The Institute of Global Health Innovation (IGHI) at Imperial College London will showcase its work in digital health, leadership and policy at Digital Health Rewired 2026. The event brings together digital health leaders, innovators and policymakers from across the UK.
Taking place on 24–25 March at the NEC Birmingham, Rewired will bring together experts from across healthcare, technology and research to explore how digital innovation is transforming health systems. Across the two-day programme, IGHI researchers, educators and partners will take part in keynote conversations and panel discussions exploring how data, artificial intelligence and research-led leadership are shaping the future of healthcare.
Attendees will also be able to connect with the IGHI team during the event and learn more about how the Institute’s research, policy expertise and education programmes are supporting the next generation of digital health leaders.
Data-driven leadership in the NHS
On day two of the conference, IGHI will host the MSc Digital Health Leadership Dissertation Panel, highlighting how research undertaken by NHS professionals through IGHI’s Digital Health Leadership Programme is driving improvements across the health service.
Since the programme launched in 2018, around 160 NHS digital leaders have undertaken research projects addressing complex challenges within their organisations. Many of these studies have strengthened the evidence base for innovation, supported better decision-making and delivered tangible improvements in care.
Kenny Oniti, Senior Teaching Fellow at IGHI and chair of the session, said:
“The Dissertation of Practice projects enable students to tackle real-world challenges, anchoring their learning to organisational priorities and evidence-based practice to create measurable value for the NHS.”
During the session, recent graduates from the MSc in Digital Health Leadership: Vicky Kong, Antonia Brown and Adrian Jonas will share insights from their research, including the challenges they encountered, the lessons they learned and the impact their work is having within the communities they serve.
AI and the future of health innovation
On day one of Rewired, Dr Hutan Ashrafian, Honorary Senior Research Fellow at IGHI, will join Professor Gillian Leng, President of the Royal Society of Medicine, for a keynote conversation examining the transformative role of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
A surgeon, entrepreneur and internationally recognised researcher, Dr Ashrafian is among the world’s most highly cited scientists and has worked at the forefront of translational clinical research, AI trials and health policy.
His recent research on the role AI can play in breast cancer screening has received significant media attention.
In this session, the speakers will explore AI as both a driver and product of health innovation. From real-world advances in mammography and surgical practice to questions of regulation, workforce development and risk, the discussion will examine how AI is reshaping clinical pathways, discovery and decision-making, and what responsible adoption will require at this critical moment for healthcare.
Designing digital care for real people
Also on day two, IGHI will present work from a collaboration with Mental Health Innovations (MHI) examining how digital tools can better support the mental health needs of younger populations.
The session, “Beyond the dashboard: designing digital care for minds, bodies, and real people,” will share emerging findings from research exploring the needs of children aged 13 and under and the opportunities for digital health solutions to address gaps in current services.
The session will also introduce a new digital platform designed specifically to support younger users. The work reflects a broader ambition to develop digital health tools that respond to the realities of patients’ lives and experiences.
Speaking ahead of the session, Dr Chris Agape Ajah, Policy Fellow in Digital Health at IGHI, said:
“This session will highlight IGHI’s unique approach to innovation, grounded in insights from people with lived experience and data. This is exemplified through our long-term partnership with MHI and our upcoming report on the mental health needs of children aged 13 and under. I look forward to sharing these insights with delegates and expanding opportunities for collaboration.”
Join us at Rewired
Together, these sessions highlight how research, education and policy expertise can work together to accelerate the digital transformation of healthcare.
If you are attending Digital Health Rewired 2026, come and connect with the IGHI team at stand A45, join the conversations across the programme and discover how research, innovation and digital leadership are shaping the future of healthcare.
Explore the full Digital Health Rewired programme and register on the Rewired website.