We are thrilled to celebrate a series of new appointments and strategic developments that were appointed over the past year, setting us up for even greater impact. 

We were delighted to welcome Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell as our new Global Ambassador, whose exceptional leadership and global-scale experience will help elevate Greater Manchester as a worldwide hub for health innovation.  

Strengthening our executive team further, Laura Rooney became Deputy Chief Executive / Chief Strategy Officer, and Claire Macconnell became Chief Operating Officer – both bringing deep commitment to driving delivery, partnerships and system transformation.  

We have also welcomed three great local leaders to our Board: Councillor Bev Craig, Anthony Hassall, and Professor Ashley Blom – each bringing unique expertise in civic leadership, NHS delivery and academic excellence to help steer our mission.  

To further strengthen our commercial leadership and global outreach, Steve Oldfield CB has been appointed Deputy Chair, enhancing our ability to build partnerships and scale innovation for the benefit of people in Greater Manchester and beyond.  

In October, we celebrated Professor Ben Bridgewater’s appointment as Executive Chair of the Health Innovation Network – a national recognition of the leadership and transformation Ben has helped drive within HInM and Greater Manchester, and an opportunity to extend our impact across England.  

At the start of December, we announced the appointment of a new Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Vish Mehra. Vish has worked across Greater Manchester for more than 25 years and brings extensive experience in clinical leadership, system transformation, and innovation at scale. 

These new appointments, combined with the strong foundations detailed in our 2024–25 Annual Impact Report, have set a bold tone for the future. With renewed leadership and expanded reach, we are better placed than ever to innovate at pace, partner globally, and deliver tangible improvements in health and care for the people of Greater Manchester and beyond. 

This year, we shone a spotlight on the exceptional research leaders driving discovery and innovation across Greater Manchester through our Leadership in Research blog series. 

We heard from inspiring figures shaping the future of health and care research: 

• Dr Chathurika Kannangara, championing inclusive research and strengthening the pipeline of future innovators. 

• Professor Deborah James, whose work continues to improve patient-centred research and outcomes across the region. 

• Professor Penny Cook, leading impactful public health research and advocating for community-driven approaches. 

• Professor Andy Trafford, sharing insights into translational science and accelerating breakthroughs from lab to clinic. 

To complement their stories, we also explored The Role of Research Leadership, highlighting how strong, visionary leadership is essential for guiding innovation, nurturing talent, and delivering discoveries that improve lives. 

Together, these voices celebrate the expertise and passion that make Greater Manchester a thriving powerhouse for health research and a place where innovation truly works for everyone. 

This year marked major milestones for the Health Innovation Accelerator, with transformational progress across screening, early diagnosis, community engagement and industry collaboration right across Greater Manchester. 

We worked hand-in-hand with communities including over 400 local citizens and partners such as the LGBT Foundation to ensure new innovations reflect real needs and improve access to lifesaving screening. This included expanding community-based liver disease testing, pioneering digital tools to identify cardiovascular risk earlier, and strengthening engagement across neighbourhoods to build trust and understanding. 

The programme has also accelerated breakthroughs in diagnostics. New rapid genetic testing is helping clinicians tailor treatment for heart attack patients, while innovative ambulance technology is improving the speed and accuracy of heart attack diagnosis before patients even reach hospital. Meanwhile, the region continues to lead the way with lung cancer screening, enabling earlier detection and more personalised care for thousands. 

Beyond health outcomes, the Innovation Accelerator continues to boost Greater Manchester’s economy, skills and research capacity and with the programme extended, we are set to deliver even more impact in the years ahead. Together with healthcare partners, industry and our communities, we’re shaping a future where innovation improves lives across every part of our city-region. 

The Accelerator encompasses two projects, the Advanced Diagnostics Accelerator (ADA)  and the DEVOTE programme, delivered through a partnership between Health Innovation Manchester, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), The University of Manchester, and industry partners. 

In June, a new report from HInM, together with Frontier Economics and NHS Greater Manchester, revealed just how urgent the need for cardiovascular innovation is in our region. Each year, cardiovascular disease (CVD) costs Greater Manchester an estimated £2.53 billion affecting individuals, families, communities, and public services alike. 

The human toll is stark: nearly 5,500 lives lost annually, and over 63,000 years of life lost across the region with the highest CVD death rate in England. The burden falls especially heavily on older people, those with multiple health conditions, and residents of our more deprived communities.  

Yet within this challenge lies a powerful opportunity. Through prevention, early detection, and tailored innovation, HInM’s new cardiovascular–renal–metabolic (CVRM) mission aims to reduce disease burden, improve care and cut costs substantially. Even a modest 5 % reduction in CVD prevalence could save around £126 million per year — larger savings if reductions are greater. 

By directing focus and resources to cardiovascular health now, we can ease pressure on patients, families, and the system and build a healthier, stronger Greater Manchester for the future. 

Find out more here… 

This year, HInM helped bring a transformative option to people living with knee osteoarthritis – the Apos® device – through the nationally-backed MedTech Funding Mandate (MTFM).  

Apos® isn’t a traditional surgery or steroid injection. Instead, it’s a non-invasive, foot-worn medical device + personalised treatment plan. When worn for around an hour a day, it can relieve pain, improve mobility, and help people avoid or delay knee replacement surgery.  

By embracing innovation, we’re not just improving individual lives – we’re reducing long-term pressure on the NHS, offering cost-effective care, and improving quality of life for people across the region.  

Find out more here… 

2025 has been an inspiring year for the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC), spotlighting world-leading researchers, new honorary chairs, and pioneering work across multiple specialties.

A highlight this year was the announcement of the new MAHSC Honorary Clinical Chairs for 2025 by The University of Manchester, strengthening academic–clinical leadership across Greater Manchester and deepening collaboration between university and NHS partners.

MAHSC hosted a series of inaugural lectures, each showcasing the personal journeys, scientific breakthroughs and clinical impacts of our region’s outstanding leaders.

• Professor Cynthia Eccles explored the evolution of radiotherapy research and the innovations shaping cancer care of the future.
• Professor Agata Rembielak shared her remarkable career in oncology, highlighting advances in personalised treatment.
• Professor Peter Paine took audiences on “A Brain-Gut Odyssey,” shedding light on the fascinating links between neurology and gastroenterology.
• Professor Bilal Alkhaffaf discussed surgical outcomes, innovation and the opportunities shaping next-generation practice.
• Professor Pauline Ho reflected on her journey in rheumatology, championing progress for patients with complex inflammatory conditions.

We also celebrated progress through the MAHSC Neuroscience Clinical Fellowship, supporting emerging clinical academics as they advance research that will shape the future of neurological care.

Together, these achievements reflect MAHSC’s mission at its best: connecting exceptional talent, driving discovery, and accelerating research that improves health outcomes for people across Greater Manchester and beyond.

In March 2025, HInM launched a new phase of its paediatric-asthma programme, extending critical support and innovation into Tameside, an area with one of the highest rates of hospital admissions for under-19s due to asthma in England.  

Building on a successful pilot in Oldham, the project ensures that children and young people admitted to hospital for asthma are offered cutting-edge lung inflammation testing (FeNO), with follow-up care in the community. Families are also supported with smoking-cessation services, recognising that household smoking often worsens asthma. This brings a holistic “whole household” approach to respiratory health.  

To inform and empower families, HInM worked closely with local communities to co-design educational, helping people understand asthma triggers, manage symptoms, and reduce risks.  

By expanding this vital work into Tameside, HInM is making high-quality prevention and care more accessible, tackling inequalities and helping young people breathe easier now and for years to come.