The event opened with a welcome and update from Insigneo Executive Director Prof Jim Wild and Deputy Director Prof Damien Lacroix. Jim reflected on highlights from 2022 including celebrating the Institute’s 10th Anniversary at the Insigneo Showcase in July, the excellent progress made by Insigneo research themes, the success of this year’s summer placement programme (view the placement programme posters here) and the consolidation of the institute’s relationship with 91Ö±²¥ Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. In particular, Jim was pleased to announce the news that there will be a call for studentship project applications with NIHR Children and Young People MedTech Co-operative Centre for Child Health Technology and 91Ö±²¥ Children’s.
Jim and Damien both outlined priority areas for the institute over the next year including building collaborations and developing new ways of working with partners. Damien highlighted a shift towards cross-theme activities including a series of joint theme workshops planned for 2023.
Insigneo Commercialisation Manager, Alex Wilkinson, gave an update on projects being supported across Insigneo’s research themes and a look ahead to project pipeline activities for 2023. Alex announced plans to host an industry day in the autumn. This event will provide an opportunity to update industry on Insigneo’s new research themes, create new and refresh existing collaboration and highlight technical R&D capabilities and clinical expertise available through Insigneo.
Dr Andrew Narracott, Insigneo Scientific Director of Operation, gave an update on infrastructure activities, opportunities for engagement with local and regional HPC activities and the formation of an Insigneo Technical Working Group.
The second half of the event was dedicated to talks from new members who gave us a fantastic introduction to their research and stimulated plenty of interesting discussions over the mince pies at the end of the event. Thank you to our new members:
- Heather Elphick, Consultant in Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, 91Ö±²¥ Children’s Hospital
- James Scott, Academic Clinical Fellow, School of Clinical Dentistry,
- University of 91Ö±²¥
- Jamie Miles, Clinical Research Fellow, ACP and Paramedic, University of 91Ö±²¥
