Scottish and UK government representatives are to join clinicians, scientists, the Social Care Innovation Network, investors and leaders from the pharmaceutical and medical technologies industries at a meeting on Thursday to focus on how good ideas and discoveries can be turned into services and treatments for patients.

The virtual Healthcare Innovation Live – Maximising the Future of Life Sciences and Healthcare event, supported by the Life Science Industry Leadership Group and Scottish Health Industry Partnership, will see the launch of an investor-led “Investment for Innovation Ecosystem” working group for life sciences, health and social care in Scotland.

Part of the agenda will be devoted to new funding opportunities for research and development in health and social care.

The summit is being is to be chaired by Professor David Crossman, Chief Scientist for Health and Social Care in Scotland. He says the opportunities for businesses to contribute to domestic and global health care have never been more diverse in the light of the pandemic and Brexit:

“This virtual event will see UK and Scottish government leaders, alongside clinical and industry leaders, providing important updates on plans to remobilise and recover the economy with NHS and social care services to the fore.

“It’s also an opportunity to hear from Scotland’s clinical leaders in innovation on what the NHS and social care need most in 2021/22 and identify where there are opportunities to collaborate.”

The meeting will showcase projects in diagnostics and treatment.

Consultant respiratory physician at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Dr Chris Carlin, has been working with industry partners as part of a ‘test bed’ model. The team has co-designed and is using the test bed to evaluate an artificial intelligence-powered digital service to support management of COPD patients:

“This event represents an important gathering of innovative, proactive, like-minded individuals who are committed to driving positive change and better care.

“Innovation test beds in particular offer resources, connections, and time – all the hurdles that are usually so difficult to overcome – while transforming research and fresh ideas into routine care.

“Successfully identifying and developing future test bed projects is vital at this time.”

The NHS has been through a period of unprecedented change as it responded to the covid 19 pandemic with some long-standing barriers removed to information sharing, online consultation alongside the roll-out of continuous clinical research programmes on treatments and vaccination.

Late last year the Life Science Industry Leadership Group, which is co-chaired by the Scottish government Minister for Trade, Innovation and Public Finance Ivan McKee and Dave Tudor, Managing Director, Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, launched a strategic response plan for the life sciences sector in Scotland setting out priorities for research and innovation as Scotland comes through and rebuilds after the pandemic.

The free event Healthcare Innovation Live – Maximising The Future of Life Science and Healthcare will take place on 4 March from 10.00 to 12.30.

Registration is required. Go to: https://book.shsc.scot/shsc/frontend/reg/thome.csp?pageID=125204&eventID=349&CSPCHD=000001000000iZbADI8dc1m6gBjpwchXUr5eNiP5YRd7G1FpmI

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