for materials and prototyping processes ensures they can efficiently build equipment needed for cutting-edge science.​ Their capabilities extend to integrating QMS requirements, reimbursement, IP strategy, go-to-market and manufacturing from the earliest phases through to commercialisation. Since 1998, inFact has provided advanced engineering design services to help commercialise science & research for Medical, Deeptech and industrial applications and we bring an extensive array of technology solutions to resolving challenges with new innovations.

About NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Accelerated Surgical Care
The HealthTech Research Centre in Accelerated Surgical Care aims to drive HealthTech innovation patients and healthcare systems to deliver socio-economic benefit through quicker diagnosis and treatment of surgical conditions with safe, early recovery in the community. They focus on supporting the entire surgical pathway, merging expertise from diagnostics and medtech to move technologies into the NHS faster. Its main goals include providing support for market access and regulatory expertise, training and capacity building to educate and increase knowledge in relevant fields, and supporting technologies with high potential for adoption.

About Southampton Emerging Therapies and Technologies (SETT) Centre
The SETT Centre was established in 2021 to bring together and focus on three exciting areas within which we can translate cutting edge research and innovation into clinical care and patient outcomes. Since 2021 SETT has supported over 153 research studies. We have grown from a handful of people to a wide network of over 35 people all collaborating at different points along the research pathway to improve patient care. Their vision is to bring life changing cures closer to those who need them, accelerate clinical testing of innovations and translate technology into clinical care, and harness cutting-edge data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence into care delivery.

Health Economics Workshop
2026-04-23 09:30 - 16:00 | Cloth Hall Court, Quebec Street, Leeds, England, LS1 2HA
Further details to follow with registration link
Academics, SME’s, Clinicians and students are invited to attend this one day workshop.
Numbers are limited to early registration is a must.

Introduction to Early Economic Evaluation for HealthTech Training Course
2026-04-23 09:30 - 16:30 | Cloth Hall Court, Leeds
We’re running a one-day training workshop on how early economic evaluation can support HealthTech development, pricing and adoption decisions.
This course is designed for SMEs, academics, researchers and students interested in HealthTech innovation and evaluation. No prior economics experience is required.
Through practical examples and group work, participants will learn how early models inform value cases, evidence strategy and commercial planning.
📍 Cloth Hall Court, Leeds
📅 23rd April
💲 Free to attend (lunch included)
⚠️ Limited places

Coffee and Learn: Unlocking the Strategic Value of Patient Engagement in Healthcare Investments - A Tool for the PE Community
2026-04-23 15:00 - 16:00 | Online, United Kingdom
This tool equips PE champions with the knowledge, evidence, and strategies to position patient engagement (PE) as a value driver in healthcare investment. We’ll explore how integrating patient engagement (PE) into the investment community can align investor motivations with PE’s potential to drive both financial returns and societal impact in healthcare businesses.
Whether you want to engage with investors directly or nudge your investor relations colleagues, don’t miss out on hearing from fellow PE Champions on how they’ve already leveraged this new tool – join us to embark on the shared journey to advance patient-centered solutions with investors!

PROBr & NIHR presents: Clinical Trials Week Webinar Series (3 day part)
2026-05-18 - 2026-05-20 | Online, United Kingdom
Explore clinical research, innovation, and myths in this 3-part webinar series. Learn, engage, and be part of the future of healthcare.

A 3-Part Webinar Series Exploring Research, Innovation & Inclusion
Join PROBr and the NIHR part of Your Voice in Health Research for a dynamic, educational, and interactive Clinical Trials Week, designed to open the door to research for everyone, whether you’re completely new or already involved in healthcare, academia, or innovation.
This 3-day virtual series brings together researchers, clinicians, innovators, and the public to break down what clinical research really is, explore cutting-edge innovations, and challenge common misconceptions that often prevent people from getting involved.

Your Voice in Health Research Summit
2026-05-22 17:00 - 20:30 | Cardigan Community Centre, Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Join us in person to share your experiences and ideas about health research! This is your chance to make a real impact and help shape the future of healthcare. Come meet researchers, connect with others passionate about health, and have your voice heard in a relaxed and friendly setting. Don’t miss out on this awesome opportunity to be part of something meaningful!
For more information, visit the organiser’s website: https://www.probr.co

SurgTech 2026
2026-10-08 08:00 - 2026-10-09 17:00 | AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds, Headingly Rugby Stadium, Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
We plan to host a SurgTech conference every year which will be a two-day event bringing together industry, academics, clinical, funding bodies as well as members of the public working in the field of HealthTech. In previous years we have attracted over 300 delegates and it is our aim to improve on this.
This years’ meeting will focus on the 5 challenges outlined in NHS Plan
More details will follow soon.

Conference: Minoritised Life Scientists Future Forum at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (23–26 March 2026)
2026-10-23 08:00 - 2026-10-26 17:00 | Edinburgh International Conference Centre, United Kingdom
The Minoritised Life Scientists Future Forum (MLSFF) is an exceptional opportunity for underrepresented students and scientists to showcase their talents, share their research, and engage with a vibrant community of peers and professionals. We warmly invite you to participate in our conference in various ways, ensuring that everyone has the chance to contribute and benefit from this empowering experience.
Inclusive and Encouraging Environment
We recognise that minoritised students often face additional challenges and may feel marginalised or hesitant to step forward. The Future Forum is dedicated to creating an inclusive, welcoming, and supportive environment where your contributions are valued. However you choose to participate, your involvement is equally important and appreciated. You are the next generation of life scientists, and this is your opportunity to connect, empower, and inspire.
We believe that everyone has something valuable to offer, and by participating, you’ll not only gain new knowledge and experiences but also help us build a diverse and inclusive future for life sciences.
Your registration gives you full access to three days of MLSFF at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (23–26 March 2026). This includes:
Entry to all keynotes, career development sessions, workshops and poster presentations
Networking and mentoring opportunities built into the programme
Exhibition and community spaces to connect with societies, funders, universities and businesses.
Daily lunch plus hot and cold drinks throughout the conference
A place at the conference dinner, included for every delegate
Access to prayer rooms, quiet spaces and accessibility support
We want MLSFF26 to be accessible to everyone. The true cost of a delegate place is more than £900, but thanks to funding and sponsorship we are able to offer heavily subsidised tickets.
