Brighton launches Health Innovation Hub to tackle health challenges

The University of Brighton has unveiled its groundbreaking new Health Innovation Hub, a strategic initiative designed to reshape health research, education, and practice by addressing critical health challenges through collaboration, innovation, and education. 

The launch event on Friday 22 November was attended by The Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology. 

The Health Innovation Hub is designed to be a catalyst for positive change both locally and beyond. By uniting experts from diverse fields like healthcare, science, and engineering with community and business leaders, the Hub aims to accelerate the development and implementation of innovative solutions to some of the biggest healthcare challenges. 

The Hub will offer a wide range of services and initiatives, including:

• cutting-edge training and education: from professional qualifications to short courses and bespoke programmes, the Hub will provide flexible training opportunities to equip the next generation of healthcare professionals
• real-world testing ground: new health products and technologies will be rigorously tested in real-world settings, ensuring their effectiveness and safety
• community-focused outreach: the Hub will collaborate with local communities to address pressing health challenges, such as inequalities, workforce shortages, and emerging health issues
• enhanced healthcare services: the University will become a hub for community-clinical services, co-designed with the community to meet their specific needs
• inspiring future generations: the Hub will work with schools to promote health and wellness, offering outreach programmes and support for school health services.

By fostering collaboration, innovation, and community engagement, the Hub will drive advancements in healthcare, improve public health, and inspire future generations of health professionals.

At the launch event at the University’s Falmer campus, The Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP delivered a keynote speech praising the University’s initiative and emphasised the importance of co-creation and regional collaboration in driving health innovation.

He said: “You will have a real champion in me for the work you’re doing here. The future of universities is to be playing much more of a leadership role in bringing people together in areas up and down our country. That’s where the innovation is going to come from, it’s where the economic growth is going to come from, and it’s where the opportunities are to get growth into parts of the country that aren’t currently meeting their economic, social or scientific potential right now.”

He added: “Universities bring something to the table which is quite unique. They focus on opportunities for new research, they harvest the investment that’s out there in the private sector and in other sectors and they bring it together in a way that allows real magic to happen.”

Professor Rusi Jaspal, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Exchange) said:  “The University of Brighton has a strong track record in health research and education. The Health Innovation Hub is groundbreaking and builds on our commitment to improve health outcomes in our communities by fostering collaboration across sectors.

“The Hub demonstrates the leading role that the University of Brighton will play in tackling healthcare challenges, improving lives, and fostering regional impact. It also exemplifies the power of collaboration in driving forward health innovation – none of us can do this alone. By integrating expertise from diverse disciplines and sectors, we are in an excellent position to make a real difference to health.”

The launch of the Health Innovation Hub marks a significant step forward for the University of Brighton’s commitment to improving health through innovation and collaboration. The Hub will continue to develop its programmes and partnerships, offering a dynamic space for co-creation and knowledge exchange to address and provide practical solutions to local and global health challenges through partnership.

For more information visit the Health Innovation Hub web page, or contact the Knowledge Exchange team at: knowledgeexchange@brighton.ac.uk.