News

Medical Innovation and Technology Summit first for Northern Ireland

The world of medical technology looks confidently towards Northern Ireland this April when the inaugural Medical Innovation and Technology Summit (MITS) will take place in Belfast.

New cross-border health initiative to create an all-island healthcare SME network to tackle tech implementation and adoption in hospital healthcare

Supported by InterTradeIreland’s Synergy initiative, the All-Island MedTech SMEs (AIMS) is being delivered by Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) and the Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI).

HIRANI Westminster Visit

HIRANI attended the launch event in Westminster for two new strategic reports from CPI, ABHI and Cambridge Design Partnership arising from feedback from GB and NI HealthTech SMEs who were successful in obtaining funding with the Innovate UK Health Technology Regulatory and Innovation Programme (HealthTrip) Programme.

New Year Investment News

An investment of £1.55 million into female-founded Belfast-based IT firm Kinsetsu means 100 Northern Ireland companies have now benefitted from investments of nearly £43m since the Co-Fund NI programme began in 2011.

Christmas Meetup

We would like to invite you to our next HIRANI Pulse networking event! Come join us at Diaceutics (Kings Hall Health and Wellbeing Park) for an evening of festive informal networking drinks and nibbles.

Digital Innovation for Healthy Ageing, addressing social isolation and loneliness

A number of Northern Ireland institutions and organisations joined forces in 2021 to take a multisectoral approach to address social isolation and loneliness as part of Connected Places Catapult’s Homes for Healthy Ageing programme.

HIRANI Networking Event

We would like to invite you to our third HIRANI Pulse networking event! Come join us at Ulster University Magee for an evening of informal networking drinks and nibbles.

**NOW CLOSED** Deadline for the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme Extended

The NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP) have been approached by several applicants asking for a deadline extension due to clinical and other commitments. They understand how busy you are working in the NHS, therefore have decided to extend the application deadline to 11pm on Sunday 6th November 2022.

Launch of HIRANI/NICON/the ABPI Health and Wealth report at #NICON22

An independent report published today (18/10/22) has highlighted the need for a shared, vision, mission, and purpose by NI policy makers to supercharge the health innovation ecosystem.

NHS Clinical Entrepreneurs Belfast Pit Stop

The NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme is now open (until 30th October) and allows HSC staff, students studying healthcare degrees and post graduate students in any discipline related to health innovation (including health data, bio-engineering etc) to develop on an innovative idea which will benefit the wider patient and staff community throughout the HSC.

Forging Partnerships for Health and Wealth

HIRANI and ABHI have also established the NI HealthTech Leaders’ Forum, an alliance of health technology leaders who will raise the profile of HealthTech and address obstacles that limit positive benefits to health and social care transformation and economic growth.

The NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme

The NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme allows HSC staff and students studying healthcare degrees to develop on an innovative idea which will benefit the wider patient and staff community throughout the HSC.

Health & Economy opportunities for Northern Ireland

HIRANI, along with partners ABPI and NICON recently hosted a webinar looking at a health and economy partnership for Northern Ireland.

Sterilising Plastic Film

Researchers have developed a first-of-its-kind self-sterilising plastic film that can kill viruses that land on its surface with room light.

Life sciences superpower

HIRANI has welcomed the ABPI "Life Sciences Superpower" report.

Clinical Entrepreneurs first for NI

HIRANI are delighted to announce that seven innovative entrepreneurs from across Northern Ireland have been offered places on the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme.

Homes for Healthy Ageing

We were delighted to be at the  Europa Hotel in Belfast to hear from a consortium working on the latest innovations to improve the health, wellbeing and independence of older adults facing social isolation and loneliness and  in Northern Ireland.

GRIT Accelerator winner

Dr Susan Kelly founder of NI company, Aflo, has been selected for the IBM award at the GRIT International Female Accelerator pitching ceremony.

Regulatory Advocate needed now

The UK Government has released a response to the recent MHRA consultation on the regulation of medical devices.

First NI participants in FLIER programme

HIRANI are delighted to announce that for the first time, two people from NI have been accepted onto the Future Leaders in Innovation, Enterprise, and Research (FLIER) programme.

Strategic partnership as Sonrai in the news again!

Sonrai Analytics, an emerging Belfast-based innovator in Artificial Intelligence (AI) data discovery, and California-based IV BioHoldings (IVBH), an innovative precision health company focusing in the area of liquid biopsy, today announced a strategic partnership to accelerate early detection of diseases with poor clinical outcomes.

Opportunities for progress

Health Minister Robin Swann has welcomed plans to rebuild levels of clinical research paused as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pandemic led to career pivot

Sian Farrell, is co-founder and chief scientific officer at start-up company, StimOxygen, which is developing a potential treatment for cancer patients.

Diagnostics post-COVID19: what's needed and what are the opportunities?

Panel discussion focused on how COVID-19 has changed diagnostics and what opportunities might lie ahead for clinical practice, research and industry.

Northern Ireland offers a unique health and life sciences opportunity to the UK

This sector has been recognized as a high growth area, but the current uncertainty and lack of a clear regulatory strategy is taking its toll.

Medicines Discovery Catapult Virtual Visit to NI

The visit was organized by the Health Innovation Research Alliance NI (HIRANI) along with Innovate UK in partnership with Invest NI, Catalyst and Matrix. It was also supported by NWCAM (North West Centre for Advanced Manufacturing).

Fireside chat: Advanced medicines

Linking up gene therapy capabilities and opportunities in Northern Ireland and beyond

Healthy Ageing - opportunities through innovation and collaboration

This panel debate discusses opportunities for innovation and collaboration in the Life and Health Sciences sector including pathways of care, healthcare infrastructure, the challenges of an ageing population, trade, investment, funding and much more!

New health alliance aims to improve the quality of health of our citizens and boost local economy

Ulster University in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast and key Northern Ireland partners have launched the ‘Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland’ (HIRANI).