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Strathclyde Inspire's award-winning suite of programmes supports students, staff and alumni to learn valuable skills, develop business ideas and commercialise research. Its unique offering combines advice and funding with a thriving community and enables it to offer comprehensive support at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey. Flagship programmes include the Strathclyde Inspire Accelerator, the Strathclyde Inspire Entrepreneurs Fund, and the Exploring Entrepreneurship Challenge. Visit Partner's website Previous Item Next Item

Marlene HarkisEngagement Lead, Rural Centre of Excellence < Return to team Marlene Harkis Engagement Lead, Rural Centre of Excellence Marlene is a contracted programme manager working across a range of workstreams within DHI with a focus on transforming social care support through citizen engagement and co design. At present this includes working in the Moray Region to research with older people and unpaid carers a digital approach to finding services more easily and a Personal Data Store empowering choice and control when sharing your personal information. She originally trained as an occupational therapist moving on to Social Care, Senior manager roles in Glasgow and Ayrshire, Marlene has significant experience of collaborating with citizens using services and frontline staff to explore new ways of working through digital transformation, designing new models of care. Marlene is also passionate about continuous professional development and in addition to her original clinical background she has returned to study at different stages in her career and gained a MBA and MSc in digital health and care. Marlene is a strong advocate of choice and empowerment for vulnerable citizens and is currently the chairperson of East Renfrewshire’s Self-directed support Forum. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

Shirley SharpOffice Manager & Personal Assistant to the CEO < Return to team Shirley Sharp Office Manager & Personal Assistant to the CEO Shirley provides comprehensive office management and professional PA/ administrative services to our Chair and CEO. She contributes to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the DHI, ensuring that all duties are carried out with the appropriate degree of tact, confidentiality and responsibility. Shirley has over 30 years’ experience working within the Public sector, most of this with frontline services within the NHS, providing effective and efficient support to Chief Executives and Senior Directors with operational responsibility across the acute secondary care sector. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

Kara MackenzieProject Co-ordinator < Return to team Kara Mackenzie Project Co-ordinator Kara provides support to our project portfolio, with a focus on approved projects. She ensures all projects run smoothly, milestones are achieved, and partners get the most out of their collaborations. She keeps our network updated on all potential funding matters including signposting and supporting funding applications. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is the national health board with statutory functions for providing, co-ordinating, developing, funding and advising on education, training and workforce development for the NHS and in partnership with SSSC for social care staff. It is a national organisation with a significant regional presence in Scotland. NES is a leader in educational design, delivery and quality assurance. Utilising the very best in technology enabled learning, organisational and leadership development, workforce and learning analytics and digital development, across the entire health and social care workforce and in every community in Scotland, NES will help to facilitate staff to be supported, skilled, capable, digitally enabled and motivated to deliver improved outcomes. Visit Partner's website Previous Item Next Item

Janssen commissioned DHI and the University of Strathclyde to explore using digital technologies to measure individual interactions with their environment, focusing on prostate cancer. The project aimed to develop a methodology to assess daily functioning and the impact of medicines, determining their value to health and care providers. < Return to projects Project ValMed (Stages 1 & 2) Project impact Insights into using digital technology to understand the impact and value of particular medicines on individual patients The project specifically addressed prostate cancer as the first use case Benefits in tracking health outcomes were demonstrated by adopting digital health transformation Janssen commissioned DHI and the University of Strathclyde to explore using digital technologies to measure individual interactions with their environment, focusing on prostate cancer. The project aimed to develop a methodology to assess daily functioning and the impact of medicines, determining their value to health and care providers. Janssen commissioned DHI in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde to identify how digital technologies can be adopted and adapted to measure the interaction of an individual with their environment. This was to enable the development of a methodology that measures the day-to-day functioning of the individual to ultimately allow the project team to understand the impact of medicines on the individual and to ascertain the value to the health and care providers of that medicine. The project specifically addressed prostate cancer as the first use case, using digital technology to understand the impact and value of particular medicines on individual patients. Summary By adopting digital health transformation approaches were able to be able to demonstrate benefit by: Identifying how data can track health outcomes Supporting Realistic Medicine Enabling outcome measurement in medicine assessment Improving the sustainability of healthcare Helping address health inequalities Impact & value The project completed a first phase which resulted in an academic landscape review with clear recommendations on how digital could assist in monitoring medicine and wellbeing for prostate cancer. The second stage was completed and a Proof of Concept specification was completed in June 21. The project has now been closed. Progress to date Next steps Partners Project staff Resources Previous project Projects index page Next project

Kiera MilneGraduate Innovation Intern < Return to team Kiera Milne Graduate Innovation Intern Kiera is our Graduate Innovation Intern providing support in communications and marketing for Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre based in Moray. Her background includes a BA (Hons) in History and Politics from University of the Highland and Islands, MLitt in Digital Journalism from the University of Strathclyde and experience in news reporting and content creation. Kiera brings a strong foundation in digital storytelling, audience engagement and strategic communications. She is passionate about using creative digital storytelling to amplify the impact of digital health and care initiatives and help connect individuals in the Moray region. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

Robert FenderLegal & Commercial Manager < Return to team Robert Fender Legal & Commercial Manager Dr Robert Fender (Bobby) provides legal and contractual support for the DHI. He has experience in the university research environment and has worked for 25 years in the areas of intellectual property, technology transfer and contracts. Prior to the DHI, he worked in the technology transfer offices at the Universities of Cambridge, Leicester & Nottingham dealing with a wide range of physical science and engineering technologies. Bobby’s role with the DHI includes drafting & issuing grant award letters and drafting & negotiating collaboration agreements for digital health-related projects. The role also involves the preparation & negotiation of CDAs, MOUs and collaboration agreements with strategic partners. He also deals with matters such as data protection and Subsidy Control for the DHI. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

Dr Abigail LyonsSenior Business Innovation Manager < Return to team Dr Abigail Lyons Senior Business Innovation Manager Dr Abigail Lyons leads on Industry engagement. She helps companies advance the market readiness of their digital health products & services, connecting them with the right support for their stage of development. She also leads a women’s health theme, with a focus on cardiovascular health data. Abby qualified in Immunology and Molecular Biology and her subsequent career has woven through the triple helix of industry, academia and the public sector in Scotland and the US. She worked as a postdoc researcher at the Mayo Clinic and a product development scientist in the Cardiac Surgery division of Medtronic in Minnesota. More recently, she was a programme manager at Scottish Enterprise where she managed complex multi-partner initiatives across a range of sectors and led collaborative teams to commercialise customer-centric technologies and spin-out investor-ready companies. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

Dr Petra WilsonBoard Chair < Return to team Dr Petra Wilson Board Chair Petra has over 25 years’ experience in the health and life sciences sector, ranging across academia, public sector, industry and the not-for-profit sector. In 2016 she set up Health Connect Partners, a boutique consulting firm which provides advisory services on digital health to organisations in healthcare and life sciences. Health Connect Partners is also engaged in a number of EU funded research projects in the digital health sector, working in partnership with the Institute for Innovation through Health Data. Petra’s career began in 1992 when after completing a PhD in Public Health Law, she worked for Nottingham University in research and teaching before being seconded to the European Commission where she was for 8 years in the digital health unit, supporting early work on Electronic Health Records and Connected Medical Devices. She then moved to the private sector, as a senior director in Cisco’s public health team, before moving to lead the International Diabetes Federation as its CEO. This latter experience developed her skills both in the subject matter of diabetes and in lobbying for the rights of diabetes patients at the highest levels of EU policy making. The thread running through all her work is to harness the power of data and digital tools in health to drive more accessible, resilient and efficient health systems that can put patients in the driving seat of their care. This is the passion and engagement she brings to her work with a wide range of clients in the healthcare and life sciences sector to support them in understanding the implications of EU policy for their business and helping position them as core partners in EU health systems. Petra also holds an advisor role with the digital health team at WHO Europe, and serves as an editorial Board Member of Data Saves Lives run by the European Patients Forum, and Member of the Digital Health Board Committee of EURODIS, the EU Rare Diseases Organisation. Email LinkedIn Related Projects Next team member Previous team page Team page

Exploring person-centred approaches to diabetes care in partnership with NHS Lanarkshire to create a roadmap for future care. < Return to projects Type 2 Diabetes - Transforming the Diagnosis Conversation Project impact Early Self-Management: Redesigned diagnosis conversations for Type 2 diabetes aim to engage patients early, reducing complications and secondary care referrals Better Communication: The project emphasises improved communication between primary and secondary care to enhance patient experiences and reduce unnecessary referrals Key Outputs: Developed a market review, support recommendations, and a prototype tool to improve Type 2 diabetes diagnosis conversations Exploring person-centred approaches to diabetes care in partnership with NHS Lanarkshire to create a roadmap for future care. By focusing on one key moment in the care journey - the conversation between the primary care health professional and the newly diagnosed type 2 patient - the DHI in partnership with NHS Lanarkshire aimed to understand how secondary care and primary care staff could work more collaboratively to improve self-management in the community and a more consistent approach. Through exploring and mapping current care experiences and identifying aspirations for future care, using co-design methodology, we identified opportunities to redesign the type 2 diabetes diagnosis conversation to support early engagement. Summary Emerging insights have revealed several opportunities for improvement: • Engaging people in self-management at diagnosis to reduce later complications and referrals to secondary care • Improving communication between primary and secondary care to reduce unnecessary referrals and improve the person’s experience • Using technology to support citizen education and confidence to self-manage Impact & value A market research report was concluded to outline the current state of diabetes care and policy in Scotland and current emerging digital technologies to support diabetes care. The project also employed a participatory process including pop-up engagements in the community, interviews with people living with type 2 diabetes and primary and secondary care health professionals, a codesign workshop with health professionals and further engagements with people living with Type 2 diabetes to refine the concepts. Rich insights were generated on how people would like to be supported at the diagnosis stage, and how primary care staff can be supported by specialist staff to create more consistent person-centred diagnosis conversations. There were several key outputs from the project: the market review; recommendations around support for practice nurses; recommendations around diagnosis specialist group appointments, and the development of a prototype of the paper diagnosis conversation tool to support the discussion between patient and healthcare professional at the point of diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes. Progress to date Further engagement and scoping activity has taken place over the last 12 months, through DHI Simulation activity, to consider the potential digitisation of the tool prototyped in the DHI DSE. This work will be progressed through consultation with the National Diabetes Group. The insights gained through this project, and the DHI's other work in diabetes will inform future projects in this critical domain. Next steps Diabetes project hub DHI uniquely drives Diabetes Innovation in Scotland by collaborating with NHS, industry, academia, and individuals with lived experiences to advance innovation and funding opportunities. View hub Partners Project staff Resources Transforming the Diagnosis Conversation Report Previous project Projects index page Next project

This is the full and final report of Phase 2 (2023–2025) of the Digital Lifelines Scotland (DLS) programme. Led by the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), the evaluation assesses the contribution of digital inclusion efforts on improving outcomes for people at high risk of drug-related harm. Using a mixed-methods approach, the report explores service accessibility, digital literacy, wellbeing, stigma reduction, and system-level impacts. It provides detailed analysis, key findings, and recommendations for embedding digital approaches into health, social care, and community services. This report is supported by a series of appendices provided in the Supporting Evidence Report. < Return to resources Evaluation of the Digital Lifelines Scotland (DLS) Programme – FINAL REPORT Perkins, A., Dumbrell, J., Livingston, W., McCluskey, S., Steele, S. This is the full and final report of Phase 2 (2023–2025) of the Digital Lifelines Scotland (DLS) programme. Led by the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), the evaluation assesses the contribution of digital inclusion efforts on improving outcomes for people at high risk of drug-related harm. Using a mixed-methods approach, the report explores service accessibility, digital literacy, wellbeing, stigma reduction, and system-level impacts. It provides detailed analysis, key findings, and recommendations for embedding digital approaches into health, social care, and community services. This report is supported by a series of appendices provided in the Supporting Evidence Report. View resource Previous item Next item

Scotland’s Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster (DMHIC) was established in March 2022 to drive the development, evaluation, and adoption of digital technologies in support of mental health service transformation. Governed by a multi-sector programme board and supported by an advisory board, the cluster aligns cross sector collaboration with national priorities and digital research and innovation (R&I) opportunities. Scotland’s Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) provides cluster management on behalf of the Scottish Government. This report examines the current landscape of Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) services across five NHS health boards in Scotland, highlighting systemic challenges, patient experiences, and emerging opportunities for service improvement and innovation. < Return to resources Adult ADHD Scottish Pathway Research : A review of the current landscape of approaches to Adult ADHD care across health boards in Scotland Scotland’s Digital Mental Health Innovation Cluster (DMHIC) was established in March 2022 to drive the development, evaluation, and adoption of digital technologies in support of mental health service transformation. Governed by a multi-sector programme board and supported by an advisory board, the cluster aligns cross sector collaboration with national priorities and digital research and innovation (R&I) opportunities. Scotland’s Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) provides cluster management on behalf of the Scottish Government. This report examines the current landscape of Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) services across five NHS health boards in Scotland, highlighting systemic challenges, patient experiences, and emerging opportunities for service improvement and innovation. View resource Previous item Next item

This paper provides a high-level mapping of existing capability / competency / career frameworks relevant to the special data, information and knowledge workforce in health and care in Scotland. It is informed by: • Early discussions of the project steering group • Literature search • Interviews with strategic stakeholders It is anticipated that this initial mapping will be augmented through iterative engagement with stakeholders and finalised in the final SDIK Scoping Report to provide a composite overview of data, information and knowledge workforce capabilities to date . Associated with "Our Time to Shine" report. < Return to resources High Level Mapping of Relevant Existing Capability/Competency/Career Frameworks: Appendix 2 Digital Health & Care Institute & Wales, Ann This paper provides a high-level mapping of existing capability / competency / career frameworks relevant to the special data, information and knowledge workforce in health and care in Scotland. It is informed by: • Early discussions of the project steering group • Literature search • Interviews with strategic stakeholders It is anticipated that this initial mapping will be augmented through iterative engagement with stakeholders and finalised in the final SDIK Scoping Report to provide a composite overview of data, information and knowledge workforce capabilities to date . Associated with "Our Time to Shine" report. View resource Previous item Next item

In times of rapid social, economic, environmental, and technological change designers can play a valuable role by applying their creativity to catalyse innovative solutions to address complex problems. As they do so, it becomes apparent they need to ask fundamental questions about what they make, how they make it, and who for. The mindsets and postures of designers often go unnoticed and unacknowledged, but they profoundly influence what is identified as a problem and how it is framed and addressed. This paper draws upon a research project titled ‘CO/DEsign’, which explores the application of agile co-design methods in an endeavour to understand and identify the most appropriate approach for rigorous analysis. The ‘CO/DEsign’ project argues that, while it is important to draw upon other disciplines and borrow methods such as thematic analysis, further methods should be developed that better represent and support designers and their approaches. < Return to resources Code Design: the role of boundary objects in research analysis Johnson, Michael and Ballie, Jen and Thorup, Tine and Brooks, Elizabeth In times of rapid social, economic, environmental, and technological change designers can play a valuable role by applying their creativity to catalyse innovative solutions to address complex problems. As they do so, it becomes apparent they need to ask fundamental questions about what they make, how they make it, and who for. The mindsets and postures of designers often go unnoticed and unacknowledged, but they profoundly influence what is identified as a problem and how it is framed and addressed. This paper draws upon a research project titled ‘CO/DEsign’, which explores the application of agile co-design methods in an endeavour to understand and identify the most appropriate approach for rigorous analysis. The ‘CO/DEsign’ project argues that, while it is important to draw upon other disciplines and borrow methods such as thematic analysis, further methods should be developed that better represent and support designers and their approaches. View resource Previous item Next item

In Summer 2022, DHI conducted an online survey via SurveyMonkey as part of its diabetes portfolio to explore key challenges faced by NHS Scotland in diabetes care and to generate new ideas for digital innovations. This report presents an analysis of survey responses, which were solicited from health and care professionals as well as individuals with an interest in diabetes care. With 275 participants, key themes included person-centred care, mental health support, access to information and resources, and the integration of diabetes technologies, alongside diverse ideas for innovation spanning care models, digital connectivity, and self-management capabilities. < Return to resources Transforming Diabetes Care Through Innovation Savage, J. In Summer 2022, DHI conducted an online survey via SurveyMonkey as part of its diabetes portfolio to explore key challenges faced by NHS Scotland in diabetes care and to generate new ideas for digital innovations. This report presents an analysis of survey responses, which were solicited from health and care professionals as well as individuals with an interest in diabetes care. With 275 participants, key themes included person-centred care, mental health support, access to information and resources, and the integration of diabetes technologies, alongside diverse ideas for innovation spanning care models, digital connectivity, and self-management capabilities. View resource Previous item Next item

Summary of the TITTAN project to date. < Return to resources TITTAN Project Update and Workshop 2 Overview of Best Practices Rooney, Laura Summary of the TITTAN project to date. View resource Previous item Next item

The Health Frontiers Project focuses on transforming healthcare through three interlinked strands of research and innovation, backed by €9.1 million from the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) through the Peace Plus Programme, the Health Frontiers project is accelerating innovation across the digital health and MedTech landscape. < Return to projects Health Frontiers - TIC Project impact 11 academic and clinical partners working across Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Scotland to address shared health and care challenges 25+ digital health products and processes to be co-designed, developed, and tested in real-world clinical settings 25 MedTech SMEs engaged, supporting innovation, skills development, and economic growth across participating regions The Health Frontiers Project focuses on transforming healthcare through three interlinked strands of research and innovation, backed by €9.1 million from the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) through the Peace Plus Programme, the Health Frontiers project is accelerating innovation across the digital health and MedTech landscape. The Health Frontiers–Technology Innovation Centre, led by Ulster University, is a flagship crossborder hub dedicated to advancing nextgeneration digital health and medical technologies. Aligned with Peace Plus Investment Area 2.2 – Innovation Challenge Fund, the initiative strengthens research and innovation capacity while supporting the adoption of cuttingedge technologies. The Centre brings together leading universities, healthcare organisations, and MedTech companies from Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Scotland. This collaborative network drives innovation that enhances patient care, improves clinical systems, and supports economic growth. Building on more than four decades of Ulster University’s leadership in health technology innovation, Health Frontiers extends the legacy of the INTERREG VA Eastern Corridor Medical Engineering Centre (ECME) partnership. By uniting expertise in engineering, computing, and clinical science, the Centre delivers meaningful impact on patient outcomes, regional prosperity, and peacebuilding through shared progress and collaboration. Summary For industry, the project offers direct collaboration with leading research and clinical partners to codevelop and validate new solutions. Companies gain access to regulatory, design, and innovation expertise, supported by dedicated Peace Plus investment that helps speed up development and adoption. For academia, Health Frontiers enables highimpact, multidisciplinary research with real clinical relevance. It strengthens crossborder collaboration, opens new funding opportunities, and supports the translation of research into practical healthcare technologies that deliver measurable outcomes. For clinicians, healthcare systems, and communities, the project ensures technologies are shaped around real needs. It supports a shift toward digitally enabled care, improving safety, efficiency, and patient experience, while empowering people to influence innovation through participatory design and more connected, accessible services. Impact & value Progress to date Next steps Partners Project staff Resources View project website : About Health Frontiers – Technology Innovation Centre Previous project Projects index page Next project

This research reports looks at examples of computable medical records around the world in 2016. Computable records are set to drive the evolution of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), aiming for interoperability, portability, and comprehensive health data. These records, readable by humans and machines, will contain a patient's entire medical history and declare their fidelity level, ensuring users can assess completeness and accuracy. Unique and ideally open-source, these records will support a health status scoring system and facilitate adoption across various stakeholders. < Return to resources Computable Records: The Next Generation of the EMR Conversation Rimpiläinen, Sanna This research reports looks at examples of computable medical records around the world in 2016. Computable records are set to drive the evolution of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), aiming for interoperability, portability, and comprehensive health data. These records, readable by humans and machines, will contain a patient's entire medical history and declare their fidelity level, ensuring users can assess completeness and accuracy. Unique and ideally open-source, these records will support a health status scoring system and facilitate adoption across various stakeholders. View resource Previous item Next item