UEL hosts pioneering HealthTech roundtable

Hosted at UEL’s Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability (RDCS), the event, 'The Future of HealthTech: Innovations for Inclusive Health Systems’, was chaired by Professor Kevin Fenton, Regional Director for London in the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities, Public Health Director for London and Statutory Health Advisor to the Mayor of London, and the incoming President of the British Science Association. Professor Fenton set the stage for a thought-provoking dialogue on how HealthTech innovations could shape the future of equitable healthcare.

The roundtable included a diverse panel of experts, each offering unique insights from their fields, including digital health, AI-driven diagnostics, healthcare education, and parental support systems.

Opening the event, Professor Fenton highlighted the unique position of East London as both a focal point for significant health challenges and a beacon of innovation in the health sector. He stressed the importance of collaboration between public and private entities, and the need for new approaches in how we engage communities and think about health. He spoke about the important role of technology and data in driving health improvements, while also stressing the importance of equity and inclusivity in the application of these innovations.

He said,

East London is not only a centre for some of the toughest health challenges but also a hub for innovation in new ways of working between the public and private sectors, of new methods of engaging with communities, and of thinking differently about what generates and sustains health. Therefore, it is crucial to align your investments and partnerships to create a more holistic and inclusive model of health.

“I’m excited about HealthTech, particularly the intersection between health and technology. In my day-to-day job, this involves the use of data and new technologies to monitor and evaluate health, using AI to improve diagnostics, achieve better quality outcomes, and engage with our communities. However, it also brings a number of challenges. Are we being equitable in how technology is reaching and improving the lives of people across the city? Are we considering the challenges and complications of technology in addition to its benefits? Who is asking the necessary questions about how technology is being applied and for whom?

“This requires not only excitement and enthusiasm about technology but also a commitment to rooting it in the principles of equity, access, and outcomes.”

Professor Amanda Broderick, Vice Chancellor and President of UEL, highlighted the University’s role in fostering innovation for inclusive health systems. She stressed that universities have a responsibility to drive transformative health gains through research and partnerships.

Our institutional purpose is to address health and economic equalities wherever they are found. Our inclusive educational mission is one of the primary tools that we have to achieve this.

Professor Broderick stressed UEL’s commitment to harnessing the power of education and collaboration to combat health disparities, saying, “Our efforts contribute to the government’s focus on the evolution of the NHS – from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from illness to prevention. We’re implementing a multi-million-pound programme of investment to deliver this, including our newly launched Stratford Health Campus to drive health care innovation and ill health prevention, particularly in our most vulnerable communities.”

Roundtable panellist Diana Hill, Co-Founder of Essential Parent, shared her vision for making health technology accessible to all families. Ms Hill’s app-based platform aims to provide parents with research-backed advice tailored to their specific needs, empowering them with up-to-date knowledge.

“Inclusivity challenges vary significantly depending on the communities we work with. Our app is highly tailored to meet the needs of the people we serve, so we hold focus groups, talk to health teams, and engage with mums, carers, and other community members. For us, inclusivity means more than just offering content in 75 languages and featuring diverse cultures in our demonstration videos.”

The discussion also featured Dr Osman Bhatti, UEL Honorary Health Fellow and Newham GP, who focused on the ethical considerations of integrating AI into healthcare systems. Dr Bhatti stressed the importance of equity and inclusivity in technological advancements, particularly when implementing AI solutions.

“One thing we are focusing on in Newham is the use of technology to improve access to healthcare. We are also working to train more GPs, many of whom are locally born and raised in the East End. Their journey has often been more challenging - financially and in terms of access to technology - and we’re looking at how we can use technology to put them on an equal footing.”

The panellists agreed that collaboration between public and private sectors is critical for scaling HealthTech innovations to achieve truly inclusive health systems. Dr Kurt Hoeller, Senior Director of Digital Affairs at Siemens AG, spoke on the necessity of early diagnoses and greater health literacy as a means of shifting healthcare systems towards prevention. He advocated for a healthcare model that prioritises early intervention, aiming to ease the burden on providers and enhance long-term patient outcomes.

The event also included insights from Lorna MacLean, Founder of the AI-driven HealthTech startup Demetria, one of this year’s Mass Challenge start-ups, which aims to revolutionise the diagnosis of endometriosis. Ms MacLean shared her personal journey and the mission of Demetria to significantly reduce diagnosis times for endometriosis from over nine years to mere minutes through advanced ultrasound technology.

The discussion also covered policy development, public-private partnerships, and the role of data in building inclusive health systems. With healthcare innovation moving at a rapid pace, all speakers emphasised the need for forward-thinking policies and a collaborative approach to ensure that technological advancements benefit everyone.
UEL’s leadership in HealthTech innovation stands at the forefront of efforts to ensure that future healthcare systems are not only advanced but also inclusive, equitable, and accessible to all.

The University of East London turns towards its Year of Health in 2025 with the opening of a new state-of-the-art, community-focused Health Campus in Stratford. The opening will be central to a year of initiatives and events focused on promoting health and wellbeing, tackling disparities, and driving forward innovation in healthcare.

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