Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland, 3 Dargan Crescent, Belfast (2025)

17/12/2025

Get your early bird ticket for Health Tech Spring 2026 !👩‍⚕️ Hosted by the Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI), our annual conference is a two-day event showcasing the region, supporting local innovators and promoting cross sector collaboration.

🎧 With over 20 fringe events, the conference will include a “Life Sciences, Life Support” event for businesses who provide support services to the life science industry and an industry skills workshop for further education students.

🩺 With innovation zones, masterclasses, pitching competitions, patient engagement sessions, interactive forums, global keynotes and local thought leaders, Health Tech Spring 2026 promises to be another iconic conference hosted in the Titanic Building.

🏥 This year’s event will explore how equitable life science innovation partnerships can align with national priorities for growth but be driven and delivered locally harnessing our unique needs, strengths and assets.

Commenting on the 2025 conference, NI Chief Allied Health Professionals Officer, Michelle Tennyson said: “I left the NI Health Spring Tech Conference feeling genuinely inspired - not just by the technology, but by the fortune of possibilities ahead. The energy in the room, the chance to network, and the opportunity to connect with others who care deeply about the future of health and care was uplifting. The future isn’t coming. We’re building it now!”

Our CEO, Joann Rhodes MBA said:
“The life sciences sector is not just about generating profit, it is key to pioneering medical breakthroughs to transform lives and generate good, sustainable jobs, if we can harness the insights from health and social care system with the incredible life sciences and MedTech ecosystem. In Northern Ireland, life sciences is an essential sector, and it is HIRANI’s mission to support collaboration to align our unique capabilities with global opportunities. Our Health Tech Spring conference is your opportunity to join our network and make strong connections and leverage the strengths of all parts of our health and life sciences sector."

Following on from a sold-out event in 2025 with over 800 delegates taking part, themes for 2026 will also include ‘Regulation for Innovation’ and 'Healing at Home', looking at prevention for the individual but also looking at how to bring more clinical trials home to NI.

Find out more and register for your early bird ticket now at www.hira-ni.com.

16/12/2025

InterTradeIreland, in partnership with Invest Northern Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, has launched three new programmes that will help to unlock the potential of women entrepreneurs across the island. The new programmes, funded by the Irish Government, under the Shared Island Enterprise Scheme are set to commence at the start of 2026, and will enable women-led businesses to grow, innovate and scale.
Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eKASEiM4

15/12/2025

A number of NI Life Sciences companies are among seven SMEs in Belfast who are investing more than £4.1m to grow exports, invest in research and development, and create 33 new jobs.

The companies, MediNect Ophtho and Movetru® joined Minister at the Department for the Economy NI, Caoimhe Archibald during a visit to Ormeau Labs earlier this month.

Movetru® tracks the performance of elite athletes, helping to reduce the risk of injury and boost performance. Naomi McGregor, Founder of Movetru, said: “Movetru supports athletes to perform at their best, on and off the field. With Invest NI’s support, we will be able to grow our team which will enhance our technology, boost sales, and expand company visibility across Great Britain, Ireland, and the USA. This investment will enable us to grow as an international company within sports technology for athlete wellbeing.”
MediNect Ophtho recently featured as a HIRANI Comapny of the Month and you can read about their journey on our website www.hira-ni.com

12/12/2025

Animal Health Angels have announced they are investing in NI company, Antigenesis Biologics who are tackling one of the biggest unmet needs in veterinary medicine: targeted cancer therapies for dogs and cats.

Co-founder Ciaran Doherty said: “We are confident and exited in what we are building at Antigenesis Biologics, but having that belief shared and backed by such an experienced group of veterinary clinicians and animal health entrepreneurs - who share our mission absolutely - is incredibly validating.”

Founded in 2024, Antigenesis is taking a smart, translational approach by adapting proven human antibody therapies for animal use, supported by AI-driven design tools. With public and private funding already secured, their lead cancer molecules are now in preclinical development.

The opportunity in veterinary oncology is significant, with a global market of £10bn+ and a projected £1bn serviceable obtainable market by 2030.

As the founders Hugh Morgan and Ciaran Doherty put it:
“We are building the next generation of smarter, more targeted cancer therapies for companion animals.”

From the AHA side, Nick Park, added:
“There is great potential in their model, and I look forward to supporting the team as they progress.
Antigenesis brings scientific depth, focus, and real-world clinical ambition — a strong fit for AHA. We’re excited to support Hugh, Ciaran, and the team as they advance their pipeline and shape the future of veterinary oncology.”

https://lnkd.in/epunYSji

11/12/2025

A reminder for all NI Life Science companies, please complete this Department for Business and Trade survey on regulation before 16 December. This questionnaire asks businesses large and small to tell government about regulation which is not fit for purpose and unjustifiably inhibits growth, innovation and investment.
Fill in your response here: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/unlocking-business-reform-driven-by-you
In particular, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) wants to receive evidence about:
-current activity costs. DBT wants you to share examples of specific rules that impose unnecessary costs or burdens on businesses, including both the direct costs imposed by individual regulations and indirect costs resulting from how they’re applied
-opportunity costs. DBT wants you to help them understand how regulations and the way they are applied may delay or prevent future business opportunities being taken up, including compared to other countries.

10/12/2025

Good news on regulatory challenges for the life sciences ecosystem in Northern Ireland; the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and partners across Northern Ireland, including the Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI), led by the Department of Health NI have confirmed a strengthened programme of collaboration designed to support innovation, enhance patient safety and ensure people in Northern Ireland continue to benefit from world-class regulation of medicines and medical technologies. The agency has pledged to establish a clear point of contact in Northern Ireland.

Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Catherine (Cathy) Harrison, welcoming the news said: "These actions mark an important step in strengthening the partnership with Department of Health NI and supporting Northern Ireland’s life sciences sector, building on commitments made at the recent Belfast visit by the board of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency."

The MHRA said: "As part of this growing partnership:
💊 We will expand the use and visibility of the MHRA Yellow Card scheme across Northern Ireland, building on existing work to strengthen surveillance of medicines and medical devices. This enhanced focus will support earlier detection of safety issues and reinforce our shared commitment to protecting patients.
💊 We will continue to work together with Northern Ireland partners to ensure participation in cutting-edge research, accelerating the development of new therapies and reinforcing our shared ambition to improve health outcomes through evidence-based innovation.
💊 We will establish an MHRA presence in Northern Ireland, providing a clear point of contact for local partners and supporting closer partnerships and engagement with industry, academia and the health system.
💊 We will explore opportunities for the development of regulatory science and innovation in Northern Ireland, recognising the potential value this support could bring to clinical and regulatory science collaboration.

"This statement builds on commitments to collaborate that emerged from the first ever MHRA Board seminar held in Belfast in November 2025, co-chaired by MHRA Chair Professor Anthony Harnden and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Northern Ireland, Professor Cathy Harrison.

Brendan McGuigan, Director of Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering and Life Sciences Invest Northern Ireland said: "This is a significant step that will help NI innovators fully leverage our unique regulatory position and dual market access to both the UK and EU.

Such support strengthens our ability to drive innovation, attract investment, and showcase Northern Ireland as a hub for life and health sciences."

09/12/2025

The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust are inviting anyone who would like to get involved in shaping health and social care in NI to join a webinar on 16th December as part of their SCOPE (Service User Carer Opportunity to Participate and Engage) programme.
When: Tuesday 16th December, 1pm
Register here: https://lnkd.in/epQWxzuN

08/12/2025

Transforming Primary Care - Join tomorrows webinar with Sarah Rendall and Rachael Barham, Digital Transformation Programme Managers, as they share insights from an innovative programme transforming primary care💊

Using Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria’s Innovation Pathway and Design Service, the programme has delivered meaningful change which has: freed up clinical time, enhanced patient safety and supported new ways of working.

This session will also explore how accelerated approaches can be successfully applied in primary care to remap clinical pathways and achieve sustainable improvements.

Key themes:

Innovation in primary care
Innovation Design Service to deliver front line change
Co-producing for results
Access to resources to implement in GP practices

Register here:
d1f86c8b-f416-4cde-968c-fea7652137d6@ddc77078-e803-4eeb-80ca-dd03ba7459c4" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/d1f86c8b-f416-4cde-968c-fea7652137d6@ddc77078-e803-4eeb-80ca-dd03ba7459c4

02/12/2025

“Every £1 invested in women’s health returns an estimated £11 to the economy.”

ABHI have released a new report spotlighting women’s health and setting out a focused plan to address systemic inequities, outlining practical steps across clinical practice, research, innovation, and investment to drive meaningful and lasting change.

The report shows women spend 25% more of their lives in poor health compared with men, yet only 5% of global research funding is directed towards women’s health.

Closing the women’s health gap could deliver £32 billion to the UK economy each year.
Read the report: https://www.abhi.org.uk/resource-hub/file/21296

01/12/2025

Ulster University and Belfast medtech company Axial3D are celebrating 🥳consecutive ‘Outstanding’ ratings from Innovate UK for back-to-back Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) that combine AI and design expertise to transform innovation in orthopaedic surgery.

The projects focused on developing artificial intelligence (AI) systems to automatically design patient-specific instrumentation – precision 3D-printed tools that fit an individual’s anatomy and help surgeons cut, drill, or position implants with greater accuracy during procedures such as knee and hip replacements.

By combining AI and user experience (UX) design expertise, the collaboration makes these bespoke surgical tools faster and more cost-effective to produce, ultimately helping to democratise the technology and improve outcomes for patients.

In a unique setup, two KTP associates from Ulster University – one in artificial intelligence and the other in user experience (UX) design – worked side by side within Axial3D.

This collaboration brought together technology, design, and commercial thinking in a way rarely seen in KTP projects, helping to speed up innovation and embed new skills across the company.

Read more: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/news/2025/november/ulster-university-and-axial3d-achieve-double-outstanding-recognition-from-innovate-uk-for-ai-innovation-in-orthopaedic-surgery

26/11/2025

The Innovate UK Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme (SMMIP) brings together industry, academia, and government to transform medicines manufacturing and has announced an investment of over £54 million in eight Grand Challenges, delivering large-scale collaborative innovations in areas such as smart packaging, AI-driven biocatalysts, and the use of collaborative robotics.

Find out more: https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IUK-SMMIP-A4-Brochure.pdf?utm_campaign=2703423_SMMIP%2520GC%2520Announcement%2520+%2520BioProcess%2520+%2520NPL%2520NML%2520event&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dotdigital&dm_i=2VFU,1LXZ3,96R9AP,6J3R1,1

24/11/2025

Empowering innovators, clinicians, and companies to build real-world AI healthcare solutions, this fully funded AI in Healthcare Programme, supported by InterTradeIreland, helps entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals, and tech companies transform great ideas into operational digital health platforms.

Why AI in Healthcare Matters
Artificial intelligence is revolutionising healthcare delivery, from diagnostic accuracy to patient care optimisation. However, transforming a promising AI concept into a viable healthcare solution requires specialised expertise, infrastructure, and support.

The programme bridges this gap by connecting innovators with the clinical knowledge, technical resources, and industry partnerships needed to build impactful AI healthcare solutions.

Programme goals:
- Foster Innovation: Creating an ecosystem where groundbreaking healthcare AI ideas can thrive and develop
- Enable Collaboration: Building cross-border partnerships between clinicians, researchers, and technology experts
- Build Solutions: Developing AI-enabled healthcare platforms that deliver real-world impact
- Scale Success: Supporting projects from concept to commercialization and market success

Application Deadline: Friday 28th November

Find out more and apply: https://aiinhealthcare.co.uk/

Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland

17/12/2025

16/12/2025

15/12/2025

12/12/2025

11/12/2025

10/12/2025

09/12/2025

08/12/2025

02/12/2025

01/12/2025

26/11/2025

24/11/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category