Fellowships

The Healthcare Science Innovation Fellowship Programme is an opportunity for qualified Healthcare Scientists working within the NHS in Wales, with at least 1 year of post-qualification experience.

The programme will provide experience of the innovation process that improve the care, diagnosis and monitoring of patients. The Fellowships will equip Fellows with the knowledge, skills and confidence for the development, evaluation and implementation of new technologies, and the ability to initiate and lead their own technology innovation projects in the future.

Fellows will have access to blended project–based and online learning and training resources and mentoring to undertake a technology innovation project relevant to their department. The Fellows will also have the opportunity to apply for financial support for project and training costs including attendance at national meetings.

Fellows are encouraged to look at projects through the prism of the NHS Long Term Plan, seeing the patient as a partner, and understanding their journey, and considering future health technology possibilities. Device regulation and standards will be introduced as enablers to the safe and effective introduction of new and emerging technologies. Methods for identifying and managing unmet needs will be introduced as a central methodology.

Testimonials

"The HCS Innovation Fellowship Programme turned a small idea into a big, multi-site NIHR-portfolio project. D4D are such a friendly, knowledgeable group who really encouraged me to develop both myself and my research. Plus, approaching stakeholders with an NIHR label (and some funding too!) opened so many doors. If you’re looking to innovate, no matter where you are in your career, then I can’t recommend the Fellowship enough."

Cohort 1 - Jamie Osborne, Principal Biochemist, POCT Clinical Lead

"The Innovation Fellowship is a fantastic opportunity for Healthcare Scientists to further develop their unique role and initiate and progress ideas that benefit patients and staff. In addition to providing generous support, expertise, legitimacy and mentoring, it has been a creator and enabler of further opportunities for our ‘Immersive Technology in Healthcare’ group. Involvement with the fellowship programme continues to be a brilliant source of peer support, knowledge, inspiration and enjoyment."

Cohort 1 - Darren Hart, Principal Clinical Scientist

“The innovation fellowship provided me with the platform and support that I needed to introduce an innovative test which would help improve the bladder cancer patient pathway.

From starting with the importance of identifying and understanding unmet user needs, to receiving feedback from patient/user focus groups to fine tune the service; all the stages in product and service development played a huge part in my learning journey which culminated in the publication of our work in the Journal of clinical Urology.

The tutorials and mentor support that I received from the whole team in every stage of product/service development was second to none.”

Cohort 1 - Muhammed Hussain Nawaz, Senior Specialist Biomedical Scientist

“The Fellowship has enabled me to boost my communication and leadership skills in healthcare science through the development of a project and the completion of an online learning programme. My project consists of the evaluation, adoption, and implementation of artificial intelligence-based auto-contouring solutions for photon and proton treatment planning. This could have huge potential to improve cancer patients’ outcomes and increase productivity in radiotherapy in the wider NHS”

Cohort 2 - Virginia Marin Anaya, Clinical Scientist

"The Fellowship is a fantastic opportunity to develop your personal innovation skillset and raise the profile of innovation work in your service. Devices for Dignity's process for innovation projects works across the range of healthcare fields and makes what can be a nebulous area of work easier to approach and communicate. Having access to the team’s expertise and support is a great motivator and timesaver. I would recommend it to any healthcare scientist interested in innovating!"

Cohort 2 - Laura Brown, Rehabilitation Engineer

"As an experienced scientist I highly recommend the Innovation Fellowship. Whatever stage you are at in your career, the team at D4D and the program that they offer is able to push you further. I have been able to collaborate with leading experts on the development and commercialisation of my ideas which will directly benefit patients and the department in which I work."

Cohort 3 - Dr Mark Hajjawi, Head Biomedical Scientist – Specialist Biochemistry, Immunology and POCT

"The Innovation Fellowship programme has been an invaluable experience, providing me with the resources and support needed to explore cutting-edge solutions for enhancing heart valvular disease diagnosis and management. The collaboration and mentorship have been instrumental in advancing our project and ultimately improving patient outcomes."

Cohort 3 - Can Zhou, Lead of Valve Disease

"My personal knowledge and understanding of innovation and what the holistic process must ultimately deliver to end-users has greatly developed through the fellowship program, with the associated fellowship project providing a fantastic opportunity to

enact my learning and demonstrate this progression. With vast collaborative knowledge and expertise, the ongoing engagement, support and extensive resources offered by the D4D team are invaluable in helping to deliver my desired innovation goals."

Michael Cahillane, Research Scientist

"The Innovation Fellowship has given me a great opportunity to explore research into an unmet need. It gives you the tools to take an idea from conception to implementation. The fellowship opens doors to new collaborations and networking opportunities. There is a focus on being patient centred and involving patients and participants throughout the whole process, to ensure a more effective outcome."

Cohort 3 - Myurah Nathan, Clinical Scientist

“Delivering a research project within the fellowship framework to enable diagnostic technology to be safely utilised where there is a clear clinical need, is a fantastic opportunity for healthcare scientists to make a real difference to our patients and clinical colleagues.”

Cohort 3 - Nicky Hollowood, Lead Healthcare Scientist, POCT Manager

“Patients and clinicians report considerable delays in obtaining final diagnosis (referred as ‘diagnostic odyssey’) in Lysosomal storage conditions. I highly recommend D4D for the HCS innovation fellowships and am extremely grateful for the opportunity investigating together with patients and stakeholders to achieve faster diagnosis with timely disease modifying treatment commencement and better outcomes. I have learnt about service development/improvement, made useful collaborations, and received excellent support from D4D regarding the innovation process.”