Glasgow’s Health Innovation Journey: From X-ray Scans to AI Plans
Glasgow has a long and distinguished history in medical innovation, from pioneering public health reforms during 19th-century cholera outbreaks to Joseph Lister’s revolution in antiseptic surgery. Today, the city remains at the forefront of health and life sciences, with world-class research into AI diagnostics, digital health, and surgical robotics shaping the future of healthcare. As one of the largest life sciences clusters in Europe, Glasgow boasts over 380 life sciences companies, generating £325m annually and housing world-class research centres and hospitals.
Celebrating a Year of Innovation
As part of the Glasgow 850 celebrations, we are highlighting Glasgow’s remarkable health and life sciences journey—a story that blends centuries of scientific discovery with today’s cutting-edge medical technologies. In January 2025, we launched the Glasgow’s Innovation Journey campaign—a year-long initiative showcasing how Glasgow’s industrial past has laid the foundation for the high-tech advancements of today. This month, we’re focusing on the city’s thriving health and life sciences sector, from breakthroughs in biotechnology and medical research to pioneering technologies that enhance patient care. Glasgow continues to lead the way in global health innovation.
Be part of the conversation at our Art of Possible session on 19th June at Glasgow Science Centre
A Legacy of Medical Excellence
Glasgow has long been a hub of scientific and medical achievement, with institutions like the University of Glasgow and the Royal Infirmary playing a pivotal role in establishing a world-leading health ecosystem. The city’s contributions to medical research are internationally recognised, with groundbreaking studies in areas such as cardiovascular health, cancer treatments, and regenerative medicine.
One of the key institutions shaping Glasgow’s health landscape is the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, the largest critical care facility in Western Europe. Developed in partnership between NHS Greater Glasgow and the University of Glasgow, this £1bn hospital is a beacon of medical excellence. It plays a vital role in advancing patient care and clinical research, providing a platform for cutting-edge studies and world-class healthcare delivery.
Leading the Charge in Health Tech and Biotechnology
Glasgow is leading the way in biotechnology, particularly in innovations that enhance diagnostics, treatment, and healthcare delivery. Companies like Novosound are at the forefront, creating groundbreaking medical technologies that improve patient monitoring and care. Novosound’s flexible ultrasound sensors are transforming diagnostics in fields such as cardiology, oncology, and orthopaedics, while their world-first continuous blood pressure monitor is making waves in wearable health tech.
Chemify, a spin-out from the University of Glasgow, is revolutionising pharmaceutical production by automating the synthesis of chemicals used in drug manufacturing. This innovation not only streamlines medication production, making treatments more accessible and affordable, but also advances sustainable healthcare solutions alongside green energy production.
The Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, also based in the city region, is pushing the boundaries of drug development. Their focus on scalable, cost-effective drug production is paving the way for more efficient treatments for diseases affecting millions globally.
Join the Conversation at Art of Possible
As part of the #Glasgow850 celebrations, we invite you to join us for a special Art of Possible session where we will explore how technology is transforming and democratising healthcare — making it more accessible, personalised, and efficient for all.
Our expert panel will discuss how innovations such as AI, robotics, and data-driven healthcare are revolutionising early disease detection, mental health support, and precision medicine. We will also explore how technology is breaking down barriers to healthcare, empowering patients, and reshaping the way medical services are delivered.
Event Details
📍 Location: Glasgow Science Centre
📅 Date: 19th June
⏰ Time: 2 – 5 PM
🎤 Speakers:
🎤 Dr Stephen Breslin – Chief Executive, Glasgow Science Centre
Stephen is currently Chief Executive Officer of Glasgow Science Centre and is committed to building confidence and raising aspiration in young people and helping them to discover the pleasure and relevance of science, engineering and technology. Stephen trained and worked as an engineer and has held two previous roles as Chief Executive Officer with Futurelab Education and The Kelvin Institute Ltd. Stephen also sits on the board of trustees for the Scottish Seabird Centre, the Campaign for Science and Engineering and is Chair of the Association of Science and Discovery Centres. He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of West of Scotland in 2019 for services to science, technology, and education.
🎤 Janette Hughes – Director of Planning & Performance, The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) (Chair)
With over two decades of experience spanning design, innovation, and economic development, Janette has spent more than 15 years championing digital health and wellness across Scotland. She has led transformative initiatives such as the Wellness and Health Innovation Project and played a key role in pioneering Innovate UK-backed programmes, including Glasgow’s Future City Demonstrator—where data was harnessed to tackle urban health challenges—and the groundbreaking Scottish DALLAS programme, which laid the foundation for digital wellness platforms across the country.
A prominent voice in the global digital health community, Janette has delivered keynote addresses across Europe, Asia, and North America, promoting Scotland’s leadership in health innovation. She brings a strategic understanding of how service design, technology, and business innovation must align to deliver meaningful change. Janette also holds several influential advisory roles, including Chair of the UKTIN Health & Care Working Group and the Digital Working Group for All Policies for a Healthy Europe, making her a vital connector between policy, practice, and patient impact in the evolving landscape of personalised, tech-enabled care.
🎤 Dr. Nico Fenu – CEO & Founder, Nami Surgical
Dr Fenu received a BEng in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Cagliari, Italy, in 2015, and in 2017 received an MSc (Hons) in Biomedical Engineering, from the University of Dundee. Dr Fenu completed his PhD at the University of Glasgow on ‘Investigation of piezoelectric materials for ultrasonic surgery’ which focused on doped piezocrystals and lead-free piezoceramics for high-power, low-frequency ultrasonic applications. During the final year of his PhD, Dr Fenu joined the programme grant ‘Ultrasurge, Surgery enabled by Ultrasonics’ where he worked on miniaturised ultrasonic surgical tools for integration with robotics. In December 2021 Dr Fenu founded Nami Surgical Ltd, a University of Glasgow spinout who develop miniaturised ultrasonic medical devices for use in surgical environments. Dr Fenu is the key named inventor in the patent at the core of Nami Surgical technology.
🎤 Prof. Paul Chapman – Director of Emerging Technology, The Glasgow School of Art
Professor Paul Chapman is the Director of Emerging Technology at the Glasgow School of Art (GSA), where he brings extensive expertise in technology and computer science to advance the institution’s digital capabilities across academic, research, and commercial domains.
Prior to joining GSA, Paul served as Director of the Hull Immersive Visualisation Centre and led the Simulation and Visualisation Research Group within the Department of Computer Science at the University of Hull. Earlier in his career, he worked for several years as an offshore engineer, during which he completed a PhD in Offshore Marine Visualisation.
Over the past decade, Paul has collaborated closely with CMAC—a world-leading centre for medicines manufacturing based at the University of Strathclyde—developing XR and AI tools to support pharmaceutical workflows. His other projects include the creation of XR-based patient information leaflets for the NHS and a range of medical visualisation software tools, further cementing GSA’s position at the forefront of digital health innovation.
🎤 Dr. Katriona Brooksbank – Innovation Lead, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
Katriona Brooksbank is the Innovation Lead in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), where she oversees the strategic and operational delivery of a varied innovation portfolio. She leads the West of Scotland Innovation Hub (WoSIH), hosted by NHSGGC, which brings together clinicians, patients, academics and industry to address healthcare challenges and improve service delivery. Katriona plays a pivotal role in shaping innovation governance and policy at both local and regional levels, with a strong focus on translating cutting-edge ideas into real-world impact.
A vocal advocate for the responsible use of AI in healthcare, the WoSIH sponsor pioneering projects such as the RADICAL study — a collaboration with Qure.ai and the University of Glasgow using AI to accelerate lung cancer diagnosis through X-ray analysis. Passionate about data-driven innovation, she champions the ethical use of real-world data to support better outcomes and promote Scotland as a global destination for health innovation. Katriona is also recognised as a role model for women in health tech and was celebrated on International Women’s Day for her leadership and dedication to supporting gender diversity in the sector. Katriona is also Programme Director for the new MSc in MedTech Innovation launching at the University of Glasgow in 2026, where she holds an Honorary Associate Professorship.
Why Glasgow? Why Now?
Glasgow’s health and life sciences sector is an economic powerhouse, employing over 41,000 people across 770 organisations and contributing £2.4bn in Gross Value Added (GVA) to Scotland’s economy. With more than 380 life sciences companies in the region, Glasgow represents over a third of Scotland’s sector base, including 50% of MedTech companies. The city is also home to one of the world’s top 50 universities for life sciences. The sector continues to attract world-class talent and investment in areas such as biotechnology, medical research, and health tech.
Glasgow’s unique blend of academic excellence, cutting-edge technology, and healthcare expertise positions it as a global leader in health and life sciences. As we mark 850 years of innovation, we invite you to join us in shaping the next chapter of Glasgow’s pioneering health and life sciences journey.