Spotlight on Early Diagnosis in Greater Manchester

Join us for a special showcase of three pioneering projects from the Health Innovation Accelerator’s Advanced Diagnostics Accelerator (ADA). This half‑day event will shine a spotlight on innovation in screening for lung cancer, liver disease, and early heart failure, bringing together clinical leaders, researchers, industry partners and voices from our Greater Manchester communities.

Across the region, The ADA is working to rapidly improve diagnosis and treatment for over 2.8 million residents. This event provides a unique opportunity to hear how new technologies, data-driven research, and novel community-centred approaches are transforming early detection and helping tackle health inequalities.

• Gain first-hand insight into three flagship diagnostic innovations
• Hear directly from clinical leaders, researchers, and people with lived experience
• Understand the methods and technologies transforming early detection
• Connect with partners across industry, academia, and the NHS
• Explore opportunities to collaborate or support future phases of work

What to expect:

• Early Detection Innovations – Hear how teams are accelerating diagnosis for major conditions affecting people across Greater Manchester—through new screening models, digital tools and methods designed to identify disease earlier.
• Community Engagement & Inequalities – Learn how we’re working closely with communities—especially those traditionally under‑represented in research—to ensure innovations are accessible, inclusive and shaped by lived experience.
• Industry Collaboration – Discover how partnerships with SMEs, creative agencies and technology experts are supporting cutting‑edge solutions in diagnostics and population health.

Who should attend:

• Health and social care professionals across Greater Manchester
• Commissioners and system leaders
• Delivery partners involved in the Health Innovation Accelerator
• Researchers, academics and industry collaborators
• Community Leaders and community contributors
• GMCA and innovation ecosystem partners
• Individuals with lived experience interested in shaping future services

Speaker List includes:

1. Prof Ben Bridgewater, Chief Executive, Health Innovation Manchester (HinM)
2. Daniel Zamora, Programme Director, HInM
3. Nicky Timmis, Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement Manager, HInM
4. Dr Varinder S Athwal, Honorary Consultant Hepatologist, Manchester FT, Senior Clinical Lecturer, University of Manchester
5. Dr Stephanie Landi, Clinical Research Fellow, Manchester FT and University of Manchester
6. Dr Gabriel Rogers, Health Economist, University of Manchester
7. Jenny Irvine, Associate, VOCAL
8. Manish Patel, CEO at JIVA AI
9. John Kane, GM Secure Data Environment Service Delivery Manager, HInM
10. Caroline O’Donnell, Senior Data Engineer, HInM
11. Prof Chris Miller, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine UoM, NIHR Advanced Fellow and Honorary Consultant Cardiologist
12. Dr Nick Black, Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Manchester
13. Eric Lowndes, Patient Representative
14. Prof Phil Crosbie, Professor of Respiratory Medicine & Honorary Consultant
15. Rick Savage, Lead Data Scientist, PinPoint

The Health Innovation Accelerator

The Health Innovation Accelerator encompasses two projects, the Advanced Diagnostics Accelerator 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.

This project is part-funded by the Greater Manchester Innovation Accelerator programme. Led by Innovate UK on behalf of UK Research and Innovation, the pilot Innovation Accelerator programme invested £100m in 26 transformative R&D projects between 2022-25 to accelerate the growth of three high-potential innovation ecosystems – Glasgow City Region, Greater Manchester and West Midlands. The programme was boosted by an additional £30m of public funding for 2025/26 spread equally across the regions. Innovation Accelerators are piloting a new model of R&D decision making that empowers local partnerships to harness innovation to drive regional economic growth, attract private investment, and develop future technologies.