Health, Care and Life Sciences Research Group
With a health and social care system under increasing pressure and implementation of innovative solutions challenging; policy makers will have to move faster than ever to ensure the best possible outcomes. After the successes of our NHS Innovation and Life Sciences Commission in 2022 and the our Dementia Commission in 2023 we are considering the future of Health, Care and Life Sciences policy in the UK to support the NHS and UK Life Sciences industry.
Commission Team
Lord O'Shaughnessy
Co-Chairing this commission, James is one of the UK's leading policy advisors. He has operated at the highest levels of government, including as a Minister at the Department for Health & Social Care, as Director of the No.10 Policy Unit, and as an advisor to DHSC Ministers during the COVID-19 crisis.
Professor Mike Bewick
Co-Chairing this commission Professor Mike Bewick is a former deputy medical director of NHS England and has wide-ranging experience including planning, commissioning and providing services, leading clinical and management teams on a local, regional and national basis, and advising on policy for NHS England to the Secretary of State and Government Ministers.
Professor Gillian Leng CBE
Former Chief Executive at NICE, Professor Leng is a clinician by background, with experience in public health, healthcare, education and social care, in her current and previous roles she developed close working relationships with the life science industries, patient organisations, professional societies, academia, plus local and national government across the United Kingdom.
Dr Keith Ridge CBE
Former Chief Pharmaceutical Officer at NHS England and Department of Health and current visiting Professor at Imperial College London. While at NHS England Dr Ridge was Senior Responsible Officer for reducing inappropriate prescribing of antimicrobial in the UK AMR Strategy, and lead on issues such as medicines optimisation, digital medicines, pharmacy educational reform and transforming pharmacy practice in line with the NHS’s Five Year Forward View.
Professor Ann Keen
Ann Keen was Labour MP for Brentford and Isleworth from 1997-2010. Ann served on the Health Select Committee and became Health Minister in 2007 under Gordon Brown. In 2009–2010, Keen led the Prime Minister's independent commission on the future of nursing and midwifery in England, which resulted in the report "Front Line Care". Ann is also a Fellow of the Queen’s Nursing Institute.
Richard Stubbs
Chief Executive Officer at Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, and Chair of the national Health Innovation Network, Richard has over 20 years experience working in national and international roles, working with partners across the country and globally to tackle health inequality, positively influence the diversity and inclusion of the health sector and bring about commercial and philanthropic opportunities for UK PLC in international healthcare markets.
Dr Harpreet Sood
Dr Sood has worked at the intersection of technology and innovation and the impact of this on healthcare delivery and transformation. Harpreet's interest is in new models of primary care and the use of clinical data, innovation and AI enabled interventions in providing healthcare and diagnostics. The founder of two healthcare startups, Dr Sood is a practising primary care doctor with a unique perspective on healthcare innovation.
Neelam Patel
CEO of MedCity, the life sciences cluster organisation for London, set up in 2014 by the Mayor of London and the city’s three Academic Health Science Centres. Neelam is a leader with experience in the global pharmaceutical industry, the NHS and not-for-profit sector. A life science expert, strategy and business advisor.
Corinna Bull
Corinna is our primary policy consultant on this commiission. She has over a decade of experience working in the life sciences and health tech sector with companies from start-ups to Fortune 500 organisations. She has a strong belief that policy is an important first step to effect change, but for lasting transformation there must be continued scrutiny, accountability and learning. Only then can we ensure that innovations can benefit individuals.
Commission Posts
Putting Staff at the Heart of the NHS England New Hospital Build Programme
Curia delivered a ‘sprint’ roundtable designed to put staff at the heart of the New Hospital Build Programme. The discussion focused on several subjects related to putting staff at the forefront of change management as the NHS delivers new hospital design and digital transformation.
Inquiry 4: Improved Population Outcomes, Clinical Uptake and Adoption
Curia hosts its fourth inquiry session on Clinical Uptake, Adoption and Improved Population Outcomes,
Life Sciences Strategy Development: Investment, Jobs and Growth
Curia launches its Life Sciences Industrial Strategy with insights from top-level stakeholders in the sector. Following several meetings with Life Sciences sector stakeholders, policy institute
Levelling Up Meets Health and Wellbeing: The Key to Successful Lifelong Prosperity
The key to lifelong health, wellbeing and prosperity
A Clinically Led Life Sciences Industrial Strategy, Delivered with NHS Managers
‘A Clinically Led Approach and Delivery with NHS Managers’: Curia launches its Life Sciences Industrial Strategy.
Coalition Calls for Testing to Tackle Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance
A new coalition of industry and health charities, led by former Health Minister, Maggie Throup MP, raise the alarm over missed opportunities to tackle Antimicrobial Resistance in the UK.
The King’s Fund: A&E Performance Continues to Decline
The number of patients waiting more than 12 hours for a bed on a ward after being seen in A&E in England was 19 times higher this winter than it was before the pandemic, figures show.
£100 Million Awarded to Biotech Firms Across the UK
£100 million has been awarded to biotech firms across the UK to help pioneer new technologies that will help prepare for pandemics, innovate farming, and protect against floods.
Strategic Implementation of Digital Infrastructure in Healthcare
SSG is on a journey to enhance digital infrastructure by incorporating IP, POE, and VoIP technologies.
Labour’s New Life Sciences Plan: The Details
The Labour Party has unveiled its new Life Sciences sector plan which it claims will create thousands of jobs and inject growth into research and development investment.
Labour Plans £10 Billion Investment in UK Life Sciences
The Labour party has today published its plan for life sciences, aimed at transforming how medical treatments are discovered and delivered.
Brain Cancer Breakthrough: British Scientists Create World-first Blood Test
Surgeons and scientists in the UK have developed a blood test for brain cancer that could lead to diagnosis without invasive surgery, speed up treatment and boost survival rates.
Making the UK the Greatest Place to Grow Old: The Dementia Pledge Launch
At Westminster Abbey yesterday evening, attendees of the Dementia Pledge Launch gathered to demonstrate their support for fighting dementia and building support systems. The launch event was supported by Eli Lilly.
From Innovation to Impact: Accelerating the Impact of Precision Medicine in Breast Cancer Treatment
In this article, authors from IQVIA UK’s Real World Solutions discuss harnessing data to generate insights that accelerate the impact of precision medicine in breast cancer treatment.
An Equitable Approach is Imperative to Tackle Healthcare Inequalities
In an informative panel discussion at Chambers Midlands Integrated Healthcare Seminar, professionals across healthcare services spoke about an equitable approach to delivering services nationwide.
Revolutionising Dementia Care
Curia’s second Dementia Commission inquiry was split into three parts, with part one focusing on preventative action, part two focusing on evolving technologies, and part three focusing on improving engagement and tackling stigma.
Advancing Dementia Care: Exploring Future Technologies for Patients
Last year, the NHS Innovation and Life Sciences Commission held three inquiry sessions on dementia. The first focused on diagnostics and future technologies for dementia patients.
Junior Doctors Take Part in Longest Ever NHS Strike
The longest strike in the history of the NHS is getting under way as junior doctors take part in a six-day walkout.
A&E Department Closes due to Junior Doctors’ Strikes
The accident and emergency department at a hospital in the west of England is closed due to strike action by junior doctors.
What is the North-South Cancer Divide?
Researchers suggested that cuts to public health services, such as smoking cessation support, could have contributed to “astounding inequality” in cancer death risk.
Report Finds Climate Change will Exacerbate UK Health Inequalities
A report on the impact of climate change on health has revealed a widening in health inequalities. Those most disadvantaged such as women, all adults over 65, children and those with medical conditions are most vulnerable.
Millions of Young People Exposed to Vape Posts Online
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids claims companies are using “aggressive” tactics and that posts promoting smoking alternative nicotine and tobacco products had been viewed more than 3.4bn times across social media platforms.
New Report Shows Four in Ten People Living with Dementia Undiagnosed
A new Dementia Commission report led by former Health Minister, Lord James O’Shaughnessy sets out ways the government can tackle ‘alarming’ rates of undiagnosed dementia.
NHS England Rolls Out Pharmacy Reforms
As part of a major expansion of primary care services, thousands of women across England will be able to get the contraceptive pill at their
Revolutionary Daily Pill Cuts Breast Cancer Risk in Half
The NHS is set to introduce a daily pill that reduces the risk of breast cancer by half, offering women the opportunity to live “freedom from fear”.
NHS Patients Waiting Months Could Travel for Treatment
Patients who have been waiting more than 40 weeks for NHS treatment in England will be offered the option of getting seen in another part
Keir Starmer’s NHS Plan Requires a “Change in Culture”
Leader of the Labour party, Keir Starmer, has been told by Nursing union leaders that there will need to be a change in culture in the NHS if his plan to cut waiting lists is to work. In recent days, the Labour leader has said he would incentivise overtime more in a bid to bring soaring waiting lists down.
Rishi Sunak Defends Plan to Implement Smoking Ban for Younger Generation
The Government is set to introduce a groundbreaking legislation that will prohibit the sale of cigarettes in England to individuals who are 14 years old or younger as of this year. This move is part of an effort to pave the way for what is being termed as the first ‘smoke-free generation.’