Invited Speakers
Veemal Bhowruth
I am an entrepreneurial-minded technology transfer professional supporting the translation of academic research within a global leading university; delivering real-world solutions that provide both societal & health benefits. Managing 4 BDM’s in the Life Sciences (LS) sub-team; the team progresses IP opportunities across the full remit of LS including medical devices, new therapeutics, educational and software tools with the goal of translating these into commercialisation opportunities (generating financial benefits and impact for UoB). With over 10 years’ experience in HE and the NHS, I have supported numerous grant awards, new company formations and licensing opportunities utilsing all forms of IP.
David Browning
40 years comprehensive life sciences innovation translation experience. Current roles include Entrepreneur in Residence, Institute of Cancer Research, Chairperson digital med tech companies, strategic advisor to organisations including the Precision Health Technologies Accelerator and Executive Chair, Clinical Immunology Services Advisory Board. Key experience: NHS Clinical Biochemistry, Johnson & Johnson clinical diagnostics innovator, Philips Personalised Medicine lead, MD MediCity / SVP Innovation BioCity (Pioneer Group). CEO roles include Fixed Phage (NexaBiome) focusing on AMR solutions, and Oxford University spin-outs.
Joseph Burt
Joseph is an experienced Quality and Regulatory professional who is enthusiastic about delivering innovative, safe and pioneering medical devices to the benefit of patients and for use by healthcare practitioners. With over 26 years of experience working in small to global medical device companies, he has developed several in vitro diagnostic medical devices, including the approval of developed devices with multiple jurisdictions. He is passionate about bringing positive outcomes through the use of innovative medical technologies and a champion for early diagnosis for preventative healthcare. Joseph is the Head of IVD and General Medical Devices with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Joseph is an experienced Quality and Regulatory professional who is enthusiastic about delivering innovative, safe and pioneering medical devices to the benefit of patients and for use by healthcare practitioners. With over 26 years of experience working in small to global medical device companies, he has developed several in vitro diagnostic medical devices, including the approval of developed devices with multiple jurisdictions. He is passionate about bringing positive outcomes through the use of innovative medical technologies and a champion for early diagnosis for preventative healthcare. Joseph is the Head of IVD and General Medical Devices with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Professor Paul Cadman
Professor Paul Cadman is a distinguished entrepreneur, educator, and philanthropist whose career has shaped industries, empowered communities, and championed opportunities for growth. His expertise spans business leadership, education, public affairs, and philanthropy, making him a driving force in economic development, workforce empowerment, and social change.
Cadman holds a double doctorate and several Fellowships, reflecting his extensive contributions to academia, research, and professional development. His scholarly achievements complement his practical experience, making him an authoritative voice in entrepreneurship, industry leadership, and economic policy. He is a multi-award-winning leader, celebrated internationally for his impact in business, education, and social advancement. In 2021, he was named Brummie of the Year, an honor that highlights his extraordinary influence on Birmingham’s community, economy, and public affairs.
With a career rooted in strategic thinking, innovation, and commercial success, Cadman has grown multiple businesses from conception to £100 million+ turnover, building ventures that not only drive economic prosperity but also create opportunities for thousands. His ability to transform ideas into thriving enterprises has positioned him as a key business figure in the UK and beyond.
He owns and operates a diverse portfolio of companies across multiple sectors, including One Thousand Trades Group of Companies, Walk Through Walls, Life Sciences Week, The Technology Supply Chain, The Innovation Awards, SPR Search Limited, 145 Holdings Limited, Circle of Life Training Ltd, and Starting Point Recruitment Limited, which includes West Midlands News. One Thousand Trades represents Cadman's commitment to business excellence, innovation, and industry collaboration, bringing together public affairs, science, technology, and entrepreneurial recognition under one banner.
Cadman has also made a significant impact on transport design, working with industry giants including McLaren, Jaguar, Porsche, and Land Rover, helping shape some of the world’s most high-profile vehicles. Beyond automotive design, he has played a key role in Lilium, the autonomous flying car project, helping advance the future of urban air mobility. His work with Volvo Group over several years further reflects his commitment to pioneering transport technology.
Cadman’s passion for education is evident in his role as Professor in Entrepreneurship at Birmingham City University Business School, where he helps students navigate business leadership, entrepreneurial challenges, and strategic innovation. His approach blends academic theory with real-world experience, ensuring that students gain practical skills that drive success.
Professor Paul Cadman is a distinguished entrepreneur, educator, and philanthropist whose career has shaped industries, empowered communities, and championed opportunities for growth. His expertise spans business leadership, education, public affairs, and philanthropy, making him a driving force in economic development, workforce empowerment, and social change.
Cadman holds a double doctorate and several Fellowships, reflecting his extensive contributions to academia, research, and professional development. His scholarly achievements complement his practical experience, making him an authoritative voice in entrepreneurship, industry leadership, and economic policy. He is a multi-award-winning leader, celebrated internationally for his impact in business, education, and social advancement. In 2021, he was named Brummie of the Year, an honor that highlights his extraordinary influence on Birmingham’s community, economy, and public affairs.
With a career rooted in strategic thinking, innovation, and commercial success, Cadman has grown multiple businesses from conception to £100 million+ turnover, building ventures that not only drive economic prosperity but also create opportunities for thousands. His ability to transform ideas into thriving enterprises has positioned him as a key business figure in the UK and beyond.
He owns and operates a diverse portfolio of companies across multiple sectors, including One Thousand Trades Group of Companies, Walk Through Walls, Life Sciences Week, The Technology Supply Chain, The Innovation Awards, SPR Search Limited, 145 Holdings Limited, Circle of Life Training Ltd, and Starting Point Recruitment Limited, which includes West Midlands News. One Thousand Trades represents Cadman's commitment to business excellence, innovation, and industry collaboration, bringing together public affairs, science, technology, and entrepreneurial recognition under one banner.
Cadman has also made a significant impact on transport design, working with industry giants including McLaren, Jaguar, Porsche, and Land Rover, helping shape some of the world’s most high-profile vehicles. Beyond automotive design, he has played a key role in Lilium, the autonomous flying car project, helping advance the future of urban air mobility. His work with Volvo Group over several years further reflects his commitment to pioneering transport technology.
Cadman’s passion for education is evident in his role as Professor in Entrepreneurship at Birmingham City University Business School, where he helps students navigate business leadership, entrepreneurial challenges, and strategic innovation. His approach blends academic theory with real-world experience, ensuring that students gain practical skills that drive success.
Tim Davis
Regional Head, UK Primary Markets, London Stock Exchange
Tim joined The London Stock Exchange in April 2019 and has responsibility for potential AIM and Main Market IPOs across The Midlands, Wales, East Anglia, Cambridge and Oxford. In addition, he has national responsibility for all Healthcare and related IPO business. He is also on the project delivery team for the Private Securities Market, LSE’s new market for private company share sales.
He spent the previous 20 years working across a range of industry sectors in UK small and mid-cap advisory and broking roles at Teather & Greenwood, Charles Stanley Securities and Cantor Fitzgerald Europe.
Professor Jon Deeks
Jon Deeks is a Professor of Biostatistics and leader in the Biostatistics, Evidence Synthesis and Test Evaluation Research Group in the Department of Applied Health Science, University of Birmingham. He is a Theme Lead within the NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre. Jon's expertise is on test evaluation. He is the senior methodologist on numerous primary evaluations and systematic reviews of medical tests, leads the Cochrane Collaboration's test evaluation activities, has led the Royal Statistical Society on Diagnostic Tests, advises the MHRA and WHO on test evaluation methods. He is an NIHR Senior Investigator Emeritus and Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences.
Professor Alistair Denniston
Professor Alastair Denniston is an NIHR Senior Investigator, Professor in Regulatory Science and Innovation at the University of Birmingham, and a Consultant Ophthalmologist at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. He is Director of the UK’s Centre of Excellence for Regulatory Science and Innovation in AI & Digital Health (CERSI-AI), is a Member of the UK Government’s Regulatory Horizons Council and is Non-Executive Director to the UK’s Health Research Authority. He is passionate about supporting innovation in advanced digital and AI health technologies to accelerate the development of products that are effective, safe, and equitable, and that make a difference to people in the ‘real world’.
Professor Alastair Denniston is an NIHR Senior Investigator, Professor in Regulatory Science and Innovation at the University of Birmingham, and a Consultant Ophthalmologist at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. He is Director of the UK’s Centre of Excellence for Regulatory Science and Innovation in AI & Digital Health (CERSI-AI), is a Member of the UK Government’s Regulatory Horizons Council and is Non-Executive Director to the UK’s Health Research Authority. He is passionate about supporting innovation in advanced digital and AI health technologies to accelerate the development of products that are effective, safe, and equitable, and that make a difference to people in the ‘real world’.
Matthew Dobson
Matthew Dobson is an accomplished leader with significant experience in medical device and IVD innovation, specializing in product and marketing strategy development and execution. In his roles as Head of Product, he excels in identifying unmet market needs and defining product roadmaps. His entrepreneurial background includes co-founding an AI-enabled health monitoring company and co-authoring business plans for successful ventures within a number of high-profile business accelerators. With an MBA focused on technology and innovation management, Matt brings a deep understanding of strategic commercialization. He looks forward to guiding attendees through crafting effective business models in his workshop.
Dr Jean-Louis Duprey
Dr Jean-Louis Duprey is the Director of Research and Development at Linear Diagnostics, a spin-out of the University of Birmingham based at the UoB Research Park Biohub. He gained his PhD from UoB in 2010 working in the chemistry department working on fluorescent modified DNA as a disease sensor. He was a PDRA in UoB Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biological Sciences, with Professors Jim Tucker and Tim Dafforn, before joining Linear Diagnostics in 2017 where he oversaw the development of their rapid diagnostics test technology for human infectious diseases and its focus of applying this to near-patient care
Professor Neil Hanley
Neil joined the University of Birmingham in
September 2023 and is Pro-Vice-Chancellor and
Head of the College of Medicine and Health. He is
also a practising Consultant Endocrinologist in the
NHS. Neil is a past president of the Association of
Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland. Prior to
arriving in Birmingham, Neil was Director of
Research and Innovation at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, and Vice-Dean
(Research and Innovation) in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at the University of
Manchester. He has also served on the Council of his UK professional body, the Society for
Endocrinology, and on the Board of the International Society of Endocrinology.
An expert in early human development and aspects of stem cell biology, Neil held personal
fellowships for 16 years from Wellcome and NIHR, and additional funding as lead investigator
from multiple UK Govt Research Councils. His research outputs have appeared in places such
as eLife, PNAS, and several Nature journals accumulating over 13,000 citations. His recent
partnership as chief investigator with Innovate UK and industry leaders has translated
collaborative discovery science into novel diagnostics for early detection of liver disease and
the launch of a start-up company.
He recognises the critical role of innovation in Health & Life Sciences as a driver for health
improvement and economic growth in the West Midlands through Birmingham Health
Partners and the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus as part of a comprehensive Health &
Life Sciences district.
Neil has a passion for education and training. He established academies in both Manchester
and Birmingham for those embarking on their own research careers, directed the Wellcomefunded PhD programme for healthcare professionals across the Universities of Leeds,
Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield, led the future vision of NIHR’s 2016 national review of
training, and chairs the Cell Biology, Physiology, Data and Tools Early Career Advisory Group at
Wellcome. At home, he is a school governor and has run a course for the last six years helping
teenagers in Macclesfield prepare for entry into medicine, dentistry and veterinary science at
university
Neil is a past president of the Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland. Prior to arriving in Birmingham, Neil was Director of Research and Innovation at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, and Vice-Dean (Research and Innovation) in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at the University of Manchester. He has also served on the Council of his UK professional body, the Society for Endocrinology, and on the Board of the International Society of Endocrinology.
An expert in early human development and aspects of stem cell biology, Neil held personal fellowships for 16 years from Wellcome and NIHR, and additional funding as lead investigator from multiple UK Govt Research Councils. His research outputs have appeared in places such as eLife, PNAS, and several Nature journals accumulating over 13,000 citations. His recent partnership as chief investigator with Innovate UK and industry leaders has translated collaborative discovery science into novel diagnostics for early detection of liver disease and the launch of a start-up company.
He recognises the critical role of innovation in Health & Life Sciences as a driver for health improvement and economic growth in the West Midlands through Birmingham Health Partners and the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus as part of a comprehensive Health & Life Sciences district.
Neil has a passion for education and training. He established academies in both Manchester and Birmingham for those embarking on their own research careers, directed the Wellcomefunded PhD programme for healthcare professionals across the Universities of Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield, led the future vision of NIHR’s 2016 national review of training, and chairs the Cell Biology, Physiology, Data and Tools Early Career Advisory Group at Wellcome. At home, he is a school governor and has run a course for the last six years helping teenagers in Macclesfield prepare for entry into medicine, dentistry and veterinary science at university
Professor Lorraine Harper
Professor Harper is an internationally recognized leader in clinical research in nephrology, with an H-index of 70 and over £20 million in active research funding. She has a strong track record in delivering commercial clinical trials as Chief or Principal Investigator. As Managing Director of the Birmingham NIHR Clinical Research Facility and the NIHR Central and North West Midlands Commercial Research Delivery Centre, she plays a key role in advancing research infrastructure. She leads the Birmingham Health Partners Consortium, driving innovative approaches to streamline trial delivery and innovation. As NIHR Academy Associate Dean, she is committed to developing future research leaders.
Professor Harper is an internationally recognized leader in clinical research in nephrology, with an H-index of 70 and over £20 million in active research funding. She has a strong track record in delivering commercial clinical trials as Chief or Principal Investigator. As Managing Director of the Birmingham NIHR Clinical Research Facility and the NIHR Central and North West Midlands Commercial Research Delivery Centre, she plays a key role in advancing research infrastructure. She leads the Birmingham Health Partners Consortium, driving innovative approaches to streamline trial delivery and innovation. As NIHR Academy Associate Dean, she is committed to developing future research leaders.
Dr Matt Pearce
Dr Matt Pearce is an experienced senior executive with over three decades of experience within the IVD industry with a commercial, new product development and operations track record throughout Europe, USA, Asia and LATAM. Matt specialises in driving business growth, product innovation, and new technology development. As the founder and owner of Medtechtomarket, his team successfully leads the design, development, manufacture, regulatory, launch and commercialisation of IVD technologies from Academia and Industry.
Dr Matt Pearce is an experienced senior executive with over three decades of experience within the IVD industry with a commercial, new product development and operations track record throughout Europe, USA, Asia and LATAM. Matt specialises in driving business growth, product innovation, and new technology development. As the founder and owner of Medtechtomarket, his team successfully leads the design, development, manufacture, regulatory, launch and commercialisation of IVD technologies from Academia and Industry.
Jo Pisani
Jo focuses on supporting charities, universities and business start-ups. She is chair of London’s MedCity and Birmingham’s Precision Health Technology Accelerator and the West Midlands Health Technology Innovation Accelerator. She serves on the boards of the UK Dementia Research Institute, LifeArc, The RSA Group, and Beacon. She is also a strategic advisor and NED for biotechs in the UK, Finland and Spain and sits on the board of Bioventix plc .
Prior to this, Jo led PwC’s UK Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences practice, and spent 20 years assisting clients with strategy, transformational change and deals. She started her career at BP and then GSK, with roles in strategy, commercial and operations functions.
She is a passionate supporter of critical public health issues, such as tackling dementia, rare diseases and anti-microbial resistance.
Jo focuses on supporting charities, universities and business start-ups. She is chair of London’s MedCity and Birmingham’s Precision Health Technology Accelerator and the West Midlands Health Technology Innovation Accelerator. She serves on the boards of the UK Dementia Research Institute, LifeArc, The RSA Group, and Beacon. She is also a strategic advisor and NED for biotechs in the UK, Finland and Spain and sits on the board of Bioventix plc .
Prior to this, Jo led PwC’s UK Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences practice, and spent 20 years assisting clients with strategy, transformational change and deals. She started her career at BP and then GSK, with roles in strategy, commercial and operations functions.
She is a passionate supporter of critical public health issues, such as tackling dementia, rare diseases and anti-microbial resistance.
Professor Alex Richter
Professor Alex Richter is Professor of Clinical Immunology at the University of Birmingham and Honorary Consultant at University Hospitals Birmingham. She directs the Clinical Immunology Service, a UKAS-accredited NHS diagnostic laboratory delivering immunology and haematology testing for 135 NHS Trusts, supporting national myeloma and AML trials as well as industry-led validation studies. She leads national innovation programmes developing diagnostics for infectious and immune-mediated diseases, including a commercialised SARS-CoV-2 antibody assay, remote sampling for vaccine response and seroepidemiology, and point-of-care tests for Type 1 diabetes screening. She collaborates with decision-makers including MHRA and UKHSA and leads the diagnostics theme for the West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator. Her current focus is building a pipeline of affordable, accessible diagnostics to advance global equity in healthcare.
Craig Webster
Craig Webster is a state-registered Consultant Clinical Scientist with over 30 years’ experience in clinical biochemistry, informatics and pathology service leadership. As Pathology Clinical Director at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB), he oversees a multidisciplinary service spanning four hospital sites and a 900-strong team, ensuring delivery to ISO 15189 standards. His clinical focus encompasses vitamin D metabolism and pheochromocytoma diagnostics, with a track record of implementing high-throughput automated systems processing over 4.5 million tests annually.
An innovator in laboratory informatics, Craig has participated in projects ranging from early GP electronic reporting (“GP Connect”) to the messaging standards underpinning NPex (National Pathology Exchange). He is a proficient programmer (C#, JavaScript, Ruby) and has developed commercial iOS and web applications to streamline laboratory workflows and point of care testing. His research spans mass spectrometry, capillary electrophoresis and demand-management systems—his Emergency Department test-profiling reduced requests by ~30%, winning a regional innovation award.
Craig holds a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry & Food Science (Leeds), an MSc in Clinical Biochemistry (Manchester), and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists and a Chartered Scientist. He was an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Birmingham University (Clinical Biochemistry), and is course leader at Greenwich University for the Mass Spectroscopy and Clinical Data Interpretation. and contributes to European and international laboratory-medicine working groups, most recently the European database on biological variation
Craig Webster is a state-registered Consultant Clinical Scientist with over 30 years’ experience in clinical biochemistry, informatics and pathology service leadership. As Pathology Clinical Director at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB), he oversees a multidisciplinary service spanning four hospital sites and a 900-strong team, ensuring delivery to ISO 15189 standards. His clinical focus encompasses vitamin D metabolism and pheochromocytoma diagnostics, with a track record of implementing high-throughput automated systems processing over 4.5 million tests annually.
An innovator in laboratory informatics, Craig has participated in projects ranging from early GP electronic reporting (“GP Connect”) to the messaging standards underpinning NPex (National Pathology Exchange). He is a proficient programmer (C#, JavaScript, Ruby) and has developed commercial iOS and web applications to streamline laboratory workflows and point of care testing. His research spans mass spectrometry, capillary electrophoresis and demand-management systems—his Emergency Department test-profiling reduced requests by ~30%, winning a regional innovation award.
Craig holds a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry & Food Science (Leeds), an MSc in Clinical Biochemistry (Manchester), and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists and a Chartered Scientist. He was an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Birmingham University (Clinical Biochemistry), and is course leader at Greenwich University for the Mass Spectroscopy and Clinical Data Interpretation. and contributes to European and international laboratory-medicine working groups, most recently the European database on biological variation