NHS Innovation Accelerator 2026 Launch
The NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA) brings together the people, evidence, and insight needed to make innovation work in real-world settings.
Since 2015, the NIA has built a strong track record of spreading innovation at pace and scale having supported 140 innovations. Now, 3,500 NHS sites are using NIA innovations and they have reach over 10 million patients.
The 2026 cohort continues this legacy, bringing solutions to some of the system’s most pressing challenges and contributing to a more sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready NHS.
13:00 – Welcome
Introduction from Chris Laing, CEO at UCLPartners, who will host our launch.
13:10 – Innovator pitches: Round 1
90 second flash pitches from:
Majid Akram, Philip Blything, Ranadip Chatterjee, Elle Clarke, Olivia Collier, Laura Corcoran, Natasha Davendralingam, Ali Jawad, Paul Jewell, Naveen Keerthi and Dongli Li.
13:40 – Panel discussion: A decade of health innovation and the future
Learning from the last 10 years to inform the next decade of heath innovation 
Discussion chaired by Chris Laing (CEO, UCLPartners) alongside panellists:
Mayur Vibhuti (GP & CCIO, NHS Kent and Medway ICB),
Lindsey Hughes (Director of Research & Engagement, Innovation Research and Life Sciences Group and AAC, NHSE) and,
Dr Elina Naydenova (CEO & Co-Founder, Feebris).
14:15 – Innovator pitches: Round 2
90 second flash pitches from:
Andrew Darby-Smith, Abigail Lishman, Saran Muthiah, Hannah Nearney, Pahini Pandya, Joseph Salam, Hector Smethurst, Annie Taylor, Anu Balaji Thambi Raja, Jennifer Turner, Carl-Magnus von Behr and Philip Wallek.
15:00 – Networking & close
NHS Innovation Accelerator Co-Directors Jack Porter and Mindy Simon close the launch event and welcome you to join us at our networking event next to the PWC Networking Lounge.
Meet the 2026 fellows
The 2026 NIA fellows are a diverse group of leaders, clinicians, entrepreneurs, and researchers united by a shared mission to improve health and care through innovation. From tackling health inequalities to harnessing cutting-edge technology, their solutions are already making a difference across the NHS. Explore their work and see how they are driving change at scale.
