#248 - AI vs. the Mosquitos
The one-minute healthtech roundup, brought to you by SomX.
Hey friends,
This week: New funding for rapid STI tests, AI to stop the spread of malaria and the death knell from the doctor’s letter.
Your friends all listen to podcasts. Feel like you’re in on the conversation by listening to the Healthtech Pigeon podcast ➡️ SomX’s Jessica Somauroo and Amy Thomas dive into the weeks’ healthtech stories. Available now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
News Bites 🥪
🫦 New funding boosts development of rapid test for sexually transmitted infections. Birmingham’s sexual health spinout Linear Diagnostics’ Exponential Amplification (EXPAR) technology detects bacterial DNA related to STIs using an ultra fast method, quicker than you can say “call me an Uber”. Now all we need is a robot to manage the awkward call to previous partners.
🤖 NHS aims to carry out 500,000 robot-assisted operations a year by 2035 to help cut waiting lists – Latest predictions suggest 9 in 10 keyhole surgeries will be performed using robot-assisted techniques over the next decade to cut elective waiting times. In future, when someone says, “Is there a doctor in the house?”—the answer might be, “No, but there’s a robot in the theatre!”
🦟 Scientists use AI in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases – University of South Florida is developing an innovative "smart trap" that uses AI to identify disease-carrying mosquitoes in real time. We all know that a mozzie bite is no joke, but some are more deadly than others. This AI imaging technology can pinpoint the mosquito species capable of transmitting malaria to humans by distinguishing between different types of species. Finally, the bugs are the ones getting caught off guard!
👠Public health bodies urged to launch period tracking apps to protect data – A shocking new report by Cambridge Minderoo’s Centre for Technology and Democracy warns that women’s personal data is at risk of being siphoned off by private companies using period tracker apps. There is no question that personal data leaks are a serious matter, and it's clear something needs to be done to avoid a data-driven version of PMS.
🤑 Healthtech merger: Pyx Health acquires FarmboxRx in $47.5m deal This multi-million pound merger will see Pyx Health combine its focus on social isolation with FarmboxRx’s mission to provide food security to people with specific health conditions. At a time when adult loneliness and food insecurity are increasingly on the rise, this new partnership will enable their customers to have a bit more than tea and sympathy.
💰 £10 billion on tech and digital transformation. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announces The Chancellor has announced £29 billion investment in the NHS, with up to £10 billion set aside for tech and digital transformation. This has been a longstanding issue for the health service, and any funding increase to turn this into a reality is certainly welcome. Pigeon thinks that, if this goes well, the next NHS chatbots might actually understand what “it hurts everywhere” means!
🧑⚕️Health Secretary to unveil 'death of the doctor's letter' in digital first switch to help slash NHS postage bills It seems that the dreaded doctors' letter coming through the letter box will soon become a thing of the past thanks to Wes Streeting’s decision to slash postage bills by switching to a digital first system of patient communication via the NHS app. While Pigeon personally won’t miss the ominous thud of his blood test result coming through the door, there is real danger that this move could leave less tech-savvy patients like the elderly and vulnerable out of the loop.
What to listen to 🔊
Events 📅
SPONSORED EVENT: VC-Founder Health Tech Matchup (online)
SOSV (a multi-stage deep tech VC firm with 100+ investments in human health), is running a VC-Founder Health Tech Matchup — a free, fully virtual week-long matchmaking event running from June 23–27, 2025 where participants can arrange short intro meetings after reviewing detailed founder / investor profiles.
Investors can expect to discover months-worth of targeted deal flow.
Founders can find relevant VCs for future funding.
The last Health Tech Matchup in 2024 had over 1000 attendees!
🔥 Early registration means prime visibility. Save your spot now.
FEATURED: HLTH Europe starts TOMORROW
If your FOMO has reached a crescendo, all may not be lost. There were still tickets when Pigeon hit ‘send’ on the newsletter, so if you’re still keen to go, here’s one final nudge -HE25_SOMX250 gets lovely 250 euros off your ticket. What are you waiting for?!
FEATURED: SomX Healthtech Talks is back with a bang for a special (and important) conversation - June 30th, 2025, Google Tottenham Court Rd Office, London.
Pigeon was as shocked as everyone else when they arrived (almost) late to April’s event to find snaking queues out of the door - with the line up the SomX team have in store for this one, this is definitely a discussion you’ll want to be a part of. And yes - they’re keeping you guessing for a bit longer because as the saying goes, a little bit of mystery keeps the spark alive ✨
As they continue to work on securing a whole stadium (apparently Bey takes priority atm…) tickets are still super limited, so register your interest ASAP.
FEATURED: The Glastonbury of Healthtech is coming to Oxfordshire! Join us at THE FIX! - September 18th, 2025, Harwell Science Campus
Tickets are flying off the shelves (shelves are a metaphor, but the sales are real) for this healthtech festival like no other. WIth a bunch of new partners onboard, and a host of existing sessions planned (we’re trying to work out what an NHS reverse pitch is!) and a former government health minister on DJ duties (don’t worry, he’s got the chops), it’s probably not one to miss. Use the code SOMX15 for 15% off your ticket price.
8th NHS Virtual Wards Summit: Embracing Hospitals at Home
⏰ June 17
📍 Manchester
AI in Healthcare: Innovations in Medical Diagnosis
⏰June 19
📍 University of Hertfordshire
Healthtech Innovation & Clinical Safety: A Conversation with Women Leaders
⏰ June 24
📍 Online
Visit the SomX events page or subscribe to SomX’s events roundup to see all of the best upcoming healthtech, biotech and healthcare events.
Opportunities 🕵️♀️
⭐️ Account Manager / Senior Account Manager, SomX — Not that Pigeon is biased or anything, but this is one opportunity you’d definitely want to apply for! SomX are on the lookout for an Account Manager or Senior Account Manager with a passion for health innovation, a strong foundation in content-led communications, and a proven track record of managing integrated campaigns. Above all? Someone who is a storyteller and loves what they do! Sound like you, apply now! Pigeon might even put in a good word if you’re lucky.
🏥 Innovation Lead, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – Are you passionate about bringing innovation into clinical workflows? You’ll be working with one of the UK's biggest providers of integrated hospital and community-based healthcare providing services to the residents of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Mid Yorkshire and North Derbyshire.
🤝 Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Manager, HDR UK – Do you have experience in delivering patient engagement for large public sector organisations? Successful candidates will contribute to a vital UK-wide multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to facilitate a sector wide shift focused on establishing and advancing good practices for public involvement and engagement.
🔍 Senior Health Technology Assessment Analyst, NICE –Calling all Health Tecnology Assessment experts! The lucky applicant will be responsible for the technical aspects of the evaluation, including scoping the topic, liaising with the external assessment group, preparing drafts of guidance and advising the committee.
Got news, jobs or events you think is worth coo-ing over? Let us know! Email us: news@healthtechpigeon.com
Healthtech Pigeon is curated and produced by SomX, the communications and creative agency for healthcare. We are clinicians, scientists, creatives and communicators dedicated to serving our healthtech, biotech, pharma and public sector clients with services across strategy, content, PR, design, events and media production. Get in touch to learn more.