Heriot-Watt’s inaugural Health and Care Innovation Conference for Early Career Researchers

Heriot-Watt University recently hosted its Health and Care Innovation Conference for Early Career Researchers, highlighting pioneering research and nurturing collaboration among postgraduate researchers and staff from across the institution.

Held on Wednesday, 26 March 2025, the conference brought together a diverse community of talented researchers who showcased cutting-edge projects addressing key challenges in health and care. The event provided a platform not only for participants to present their innovative research but also for meaningful discussion and collaboration, aimed at translating academic insights into real-world impact.

Keynote speakers included Beth Mills of The University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt’s own Professor Alan Gow, whose insightful and inspiring talks provided practical advice and inspiration for the next generation of researchers aiming to make a tangible difference in healthcare.

A highlight of the conference was the recognition of outstanding contributions from postgraduate and early-career researchers through several prestigious awards. The recipients were selected for their excellence in presentation, innovation, and the potential impact of their research:

• Best Poster Presentation Award: Mark McDonald (Sponsored by Heriot-Watt University)

• Best PGR Talk Award: Elena Bowles (Sponsored by Heriot-Watt University)

• Best ECR Talk Award (Postdoctoral Researcher): Pablo Roldán Varona (Sponsored by Burness Paull LLP)

Additionally, several researchers were celebrated with Poster Presentation Awards, sponsored by the university’s valued industry partners:

• András Kufcsák (Sponsored by Technology Scotland / Alison McLeod)

• Eunice Anteh (Sponsored by Institute of Occupational Medicine / James Barrass-Banks)

• Marcin Sikorski (Sponsored by Institute of Occupational Medicine / James Barrass)

• Sophia Otálora (Sponsored by Institute of Occupational Medicine / James Barrass)

• Rachel Forshaw (Sponsored by Institute of Occupational Medicine / James Barrass)

• Frederick Powell (Sponsored by Cogniss / Dr Lloyd Humphreys)

• Rosie Bristow (Sponsored by Heriot-Watt University)

• Caitlin Tye (Sponsored by Heriot-Watt University)

The success of this event was made possible through the generous support of sponsors Cogniss, Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Burness Paull LLP, and Technology Scotland, who demonstrated their commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing future talent in health and care research.

Commenting on the event’s success, Hazel Matthews - Head of Operations for the Health and Care Technologies Global Research Institute and the organising team highlighted the vibrant atmosphere, noting

“The conference truly reflected the energy, enthusiasm, and outstanding quality of our early career researchers at Heriot-Watt. Events like this are crucial for empowering researchers to forge connections, develop new ideas, and drive impactful research forward.”

The university extends its gratitude to all participants, presenters, panellists, and attendees whose engagement ensured the conference was dynamic, thought-provoking, and inspiring.

For more information about Heriot-Watt’s Health and Care Technologies research, visit the Health and Care Technologies webpage: https://www.hw.ac.uk/research-enterprise/global/transforming-healthcare/health-and-care-technologies