#179 - When you need something done right...💪
#179 - When you need something done right...💪
The one-minute healthtech roundup
Hi friends,
This week: There’s a fresh new fund for women’s, children’s and adolescent’s health, our focus on data could hinder the rollout of healthcare AI, and apparently we print tumours now?
News Bites 🥪
👩💻 Women-owned venture capital firm bags US$90m for inaugural fund – Fresh off McKinsey’s report on the $1tn opportunity in women’s health, there’s a new fund in town investing in women’s, children’s and adolescent health through what they call ‘a gender lens’.
🖨️ Edinburgh startup making 3D-printed tumours raises £4.2m – If, like Pigeon, you also read the headline and asked ‘but, why?’....then keep reading – It’s for a good cause.
💰 Virtual ward costs twice that of inpatient care, study finds – Misleading study or indictment of virtual wards as a concept? This one’s been doing the rounds and we’d love to get a conclusive answer as to the merits of the study. The answer, Pigeon suspects, is somewhere in between – particularly given how positively patients have been shown to feel about virtual ward tech (for obvious reasons).
🍯 Blair Institute calls for public-private NHS Data Trust – When you combine the current high standards of public discourse around private access to NHS data with Tony Blair’s status as the human embodiment of a jar of marmite*, it takes a special level of chutzpah to publicly champion initiatives like these. With the right safeguards, Pigeon’s not overtly against the idea – but if anything was likely to turn people against it, it might have been this.
📊 Data-Focused Strategy May Hinder Generative AI Deployment in Healthcare – Everybody wants to use AI, which means everybody wants data. Apparently they’re less bothered about governance, bias, and trust – which means the data probably won’t work, and nor will the AI. Luckily none of this matters, because we’ve got to crack the old interoperability chestnut first**.
🤖 The robot will see you now: AI units could ease pressure on NHS — Healthcare leaders: ‘Hey team, we’ve finally done it. A solution to the workforce crisis. Our troubles are over. It’s here. It’ll be ready this year.’
Healthcare workers: What is it? New funding? Better pay? More staff? Better conditions and investment in infrastructure? TELL US!’
Healthcare leaders: ‘Way better. It’s a socially pertinent robot.’
Healthcare workers: ‘But we only installed the penguins three months ago…’’
🔬 IMU Biosciences Raises Millions in Series A Funding Round – If you’ve ever wondered what your immune system looks like, then you’ll love this story (and you’re clearly a deeper thinker than Pigeon) – IMU’s AI-based CytAtlas platform is profiling the human immune system to transform precision medicine, and it’s picked up £11.5m to keep going.
📲 Wearable device monitors tumour size and displays it in an app – If there’s ever information I’d prefer my doctor present to me directly rather than see it in real-time, the size of a tumour is probably it. Nonetheless, the tracking technology is impressive. With wider testing and development, the implications for accessibility of cancer care could be significant.What to listen to 🔊
What will happen if doctors can’t use WhatsApp? - If WhatsApp withdrew from the UK market, Pigeon would lose access to some group chats from a house party in 2012 and would likely become even more shut off from the world. Pigeon assumes the impact would (probably) be far greater for Doctors. But should they be using it in the first place?
What to listen to 🔊
🐦 The Healthtech Pigeon Podcast — Join Jessica and Huw as they take a deep-dive into the week’s healthtech news and views, joined by DocComs CEO Roseanna Jaggard.
🔊 The Healthtech Podcast #335 Turning a parent's worst nightmare into impact and joy, with Dom Raban from Xploro — SomX’s Jessica Smith makes her hosting debut for this throwback episode. Dom shares his belief in gamification as a means to education, and the importance of addressing fundamental needs before developing complex technology.
Less than a month to go…
After 300+ episodes, the Healthtech Podcast comes to BFI Southbank on 29th February for its first-ever public live recording, and we’ve got some super special guests …
We’ll be joined by Dr Helen O'Neill, CEO and Founder of Hertility and Dr Karan Rajan, myth-busting social media star and Number 1 Sunday Times Bestseller.
Book your ticket now and don’t miss the conversation. Use code ‘COOCOO40’ for a special pigeon discount.
Events 📅
Mastering the Art of Bid Writing in Healthcare: Expert Tips & Tricks
🕣 6 February
📍 Online
Womens Health Tech Wednesday | Paulina Cecula, Dama Health
🕣 14 February
📍 Online
London Biotechnology Show
🕣 20 February
📍 Olympia West, London
Bringing Software as a Medical Device to Market - HDR UK x Hardian Health
🕣 21 & 22 February
📍 Wellcome Trust, Euston Road, London
HETT North
🕣 28 February
📍 Manchester
HealthTechX Summit 2024
🕣 28 February - Use HTX24SMITH for 30% off your ticket
📍 The Hurlingham Club, London
Digital Health Rewired
🕣 12-13 March
📍 The NEC, Birmingham
HLTH Europe 2024
🕣 17-20 June - Full agenda now released - save €€€ when you book before Feb 9! Use HE24_PIGEON for €150 off!
📍 RAI Convention Centre, Amsterdam
Opportunities 🕵️♀️
🎬 Director, Digital Healthcare, Electronic Patient Record Transformation, KPMG — Dab hand with the ol’ EPR integration? Now’s the chance to put that experience to work on behalf of a big four player that’s got a pretty big rep in the healthcare space.
䷌ Policy Fellow in Digital Health, Imperial College London — You realise that digital health isn’t just a nice to have, it’s an essential piece of the health map, and policy discussions reflect that. You also want to work at Imperial College. Congratulations, you’ve found your new job.
🧾 Director of Clinical Business Development, Biofidelity — As a sector, we’re doing more and more with genomic testing and it’s increasingly shaping how we treat complex conditions. If you’re a clinical BD specialist with oncology is experience, then go be a part of it.
🚚Senior Programme Delivery Manager (Health Informatics), Health Innovation East — Excited by the idea of building secure environments for health data? the Health Innovation East team share your feelings and are looking for someone just like you.
*For Pigeon’s international friends, this is purely a reference to either loving or hating something. It is not suggesting he’s short, stout and full of sticky liquid.
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Got news, jobs or events you think is worth coo-ing over? Let us know! Email us: news@healthtechpigeon.com
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