NIHR chief scientific adviser visits Huddersfield health innovation campus
pharmafile | September 25, 2026 | News story | | Department of Health and Social Care, NHS, National Institute for Health and Care Research, University of Huddersfield
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), has visited the University of Huddersfield to discuss health research, innovation and the adoption of new technologies in the NHS.
During the visit to the university’s National Health and Innovation Campus, Professor Chappell met university leaders and Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber to discuss how research and development can be translated into adoption and scale-up for health businesses.
The discussions focused in particular on the Health Business Innovation Centre (HBIC), which supports pre- to early-stage and growing organisations developing health and well-being technologies. The centre is funded through the West Yorkshire Investment Zone and is modelled on the university’s 3M Buckley Innovation Centre.
Professor Chappell also visited facilities including laboratories used by the university’s radiography, dental hygiene and dental therapy courses, as well as the newly developed HBIC.
Professor Tim Thornton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Huddersfield, said the university valued NIHR support for existing research projects and saw opportunities to expand collaboration around innovation, adoption and impact.
Professor Chappell said the visit had highlighted innovation taking place across the university and its links with the local community.
“The Daphne Steele and Emily Siddon Buildings showcase a real commitment to collaboration, and the future of education and research, helping to improve patient health outcomes,” she said.
The National Health and Innovation Campus brings together university, NHS and industry activity, with Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber among its partners.
Richard Stubbs, Chief Executive of Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber, said the organisation’s presence at HBIC demonstrated the potential of having the NHS, academia and industry working alongside one another.
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