Accelerating FemTech: Manchester – Inspiring the improvement of women’s experience of health through technology

On Tuesday 13^th June, innovators, academics and clinicians in the women’s health space came together for the in-person event “Accelerating FemTech: Manchester - Inspiring the improvement of women’s experience of health through technology”. 

This event was the first of three face-to-face events as part of the Accelerating FemTech initiative, which aims to support innovators to boost the development of technology solutions to address current challenges in women’s health. Accelerating FemTech is being delivered by the Health Innovation Network and partners, including: Academic Health Science Networks, CW Innovation and others, utilising Innovate UK funding as part of the Biomedical Catalyst in collaboration with the Medical Research Council.

This event was hosted by Mills & Reeve in partnership with Health Innovation Manchester and Charlotte Lewis, Principal Associate at Mills & Reeve, opened the event before handing over to the speakers. A wide range of experts presented on the day including:

• Liz Ashall Payne, Founding CEO of ORCHA who spoke about empowering women’s health through digital solutions
• Sarah Cordery, Director of Kuppd, a new breast prosthesis brand, showcased their collaboration with academic institutions to use innovative 3D body scanning to help understand more about the shape of the area of the body affected by breast cancer surgery.
• Then came a panel discussion featuring Zoe Wright, Midwife and CEO of The Real Birth Company, and Caroline Finch, Programme Development Lead - Patient Safety Collaborative for the Maternity and Neonatal Safety Improvement Programme at Health Innovation Manchester.
• Prof Richard Edmondson, Clinical Professor in Gynaecological Oncology at the University of Manchester spoke about innovations and progress within gynaecological cancers.
• Vicky Bertenshaw, Research Operations Manager at Health Innovation Manchester then provided an overview of the health innovation ecosystem in Manchester and the AHSN Network.
• The speaking section concluded with a panel discussion on digital innovation in menopause services featuring Gaele Lalahey, COO of Balance Manopause App, Dr Laura Clark, GP at Archwood Medical Practice in Stockport, and Prof Carol Atkinson, Director of Research for the Faculty of Business and Law at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Innovators from across the FemTech space were then able to network, linking together to discuss their areas of interest and potential partnership opportunities. We look forward to seeing new partnerships forming as a result of the Accelerating FemTech initiative, to help boost the development, evaluation and deployment of innovations in the women’s health space.

If you’d like to find out more about the day’s agenda and speakers, you can now download the information pack. You can also download the slide pack from the event if you'd like to dive deeper into the topics discussed.