Birmingham Health Partners Centre for Regulatory Science and Innovation director appointed

Birmingham Health Partners (BHP) have appointed leading AI healthcare Professor Alastair Denniston as their new Director of the Birmingham Health Partners Centre for Regulatory Science and Innovation (BHP-CRSI).

Professor Denniston, who is Professor of Regulatory Science and Innovation at the University of Birmingham brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role, having established himself as a leader in digital health and artificial intelligence-enabled medical technologies. His team’s pioneering research in medical imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) applications in healthcare has attracted international acclaim, positioning him at the forefront of medical innovation.

Professor Neil Hanley, Head of the College of Medicine and Health at the University of Birmingham and Executive Director of Birmingham Health Partners said:

“We are delighted to welcome Professor Denniston as the Director of BHP-CRSI. His vision and leadership will be instrumental in driving forward our agenda to drive innovation in regulatory science to promote efficient, safe and cost-effective implementation of new therapies, for the benefit of patients and society.”

Established in 2020 under the leadership of Professor Mel Calvert, BHP-CRSI serves as a collaborative hub for regulatory science and innovation, bringing together academia, industry, regulators, healthcare providers and patients. BHP-CRSI experts work with UK and international health regulators, using scientific and analytical skills to help optimise the regulatory process itself and accelerate innovation that can improve patient care.

The Centre’s activity is broadly grouped into three pillars: policy development; research and innovation; and capacity building and education. This helps ensure that innovation can be both effective and efficient, ensuring patient safety whilst also ensuring that patients can benefit from the best medicines and health technologies. The Centre has internationally-recognised expertise in critical areas such as AI, patient-reported outcomes, diagnostic tests, real world evidence and clinical trials.

Professor Alastair Denniston, Professor of Regulatory Science and Innovation at the University of Birmingham and Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist at University Hospitals Birmingham NHSFT said:

“I am honoured to lead BHP-CRSI and contribute to Birmingham Health Partners’ mission of improving patient outcomes through innovation. Together with our partners across the healthcare ecosystem, we will strive to create a supportive environment for regulatory science research and innovation, ultimately benefiting patients locally and globally.”

Prior to being appointed Director, Professor Denniston was the AI Theme Lead for BHP-CRSI and Director of the INSIGHT Health Data Hub for Eye Health, spearheading initiatives that continue to transform healthcare policies in data, digital health and artificial intelligence. He continues in his role as Member of the Regulatory Horizons Council to the UK Government, and as an NHS clinician at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. 

Prof Denniston’s appointment comes at an exciting time for the BHP-CRSI, with a number of its experts having been awarded UK Government funding to explore the creation of national Regulatory Science and Innovation Networks in high priority areas, including in AI and Digital HealthTech (led by Associate Professor Xiaoxuan Liu and Prof Denniston) and Advanced Therapies (led by Dr Olalekan Lee Aiyegbusi and Prof Mel Calvert, working with the Cell & Gene Therapy Catapult Ltd).

For more information about Birmingham Health Partners Centre for Regulatory Science and Innovation, please visit https://www.birminghamhealthpartners.co.uk/for-researchers/bhp-centre-for-regulatory-science-and-innovation/.