NIHR Innovation Observatory

NIHR Innovation Observatory Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from NIHR Innovation Observatory, Medical Research Center, Catalyst, Newcastle upon Tyne.

The NIHR Innovation Observatory is a world leading health and care horizon scanning centre, providing data-driven insights to foster innovation and equitable access to high-quality care, hosted at Newcastle University.

08/05/2026

Ahead of National Children's Day this weekend…

We’ve been listening to children and young people, working with groups connected to Young Person’s Advisory Group North England, Newcastle Foodbank, and Great North Youth Forum.

Today, we’re sharing what happens when we do that properly. Take a look at our animation produced by Yellow Mouse Studios Ltd 👇
📽️ https://youtu.be/rsZSccJkTgo?si=2y_TK6JMtSTYM_7F

If we’re serious about involving children and young people in shaping the future of health and care, we need to change how we work, not just what we say.

And more on what we’ve learned along the way, our blog written by Emily Hunter and Niina Kolehmainen 👇
📝https://io.nihr.ac.uk/news/listening-deeply-involving-children-in-shaping-the-future-of-health-and-care/

Newcastle University National Institute for Health and Care Research Newcastle Foodbank Yellow Mouse Studios Ltd

💬 We’re kids and we’re the real experts in what matters to us 💬We talk a lot about insight in health and care. About evi...
06/05/2026

💬 We’re kids and we’re the real experts in what matters to us 💬

We talk a lot about insight in health and care. About evidence, engagement, and the future.

But what if the real experts have been in the room all along?

This week, in the lead up to National Children's Day on 10th May, we’re sharing what happens when children and young people are not just included, but genuinely involved in shaping the future.

We'll be sharing more over the next few days... 👀

Newcastle University National Institute for Health and Care Research Newcastle Foodbank

18/03/2026

Listening first: Launching our horizon scan animation

Listening to lived experience can change how innovation is identified and prioritised.

Today, as part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we’re proud to launch a new animation exploring how neurodivergent young people helped shape a horizon scan identifying emerging digital interventions that could support their wellbeing and mental health.

Delivered in partnership between NIHR Innovation Observatory and Leaders Unlocked, the project brought together researchers and neurodivergent young leaders to explore what meaningful digital support could look like.

Together we discussed:
💡 what helps support wellbeing
💡what is missing from current support systems
💡 what digital tools young people would actually want to use
💡 what design features matter most

These insights helped ensure our horizon scan focused on the right areas, strengthening the relevance of the innovations we identified

🎬 Animation created by Mike Choo.

National Institute for Health and Care Research Newcastle University

📄 New Article PublishedOur latest article, “Development of the Kunonga framework for operationalising approaches to heal...
19/01/2026

📄 New Article Published

Our latest article, “Development of the Kunonga framework for operationalising approaches to health inequality and/or inequity evidence syntheses”, is now published in BMC journals.

The paper introduces the Kunonga Framework, a practical, structured approach to help researchers systematically address health inequalities and inequities in evidence synthesis. By embedding intersectionality and a life-course perspective across key stages of the process, the framework supports a clearer understanding of who benefits from health interventions and helps inform fairer, more equitable health and care policy.

🖊 Authors: Patience Kunonga, Eugenie Evelynne Johnson, Pauline Addis, Elizabeth Westhead, Peter Bower, Barbara Hanratty and Dawn Craig

📄 Read the article: https://ow.ly/eXeo50XZwgp

Newcastle University National Institute for Health and Care Research

📘 New report published: Emerging applications of quantum computing technology in healthcareOur latest horizon scan explo...
12/01/2026

📘 New report published: Emerging applications of quantum computing technology in healthcare

Our latest horizon scan explores how quantum computing, from hardware and algorithms to AI and software, could transform healthcare. It maps technologies already on the market or in development, assesses their technology readiness, and highlights where real-world impact may emerge first.

👉 Key areas include molecular simulations, genomics, personalised medicine & AI
👉 Technologies identified across clinical trials, literature, media & funding sources
👉 Insights to support health systems and regulators in preparing for what’s next

Read the full report here: https://ow.ly/pf5F50XVvNU

✍️ Authors: Ross Fairbairn, Oshin Sharma, Imogen Forsythe, Oleta Williams, Elizabeth Green,
Andrew Mkwashi

Newcastle University National Institute for Health and Care Research

🗣️Keynote Speaker Announcement 🗣️We’re pleased to announce Dr Miriam Albers as a keynote speaker at the CORE Information...
08/01/2026

🗣️Keynote Speaker Announcement 🗣️

We’re pleased to announce Dr Miriam Albers as a keynote speaker at the CORE Information Retrieval Forum 2026.

Dr Albers is Head of the Department Library at ZB MED, one of Europe’s leading specialist libraries for life sciences, with deep expertise in open access, scholarly publishing and strategic library leadership. She has played a central role in shaping the future direction of research information services through openness and collaboration.

🎤 Keynote title: OLSPub: An update on the OLSPub initiative (an alternative to PubMed)

✍️ Keynote synopsis: In this keynote, Miriam will challenge how we think about resilience in research infrastructure. Rather than focusing on fear, scale or dominance, she will explore how open, collaborative alternatives such as OLSPub can strengthen discovery, safeguard access to knowledge and offer credible new models for the future.

📅 Thursday 29 January 2026 | 📍 Newcastle upon Tyne | 🎟️ Free to attend

Register now 👉 https://core2026.oa-event.com/

National Institute for Health and Care Research Newcastle University Newcastle Helix The Catalyst

🗣️Keynote Speaker Announcement 🗣️We’re delighted to be joined by Julie Glanville at the CORE Information Retrieval Forum...
06/01/2026

🗣️Keynote Speaker Announcement 🗣️

We’re delighted to be joined by Julie Glanville at the CORE Information Retrieval Forum 2026.

Julie is a highly respected independent consultant in information retrieval, with over 30 years’ experience in systematic reviews. She is co-author of the Cochrane Handbook chapter on searching for evidence and co-manager of the ISSG Search Filter Resource and SuReInfo HTA handbook, resources that many of us rely on daily.

🎤 Keynote title: Developing searches to identify research evidence – what is the role of AI?

✍️Keynote synopsis: With AI tools for evidence identification evolving at pace, Julie will explore what the current research evidence tells us about using AI for search strategy development, search planning and study identification. From an evidence synthesis perspective, she’ll also address how we can evaluate AI tools and, crucially, how information specialists can keep up to date in this rapidly changing space.

📅 Thursday 29 January 2026 | 📍 Newcastle upon Tyne | 🎟️ Free to attend

Register now 👉 https://core2026.oa-event.com/

National Institute for Health and Care Research Newcastle University Newcastle Helix The Catalyst

💡New Year. New Skills.💡🎓 Newcastle University CPD: Horizon Scanning for Medicinal Products – March 2026We’re pleased to ...
05/01/2026

💡New Year. New Skills.💡

🎓 Newcastle University CPD: Horizon Scanning for Medicinal Products – March 2026

We’re pleased to deliver Newcastle University's upcoming CPD course on horizon scanning for medicinal products, led by Dr Sarah Khan, a leading expert in medicines horizon scanning at the NIHR Innovation Observatory

Across three online sessions (3, 5 & 10 March 2026), participants will develop practical skills to:

💡Understand core concepts and influencing factors in horizon scanning
💡Identify credible sources for medicinal-product horizon scans
💡Translate findings into actionable outputs (e.g. data tables, briefings)
💡Complete a horizon scan tailored to their own professional area

Ideal for professionals in health research, policy, regulation and life sciences who want to anticipate future medicines and their impact.

More information and to register here👉 https://ow.ly/O0Rc50XxouR

National Institute for Health and Care Research

⭐Meet our Keynote Speakers⭐We have two exciting keynote speakers lined up for the CORE Information Retrieval Forum 2026!...
10/12/2025

⭐Meet our Keynote Speakers⭐

We have two exciting keynote speakers lined up for the CORE Information Retrieval Forum 2026!

🙌Julie Glanville – A leading information retrieval specialist with over 30 years’ experience in systematic reviews, co-author of the Cochrane Handbook chapter on searching for evidence and co-manager of the ISSG Search Filter Resource.

🙌Dr Miriam Albers – Head of the ZB MED Library and expert in strategic library management, open access and academic publishing, bringing deep insight into the future of information services.

We return on Thursday 29 January 2026 at The Catalyst, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK! This FREE in-person event sponsored by the NIHR Methodology Incubator and NIHR Innovation Observatory, both hosted at Newcastle University, welcomes information professionals from across disciplines to share knowledge, research and experience in a day of learning, discussion and collaboration.

Submit your abstract (oral, poster or workshop) under one of our five key themes. All information for the event here ➡️ https://ow.ly/eZNp50WYaRl

Newcastle University National Institute for Health and Care Research Newcastle Helix

🎓 Newcastle University CPD: Horizon Scanning for Medicinal Products – March 2026We’re pleased to deliver Newcastle Unive...
03/12/2025

🎓 Newcastle University CPD: Horizon Scanning for Medicinal Products – March 2026

We’re pleased to deliver Newcastle University's upcoming CPD course on horizon scanning for medicinal products, led by Dr Sarah Khan, a leading expert in medicines horizon scanning at the NIHR Innovation Observatory

Across three online sessions (3, 5 & 10 March 2026), participants will develop practical skills to:

💡Understand core concepts and influencing factors in horizon scanning
💡Identify credible sources for medicinal-product horizon scans
💡Translate findings into actionable outputs (e.g. data tables, briefings)
💡Complete a horizon scan tailored to their own professional area

Ideal for professionals in health research, policy, regulation and life sciences who want to anticipate future medicines and their impact.

More information and to register here👉 https://ow.ly/O0Rc50XxouR

National Institute for Health and Care Research

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Catalyst
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE45TG

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Wednesday 9am - 5pm
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