Launch of the Healthcare Science Innovation Fellowship Programme

The Healthcare Science Innovation Fellowships Programme has launched and welcomed the first cohort of Innovation Fellows.

The programme is a collaboration between the Office of the Chief Scientific Officer for NHS England and Improvement, Health Education England’s National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS), and NIHR Devices for Dignity MedTech Co-operative (D4D) hosted by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. It is funded by Health Education England.

Over 12 months, the programme will provide Fellows with experience of the innovation process, focusing on technologies to benefit cancer patients, equipping Fellows with the knowledge, skills, confidence and ability to initiate and lead their own technology innovation projects in the future.

We are pleased to announce the first cohort of Healthcare Science Innovation Fellows, who are profiled below:

Darren Hart

Darren is a Clinical Scientist at the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust. He has a background in electronic engineering, microvascular imaging, team leadership and collaborative development of new services, software and devices. Through his multidisciplinary clinical work and research, he is experienced in applying his engineering and physiological measurement skills for patient benefit.

I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with Devices for Dignity, the other Fellows, new colleagues and patients to develop innovative technology to benefit those living with or beyond cancer.”

Maighread Ireland

Maighread is a Design Engineer at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Working within the Clinical Engineering Innovation team, Maighread has managed multiple projects which range in status; from early-stage concept development to post-market surveillance in product management and as engineering lead on a Class llb medical device.

“I’m looking forward to undertaking the Fellowship to develop my knowledge of innovation by learning from D4D, in order that the future innovation work of my team will be recognised as the gold standard”

Muhammed Hussain Nawaz

Hussain is a Specialist Biomedical Scientist at Barts Health NHS Trust, who has worked in Virology, Biochemistry and Haematology clinical laboratories before working in his current field of Immunology for the past 8 years, and achieving a specialist diploma in Immunology. He has completed a range of projects within Immunology, including new assay and analyser verifications/validations.

“Undertaking this fellowship will set me on a path to be able to help drive meaningful change to improve clinical outcomes for patients and in turn also benefit both clinicians and the laboratory.”

James Osborne

James is a Senior Clinical Biochemist at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust. He has led a number of service development projects, from the introduction of new analysers and tests, to service reconfigurations and a redesign of quality control procedures, and has a keen interest in experimental fields including artificial intelligence and remote sampling.

“This is an exciting opportunity to work on a project whilst benefitting from the guidance of seasoned professionals. My intention is to apply these fundamental skills throughout a career focused on transforming patient care through biochemistry. “