Summary Report: Outcomes of the Future Blood Testing Network+ Digital Health Conference 2024

The Future Blood Testing Network+ hosted a highly successful digital health conference on November 21–22, 2024, at Henley Business School Greenlands Campus. The two-day event brought together industry leaders, academics, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to discuss innovations, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of digital health and AI in healthcare.

The conference featured a rich program of engaging presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions. Key topics included advancements in diagnostic technologies, the integration of AI into clinical workflows, ethical considerations, and policy implications. Participants explored collaborative strategies to bridge the gap between research and practical implementation in healthcare systems.

With its focus on collaboration and problem-solving, the conference provided a unique platform for experts to address some of the most pressing challenges in digital health. Discussions highlighted how data and technology are driving healthcare improvements, strategies to overcome barriers to interoperability and integration, and priorities for scaling up innovative solutions.

This event reaffirmed its role as a premier forum for academics, healthcare professionals, innovators, and partners to connect, share ideas, and work towards adopting digital tools that empower the health and care workforce while enhancing services for those who rely on them.

Key Highlights:

Featured Sessions: Day 1 showcased a vibrant mix of keynote speakers and engaging interactive sessions.

   

The topics addressed on day 1:

• Digital technology, data and artificial intelligence in healthcare by Prof Weizi (Vicky) Li (University of Reading)
• Data Science and AI to leverage Big BioMedical Data for the benefit of patients by Prof Jean-Baptiste Cazier (The Francis Crick Institute)
• Delivering the Thames Valley and Surrey NHS Secure Data Environment by Kerrie Woods (Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
• A Radical Solution to the Visualisation and Interaction with Timeline Structured Information by Dr David Rew (University Hospital Southampton)
• Development of a blood-based POC assay for real-time monitoring of inflammatory conditions such as sepsis and cancer by Dr David Sarphie (Seroxo Ltd)
• Pre-hospital Virtual Care in BC, Canada: What’s the case for remote blood testing and monitoring? by Prof Kendall Ho (University of British Columbia)
• The power of standards in digital health by Emma Glass (British Standards Institution, BSI)
• The Future of Blood Testing for Digital Remote Care from Home for Precision Healthcare and Predictive Medicine by Dr Hector Zenil (King’s College London)
• Data for developing diagnostics: measuring, protecting, analysing data by Dr Mark Preston (Prismea Limited)
• The future of high quality immunoassay data- Certimmune by Dr Andrea Tattersall (Revvity)
• Ageing and Health: Genetic, epigenetic, and external influences by Dr Archana Sharma-Oates (University of Birmingham)
• BIOVIT: AI-Powered, Bio-Based Personalised Nutrition Matched to an Individual’s Micronutrient Metabolism Type by Eimear Sutton and Ky Wright (BioVit)
• Smart Portable and Fast Acute Myocardial Infarction Detection Device for Ambulance Crew Use by Dr Xinli Du (Brunel University London)
• Innovation in rehabilitation technologies through multimodal blood analysis by Dr Jessie Howell and Nicole Hall (University of Strathclyde)
• OxonFair: A Flexible Toolkit for Algorithmic Fairness by Dr Zihao Fu (University of Oxford)
• Squishing Biology to Advance Healthcare: A Journey from Saliva to Blood by Dr Robert Barker (University of Kent)

Launch of the UK Laboratory Landscape Report:

A cornerstone of the Network’s achievements and future opportunities, the UK Laboratory Landscape Report, The State of UK Diagnostics Post-COVID: Piecing Together the Landscape was presented by Prof Dimitris Grammatopolous (University of Warwick and UHCW NHS Trust). This comprehensive report provides a detailed analysis of the sector, tackling critical challenges such as funding, cost-saving opportunities through fit-for-purpose services, staff shortages, and the adoption of innovation. It also outlines key drivers for improvement and underscores the importance of enhanced collaboration among stakeholders to deliver high-quality, accessible diagnostics for all.

Featured Sessions: Day 2 also showcased a vibrant mix of keynote speakers, panel discussions, and engaging interactive sessions.

The topics addressed on day 2:

• Experience of developing a tool based on multimodal machine learning for the triage of referrals from general practice to a specialist rheumatology unit by Dr Anthony Bradlow (Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust)
• Remote monitoring in Rheumatology by Dr Antoni Chan (Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust)
• Online health communities: The good, the bad, and the ugly by Prof Phillip Wu (Royal Holloway University of London)
• The future regulation of IVDs in the UK by Stuart Angell (IVDeology Ltd)
• Digital Med Tech as an enabler for Precision Medicine by David Browning (Precision Health Technologies Accelerator)
• Wearable and Implantable Optical Biosensors in Medical and Healthcare Applications by Dr Chenyang He (University of Nottingham)
• Introducing Reading Health Data Institute by Dr William Flannery (Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust)

Panel Discussion on Healthcare’s Future Workforce:

The panel, co-organized by the World of Work Institute (WOWI) and led by Prof Keiichi Nakata, featured a diverse group of experts. Dr Melissa Carr and Lisa Barclay represented WOWI, alongside Prof Kendall Ho offering an international perspective, Prof Phillip Wu representing academia, and Lucy Lehane from industry.

The panel explored how digital health is reshaping the future of work in healthcare, focusing on improving the quality of life for healthcare workers. Discussions highlighted opportunities for workforce redistribution and diversification through new skills, inclusive hiring practices, and the creation of roles within the healthcare technology sector.

The audience actively engaged with the panelists, discussion topics about equity, diversity, and inclusion. Panelists emphasized the critical need for retraining, delved into ethical and governance challenges surrounding technology use, and shared insights on strategies for managing organizational change through strong and effective leadership.

Networking Opportunities:

The event facilitated extensive networking opportunities, with dedicated sessions for professionals to exchange ideas and forge new collaborations. Attendees praised the open and inclusive atmosphere, which encouraged the sharing of knowledge across disciplines and sectors.

Reflections and Future Directions:

Closing remarks from Network+ leaders emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration and innovation to meet the evolving needs of healthcare systems. Attendees were encouraged to build on the insights gained during the conference to drive impactful changes in their respective fields. The Network+ reaffirmed its commitment to fostering ongoing partnerships and dialogue through future events and research initiatives.

The conference reaffirmed the commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and multidisciplinary approaches in shaping the future of blood testing and digital health.

We extend our gratitude to all speakers and participants for their contributions to the success of this conference.