Healthcare Science Innovation Fellows share progress
Posted: 10th July 2025
The Healthcare Science Innovation Fellowship programme is an opportunity for qualified Healthcare Scientists in England and Wales to gain experience of the innovation process to improve care, diagnosis and treatment of patients. The programme provides Fellows with the knowledge and skills for the development, evaluation and implementation of new technologies.
The Programme is currently in its third year. Eight Innovation Fellows are supported to lead and manage projects that aim to reduce healthcare inequalities.
In May and June this year, the Healthcare Science Innovation Fellows had an exciting opportunity to present to Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber to share their progress so far and get feedback on future plans and next steps. Insightful comments and advice were shared with the Fellows, particularly with regards to involving the end user throughout the innovation pathway and moving their innovations towards NHS adoption and commercialisation.
Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber offered ongoing support to projects which were presented, particularly around their commercialisation plans, public and patient engagement, and adoption strategy.
Fellows are encouraged to look at projects through the prism of the NHS Long Term Plan, seeing the patient as a partner, and understanding their journey, and considering future health technology possibilities. The host departments of Fellows are awarded a £15K Innovation Fellows bursary to cover auditable costs associated with the Fellowship, and Fellows have access to blended project–based and online learning and training resources and mentoring to undertake a technology innovation project relevant to their department.
The Healthcare Science Innovation Fellowship Programme is coordinated by the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre (HRC) in Long Term Conditions, Devices for Dignity but involves a strong collaboration with the Office of the Chief Scientific Officer for NHS England (CSO), the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS), Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), Healthcare Science Cymru, and the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS).