MedTech @ Leicester 2025

Sir Bob Burgess Building SBB LT2 (2nd Floor), University of Leicester - September 1st all-day

This is a FREE event to explore the latest developments in medical technology research at the University of Leicester.

BERG invite you to join us for our annual MedTech @ Leicester day!

This is a free event showcasing the translation of clinical research at Leicester into innovative technologies with the potential to improve people’s lives and wellbeing. Come along to see the translation work we are doing, network to find technology solutions to clinical needs, explore opportunities for new MedTech projects, discover funding opportunities and meet the team. There will be an opportunity for lightning talks and poster presentations (specify your preferences at ticket checkout).

What is MedTech/HealthTech? MedTech/HealthTech is the intersection of medical science, healthcare delivery, and cutting-edge technology, encompassing a wide range of innovative devices, software solutions, and systems designed to improve patient care, diagnosis, treatment, and overall health management. This exciting and rapidly evolving field includes everything from wearable health monitors and telemedicine platforms to AI-powered diagnostic tools, advanced medical imaging technologies and tissue engineering, all aimed at enhancing healthcare efficiency, accessibility, and improving patient outcomes.

Why attend? Technologists, clinicians and innovators should attend to learn about the latest developments in MedTech research at the University of Leicester, exciting new projects to contribute to, meet new health technology collaborators and explore opportunities for funded research and innovation projects in this space.

Our strategic objective for this annual MedTech @ Leicester day is to generate new collaborations with clinicians, healthcare professionals, other technologists and innovators to explore additional MedTech translation projects. We are particularly interested to hear from clinicians with expertise in multimorbid conditions - where technologies may improve patient outcomes and manage disease progression.

Meet the team to explore how we might be able to solve healthcare challenges together.

Who are BERG? The Biomedical Engineering Research Group (BERG) comprises a multidisciplinary research team within the School of Engineering, with expertise spanning machine learning, AI, cellular engineering, computational biology, biomaterials, biomechanics, prosthetics, biofluidics, and biosignal processing. Our mission is simple: to create medical technologies that improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

BERG collaborates closely with clinicians and strategic partners across the region, nationally and internationally to develop innovative solutions that address real-world healthcare challenges. Working alongside clinicians and industry partners allows BERG's diverse team to translate cutting-edge research into practical medical applications effectively. By bridging fundamental research and clinical implementation, BERG aims to make a meaningful impact in the MedTech and HealthTech sectors.

BERG has three research/innovation focus areas:

1. Medical Devices – developing novel algorithms, technologies and tools to support early detection and accurate diagnosis of diseases. Current examples include wearable heart signal diagnostics and biomarker detection.
2. Computational Biology – building quantitative models to deepen our understanding of biological phenomena. Current examples include multiscale modelling of asthma, the auditory pathway and sensory processing in the brain.
3. Biomaterials – rational design of biocompatible materials, cellular engineering and therapeutic bioengineered systems to support health and well-being. Current examples include therapeutics delivery, heart assist and antimicrobial materials.

Contact us: BERG@le.ac.uk

Group information https://le.ac.uk/engineering/research/berg

Program

9:30:  MedTech @ Leicester day objectives - Floor 2 LT2 - Tim Pearce, BERG School of Engineering.

9:40 - 10:40 MedTech @ Leicester - Floor 2 LT2 - (3 x paired tech/clinical talks 20 min):

9:40 - 10:00: Tom Ward, School of Respiratory Sciences & Arshia Gratiot, Eupnoos. "Could My Smartphone Tell Me About My Lung Health?"

10:00 - 10:20: Artur Boronat, School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences & James Donaldson, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences. "Personalised Space Technology Exercise Programme (P-Step)."

10:20 - 10:40: Saravana Jaganathan, BERG School of Engineering & Nick Tucker, School of Engineering, University of Lincoln, "Engineering a Cardiac Patch"

10:40 - 11:15: Flash talks for posters - Floor 2 LT2

11:15 - 11:45: Coffee and posters - Floor 1 atrium

11:45 - 12:45: MedTech Workshops 

Workshop 1 - Floor 1 SBB 1.01 - Josef Walker and Manish Asiani, Commercial and IP Team, University of Leicester "Lab to Launch - Early Stage Perspectives on Medical Device Technology Development"

Overview: Taking a medical device all the way from ideation, through research & development, to regulatory approval and full commercialisation is typically a long and expensive process. Setting up a spin-out company to take on this challenge is one option for university-generated medtech innovations and will typically require some form of external investment. This interactive one-hour workshop offers an introduction to investor perspective on early-stage medtech innovation and provides an opportunity for you to put yourself in their shoes when assessing investment opportunities.

Workshop 2 - Floor 1 SBB 1.03 - David Hawkins, Managing Partner and Principal Consultant,  Sotas, Level Up Your Innovation: TRLs, Regulations, and the Road to Market

Overview: This interactive workshop takes you from first spark to final sign-off, showing exactly when and how regulatory requirements fit into your medical device journey. Using the TRL (Technical Readiness Level) framework, we’ll map out the key moments to think about classification, safety, quality systems, and clinical evidence - before it's too late. Whether you’re a student, researcher, or startup founder, you’ll leave knowing how to avoid costly missteps and speed your path from lab to market

12:45 - 1:30: Posters and Lunch - Floor 1 atrium 

12:45 - 1:30:  Innovation Clinic with our Commercial and IP team: For bookings, contact commercial-support@leicester.ac.uk to book a free 10-minute discussion slot with our commercial team on your MedTech project.

12:45 - 1:30 Health Innovation East Midlands Clinic. For bookings, contact Adam.Cruickshank@nottingham.ac.uk and Lorna.Finch1@nottingham.ac.uk. Health Innovation East Midlands operate as the innovation arm of the NHS in the East Midlands – identifying, testing and spreading new technologies and ways of working to help save NHS money, generate growth and jobs, empower health and care staff, and improve services for patients. HIEM offers triage, signposting, and differing levels of support for innovators, as well as our Health and care systems partners towards the adoption and sustaining of innovation across our region. If you have an idea or prototype medical device, digital solution, or new way of working that can benefit the NHS do come say hello or book a 1:1 to find out more about the support available to you.

1:30 - 2:10: Keynote talk - Floor 2 LT2 - Neil Ebeneezer, Office for Life Sciences, "The UK Medtech Landscape: Opportunities for the Sector." I will provide an overview of the sector and discuss some of the recent government initiatives, including the Life Science Sector Plan, the NHS 10-year plan and some of the MHRA proposed regulatory changes.

Dr Neil Ebenezer is the Medical Technologist and Genomics Specialist in the Life Sciences Team at the Department for Business and Trade, which recently merged with the Office for Life Sciences. His role includes developing and implementing the global strategy for medical technologies and genomics across inward investment and exports. He supports companies and organisations mainly in the medical devices and diagnostics sector. Neil has a broad scientific knowledge with a degree in Biotechnology from Dublin City University. He obtained a PhD from the Institute of Ophthalmology (UCL), on the genetics of ocular diseases. Neil has developed a portfolio career working across health and transport domains. He held various posts within the civil service, including the Department of Health, the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and at the Department of Transport. Subsequently, Neil was the Director of Research, Policy and Innovation at the charity Fight for Sight before joining DBT. More recently, he was also the Team Leader on the FCDO funded High Volume Transport Programme focussed on developing a research evidence base in the Global South.

2:10 - 3:00: Contributed talks - Floor 2 LT2 

2:10 - 2:20: Anna Canning, EMERGE RehabTech NTU, "Place-Based Impact Acceleration Account"

2:20 - 2:30: Muhammad Zubair, School of Engineering, "From Applied Electromagnetics to MedTech: Smart Sensing & Imaging for Healthcare Futures"

2:30 - 2:40: Genovefa Kefalidou, School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, "Design with Care in Healthcare - User-Centred Design for better Healthcare Experiences"

2:40 - 2:50: Ahmed M Salih, TIMMS Group, Department of Population Health Sciences, "Sources of Bias in AI Models for Healthcare, Medicine, and Biology"

2:50 - 3:00: Michael Phillips, Renfrew International, "Science of Design -The Design of Science"

3:00 - 3:45: Panel discussion - Floor 2 LT2  (talk/workshop presenters)

3:45 - 4:00: Sum-up and awards - Floor 2 LT2 

4pm: close

We are grateful to the Institute for Precision Health, School of Engineering and College of Science and Engineering Health Theme for supporting the workshop.

We are grateful to our commercial sponsor

Important information about the event

The event is free to attend, but places are limited. Please register your attendance by clicking on the button. If you are no longer able to attend, we ask that you cancel your ticket to make the space available for another delegate.

When booking, please state any access requirements you have.

Light refreshments will be provided. To ensure that everyone is catered for, we ask that you share your dietary requirements on the booking form.

Parking information: Nearby Freemen's Common Multi-Storey Car Park. Map details and location here: https://share.google/mT1ONnMYZahngx5Sf

For questions about the event, sponsorship and stalls, please contact BERG@le.ac.uk