Overview

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is set to open an AI Lab this year, aligning with the UK government’s 10-year health strategy.

Key Objectives

The lab aims to:

• Utilize high-performance computers for data analysis.
• Develop and assess AI tools to enhance patient care.

Five-Year Vision

The initiative is part of a broader five-year plan targeting:

1. £140 million in research activities by 2030.
2. Recruitment of 100,000 research participants.
3. Establishment of 350 industry collaborations.

Leadership Insights

Prof. Phil Wood, Chief Executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, stated:

“This strategy implements the NHS 10-year plan, demonstrating how research and innovation can provide future healthcare today. We are focused on preventing illness, pioneering new therapies, and creating high-skilled jobs to position Yorkshire as a leader in health innovation.”

Strategic Themes

The plan encompasses six strategic themes:

• Digital, Data, and AI: Transitioning the NHS from analogue to digital.
• Health Inequalities Research: Addressing socioeconomic health disparities.
• Devices and Diagnostics: Enhancing surgical precision.
• Novel Therapeutics: Focusing on gene therapies, immunotherapies, and preventive vaccines.
• Patient Outcomes Research: Improving care through a better understanding of treatment impacts.

Staff Training and Development

To achieve its goals, the trust plans to:

• Train 1,250 staff in research and innovation skills.
• Implement innovator passports to facilitate the rollout of assessed technologies across NHS organizations.

Community Impact

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, remarked:

“Leeds and West Yorkshire are emerging as a health innovation hub, competing with the Golden Triangle of London, Oxford, and Cambridge. Our £160 million investment zone is creating jobs, attracting investment, and enhancing patient lives across the region.”

Future Developments

In May 2025, Leeds Teaching Hospitals initiated a market engagement exercise for its proposed Innovation Village at the Old Medical School, aimed at supporting digital health and MedTech firms. This 12.5-hectare project, supported by local authorities, aspires to establish Leeds as a global center for innovation and life sciences.

Additional Initiatives

In June 2025, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency launched a digital hub in Leeds, further enhancing the region’s commitment to health technology advancements.