Fellows in Focus: June 2025

Updates concerning Sciana Fellows in June 2025

Barrieerefreiheit im Gesundheitssystem: Vorschläge für ein neues Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum (Accessibility in the healthcare system: Proposals for a new social paediatric centre)

Mona Dreesmann (Cohort 7) has co-authored an article describing Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum Potsdam's journey toward relocating to new premises.

She and Judith Leyendecker reflect on the importance of accessibility and involving the voices of employees and patients in the design process.

Caroline Clarke among those recognised in King’s Birthday Honours list

Congratulations to Caroline Clarke (Cohort 1), who has been named a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours list.

Caroline is the regional director of the NHS in London, a position she's held since May 2023. She leads the NHS’s work in the capital with an ambitious agenda to improve the health and care of all Londoners.

Tobias Silberzahn backs Brussels International Declaration on Lipoprotein(a) Testing and Management

Tobias Silberzahn (Cohort 3) has endorsed the Brussels International Declaration on Lipoprotein(a) Testing and Management. 

The Declaration was developed by the Lp(a) International Task Force (ITF), a multidisciplinary, multistakeholder group convened by the FH Europe Foundation. Tobias is a patient ambassador for the FH Europe Foundation. 

If you would like to learn more or endorse the Declaration, please click here.

Stefanie Becker: Lässt sich vorhersagen, wer Alzheimer bekommt? (Stefanie Becker: Is it possible to predict who will get Alzheimer's?)

Stefanie Becker (Cohort 6) spoke to SRF about Leqembi, an Alzheimer's drug that has been approved for the first time in the European Union, and those in Switzerland who are waiting to see if they can receive it. Read Stefanie's LinkedIn post to learn more.

Innovation for Health and Wealth: How innovation can help people return to work

In a blog for the Health Innovation Network, Richard Stubbs (Cohort 5) discusses how investing in the implementation of innovation can improve people’s health, drive wealth, and boost the economy.

New private investment routes needed to replace crumbling hospitals and modernise healthcare

In an op-ed for the Sciana Network, Nick Kirby (Cohort 6) reflects on the pressing need for investment in UK hospital infrastructure.

Tackling health inequalities through innovation

In January, the Health Innovation Network published a report summarising a roundtable discussion held in December 2024, featuring a foreword by Richard Stubbs (Cohort 5) and Bola Owolabi (Cohort 7). The report "highlights the essential role of policy and partnership in achieving equitable health outcomes".

In addition to Richard and Bola, the report also acknowledges Dominique Allwood (Cohort 6) as one of the contributers to the roundtable discussion.

Sciana Network at HLTH Europe

The Sciana Network had a significant presence at this year's HLTH Europe in Amsterdam.

Speakers at the healthcare innovation event included Dominique Allwood (Cohort 6), Maxine Mackintosh (Cohort 6), Minal Bakhai (Cohort 7), Raquel Correia (Cohort 7), Richard Stubbs (Cohort 5), Rishi Das-Gupta (Cohort 4), Valerie Kirchberger (Cohort 6) and Sciana Advisor Heyo Kroemer.

Ahead of the event, Raquel expressed her excitement about attending. 

One partner programme, hosted in cooperation with the UK Department of Business & Trade, involved four Sciana Fellows!

Titled "Unlocking the UK’s next-gen patient care," this session explored how the NHS is adopting artificial intelligence to help transform care and the development of new therapies.

Following a fireside chat where Rishi presented on digital transformation insights, Minal provided a keynote. She then joined a panel discussion moderated by Richard that also included Dominique.  

Sciana Fellow Lawrence Tallon and Sciana speaker Ricardo Baptista Leite collaborate as UK joins HealthAI Global Regulatory Network

The UK has become the first country to join a new global network of health regulators focused on ensuring the safe and effective use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), led by Lawrence Tallon (Cohort 5), will join the HealthAI Global Regulatory Network as a founding pioneer country. It will work with regulators worldwide to share early warnings on safety, monitor the performance of AI tools in practice, and shape international standards together. 

Ricardo Baptista Leite, CEO of HealthAI, is a former Sciana speaker. Lawrence and Ricardo first met during the fourth residential meeting of Cohort 5 in 2024. We're pleased to note that both parties remained in touch after this meeting, which has led to the initiation of this new project.

Last week, Lawrence and Ricardo participated in a signing ceremony alongside the UK's Science Minister, Lord Vallance, to mark the UK's membership in the network.

Lawrence said, "AI has huge promise to speed up diagnoses, cut NHS waiting times and save lives – but only if people can trust that it works and is safe. That’s why we’re proud to be leading the way, shaping how this powerful technology is used safely in healthcare here and around the world.

"From our AI Airlock testbed to new guidance on fast-moving tech like generative AI, we’re backing smart innovation that works for patients – and makes the UK the best place in the world to develop it.”