The Living Laboratory’s Healthcare Innovation Symposium Champions Collaboration and Real-World Impact
Published: 6 November 2025
The Living Laboratory’s Healthcare Innovation Symposium, held on the 5th of November, once again brought together leading voices from academia, healthcare, and industry for a day of discussion, collaboration, and inspiration.
The Living Laboratory’s Healthcare Innovation Symposium, held on the 5th of November, once again brought together leading voices from academia, healthcare, and industry for a day of discussion, collaboration, and inspiration.
Throughout the day, speakers explored how innovation can be accelerated from idea to impact, delivering real-world value within the NHS and on a global stage. The morning’s panels, chaired by Nicola McMillan (Scottish Enterprise) and Professor Ross Cagan, tackled the realities of healthcare innovation - from finding clear differentiation and navigating implementation challenges to comparing UK and US approaches to translating ideas into impact.
A major highlight of the day was a keynote address from Sir Tony Kouzarides, who captivated the audience with insights from his pioneering work at the intersection of academia and industry. Drawing on his experience in epigenetics, cancer biology, and translational innovation through the Milner Therapeutics Institute, Sir Tony emphasised the importance of empowering researchers to turn discoveries into tangible healthcare solutions.
Later sessions explored clinician-led innovation and the importance of building and sustaining patient trust as new technologies move into clinical care. Dr Charlie Mayor introduced the University of Glasgow's new Trusted Research Environment, highlighting the opportunities it creates for using sensitive data responsibly to accelerate discovery.
The symposium concluded with a fireside chat between Professor Iain McInnes, Professor Jesse Dawson, Dr Sandy Weir (Canon Medical Research Europe), and Dr Ruth McLaughlin, reflecting on the importance of shared strategy and cross-sector partnership in delivering sustainable healthcare innovation.
Alongside the inspiring sessions, the day also featured lively networking, poster presentations, and exhibitor stands highlighting the University’s extensive support for innovators. The event showcased the power of collaboration between academia, the NHS, and industry and reaffirmed Glasgow’s central role in driving transformative healthcare solutions.
Missed the Symposium or want to revisit the highlights? The Living Laboratory is pleased to announce that recordings of all panel discussions will be available to watch soon.
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First published: 6 November 2025
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