Healthcare Innovation Labs

𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀: 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 How does one synthesize a molecule efficiently and deliver it to patients in a patient friendly formulation? How does technical R&D integrate chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, and supply to translate lab breakthroughs into effective and patient-centric medicines? These questions highlight the complexity behind modern drug development, a journey often spanning more than a decade. In simple terms, developing a pharmaceutical product involves identifying and synthesizing the active ingredient, carefully testing its properties and safety, and designing an optimal delivery formulation. While clinical trials often get the spotlight, the earlier and behind-the-scenes phases—bridging lab research to studies or enhancing drug attributes—are equally critical for transforming scientific discoveries into treatments that can change lives. Technical research and development is that behind-the-scenes bridge that makes all that possible. A recent visit to our technical R&D site at the Basel campus showcased how these teams, grounded in their motto “We find solutions,” apply innovation across labs, offices, or the manufacturing floors. At the plant, teams advance next-generation platforms like xRNA (our teams work across our 5 core technology platforms: chemistry, biotherapeutics, radioligand, cell and gene, as well as xRNA). Innovative platforms offer promising new approaches in areas with high unmet needs, but this requires navigating scientific challenges or defining new regulatory pathways. These efforts are reflected, for example, in our work to advance our growing oligonucleotide portfolio, which focuses on cardiovascular and neuroscience. In the labs, teams use innovations like data science, modeling, automation, or AI, to address challenges, such as defining drug attributes or streamlining development timelines. Their goal: finding solutions so that treatments can better meet patient preferences, from potential efficacy to more convenient administration. Turning molecules into medicines is a fascinating and complex journey—and along that journey, technical R&D integrates science and innovative solutions to intentionally enhance medicines for and with patients. Thank you to Despina Solomonidou and the teams for an inspiring visit and illustrating a critical part of that journey with such commitment and passion.

What if we could create more time in the moments that matter? In healthcare, saving time means better outcomes. It gives lab professionals more room to focus on complex work, reduces interruptions for surgical teams, and helps providers stay focused despite workforce shortages. That's why we’re developing smarter technologies to help healthcare professionals focus on what truly matters. Their patients. At our innovation lab in Kemnath, Germany, engineers are fine‑tuning machine assistants designed to take over routine but essential tasks. Two early prototypes already give a glimpse of what this could look like: ▫️ AURORA, developed with TUM Hospital in Munich, assists OR teams by fetching sterile packages and taking on responsibilities typically handled by a circulating nurse. This allows the human staff to stay focused at the operating table. ▫️ Vanessa, a collaboration with Helsinki University Hospital in Finland, can help labs run more smoothly by transporting blood samples and retrieving reagents from the cold storage room. This frees up specialists to concentrate on critical diagnostic work. These assistants are learning to navigate real hospital environments. And with the future integration of large language models, a simple spoken instruction could be all it takes to set a task in motion. This isn’t about replacing human expertise. It’s about protecting it. With a projected global shortfall of 11 million healthcare workers by 2030, technologies like medical assistant robots will be essential to sustaining high‑quality care for patients today and for a world of 8 billion people tomorrow. #TeamHealthineers #Innovation #HealthforAll

AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly and Company launch digital health and AI innovation hubs in the Philippines and India >> 🇵🇭AstraZeneca will launch a Health Innovation Hub in the Philippines to attract investment and position the country as an ASEAN center for pharma, R&D, and digital health 🇵🇭 Its first project, an Oncology Innovation Center, will use AI for early cancer detection, expand patient support, and build healthcare workforce capacity 🇵🇭 The hub will drive collaboration and investment through business forums, B2B match-making, and regulatory support within ecozones 🇮🇳Eli Lilly has opened a Technology and Innovation Centre in Hyderabad’s Hitech City, set to expand from 100 staff to 1,500 by 2026–27, serving as a global hub for digital and technology capabilities 🇮🇳 The centre will focus on AI, automation, cloud, and software engineering, acting as a nerve centre linking Lilly’s global sites and accelerating medicine discovery and delivery 🇮🇳 Positioned as a centre of innovation rather than back-office support, it will bring together top talent in AI, data science, and engineering to drive digital transformation in pharma 💬 It’s great to see pharma innovation expanding across south and south east Asia, let’s hope the fruits are transformative vs just incremental #digitalhealth #ai #pharma

Epic's comprehensive response to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Request for Information on the Health Technology Ecosystem reveals unprecedented opportunities for health tech entrepreneurs and vendors. I wrote a long analysis (linked in comments) that examines seven key areas where Epic's recommendations could fundamentally reshape the healthcare technology landscape: 1) National Healthcare Directory: Creation of a unified, federated directory system requiring specialized implementation services and integration solutions 2) Digital Identity Infrastructure: Development of interoperable credential service providers and patient-centric identity management tools 3) TEFCA Expansion: Broadening use cases for the Trusted Exchange Framework creating new API-based business models 4) Certification Streamlining: Reducing regulatory barriers while maintaining interoperability standards 5) Quality Measurement Evolution: Transition to FHIR-based reporting systems and real-time analytics 6) Information Blocking Safe Harbors: Clear compliance pathways encouraging innovation and market entry 7) LLM Integration: Opportunities for AI-powered healthcare applications using structured and unstructured data These recommendations signal a shift toward open, standardized, and patient-controlled healthcare data ecosystems, creating fertile ground for entrepreneurial innovation across infrastructure, applications, and services.

Softway Medical, one of the top 3 Hospital Information System (HIS) in France, has just been acquired by Bain Capital, a US PE. Meanwhile, 250 leading hospitals in Germany are facing the need to replace their HIS, as SAP will officially exit the HIS market by 2027. What will these 250 hospitals do next? I wrote down a few thoughts. 1️⃣ 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲. These 250 #hospitals are among the most prominent in Germany, including leading university hospitals such as Charité and the country’s largest private hospital chain, Helios. If at least 50% of these hospitals opt for a more innovative solution (i.e., not Option 1 in the visual), it could significantly accelerate the adoption of #healthcare innovation across Germany. 2️⃣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫-𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 At the core of the hospital tech stack should be a shared data layer, either insourced (built internally) or outsourced (developed with partners like Better or Vitagroup). This approach shifts power away from the HIS and marks the transition into what could be called the post-HIS or post-EHR era. 3️⃣ 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬: 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬, 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬, ... A former CIO of a German clinic told me that he built an interoperable data layer, but soon realized that healthcare professionals (HCPs) did not perceive any clear use cases for it. Yet, there are plenty of valuable applications. For example, an operations platform like DNV Imatis can help "run the operations" of a hospital. Care pathway solutions such as Careside or UpHill Health can support HCPs and facilitate care transitions. 4️⃣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞: 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 Catalonia has successfully built an interoperable data layer across its 70 hospitals (which use 35 different Hospital Information Systems) by leveraging OpenEHR as the core technology. Other notable models from the U.S. include: ▪️The Mayo Clinic Platform, a federated data platform that integrates leading university hospitals worldwide. ▪️Kaiser Permanente, which uses Innovaccer to unify data across its entire health system. ▪️Truveta, a health system-owned platform that aggregates multimodal data from over 30 health systems into a single interoperable platform, while also offering a tech workbench in partnership with Microsoft (also an investor). In contrast, the recent failure of Bavaria’s regional patient portal project (where Siemens Healthineers was tasked with building a unified portal for 100+ hospitals) highlights the complexity of such large-scale regional initiatives. Follow HGM Advisory for daily reposts of the most interesting #HealthTech news.

A recent publication in Nature points to something that feels both deeply scientific and deeply human - a future where insulin delivery may no longer require needles at all. Researchers describe a stimuli-responsive polymer system designed for needle-free insulin delivery through the skin. In preclinical models, it showed effective and sustained glucose control without signs of inflammation, suggesting a potential step toward more humane, non-invasive diabetes care. Reading this, I couldn’t help but connect it to the recent developments we discussed from China - where early research into stem cell-derived insulin-producing cells is exploring a very different direction: not just delivering insulin, but potentially restoring the body’s own ability to produce it. Two very different scientific paths. One shared direction. One focuses on making life with diabetes easier today. The other explores whether we can one day reverse what is lost. What ties them together is something powerful - a shift in mindset in global healthcare: From replacement to restoration. From burden to dignity. From managing disease to reimagining function. And this is where it becomes personal for me. In my years across global healthcare commercialization, I’ve seen how innovation only matters when it reaches patients in a meaningful, accessible way. Science alone is not enough - translation is everything. That’s why these parallel developments matter: • smart delivery systems that reduce daily suffering now • regenerative approaches that may redefine what is possible tomorrow We are not at the end of this story. We are at the beginning of a very different chapter in diabetes care. And for millions of people living with this condition every day, that shift is not abstract. It is hope - slowly becoming structure, science, and possibility. #Diabetes #DrugDelivery #Health #Healthcare #Innovation #HealthcareInnovation #PatientImpact #Nature #Biotechnology

Foxconn built a humanoid robot that handles hospital logistics so nurses can spend 40% more time with patients. In hospitals, nurses spend 30-40% of their shift on delivering blood specimens, carrying urine samples, transporting temperature-sensitive blood bags between floors. Not patient care. Not health education. Just moving things around. Foxconn partnered with Kawasaki to build Nurabot - a robot that handles those tasks autonomously. Here's what it does: ▶ 1. Automates hospital logistics Nurabot connects directly to the hospital information system and receives delivery tasks automatically - no manual dispatch needed. It delivers specimens and blood bags in temperature-controlled storage with biometric locks to ensure materials reach the right person. ▶ 2.Runs 24/7 without interruption The robot has swappable batteries for continuous operation. When one battery runs low, it swaps at a charging station and keeps working. Real-time navigation and obstacle avoidance keep it moving safely through hospital corridors. And, this is already being deployed in real hospitals. A hospital in Taiwan completed pilot testing. The robot is now rolling out under the government's $1.6 billion healthcare digitization initiative. I think this is incredible because nurses now get more time for what only humans can do - listening to patients, providing education, catching subtle signs that prevent complications. The tasks robots handle are necessary but don't require human judgment. This is what healthcare automation should do - free up human time for human work. Do you think logistics robots will become standard in hospitals within the next five years? #entrepreneurship #healthtech #innovation 

In healthcare, innovation isn’t just about shiny apps or breakthrough devices. The most impactful innovations can involve rethinking how an entire system works—while still keeping it running. That’s the challenging truth facing large US health systems like Advocate Health and Sutter Health. With mounting pressures—rising costs, staff shortages, and digital-first competitors—these organizations are finding that focusing only on incremental change won’t cut it. They’re building enterprise-wide innovation ecosystems designed to unlock creativity at scale. I explore what they’re doing in a new article for Forbes (a link is in the Comments below). At Advocate Health, for example, this means going beyond pilot projects or siloed innovation labs. Their approach includes: - Strategic partnerships with startups and accelerators - Internal investment funds and innovation districts - Tech transfer capabilities to bring discoveries to market - Leadership development programs built around tools like Jobs to Be Done, human-centered design, and the business model canvas It’s a significant shift—embedding innovation not just in strategy decks, but in the day-to-day work of solving persistent pain points. Teams aren’t just testing new tech. They’re tackling the real “struggling moments” for patients, clinicians, and administrators alike—from vendor inefficiencies to emergency room backlogs—and redesigning care delivery around those needs. One key lesson? Change happens when innovation teams forge close ties with operational leaders and treat them as co-creators, not gatekeepers. That approach opens the door for adoption and scale—critical in a sector that can be both risk-averse and in dire need of reinvention. In a future where innovation methods are as standard as EHRs and MRIs, standalone “innovation departments” may become obsolete. But, until then, health systems that build these capabilities now will be better equipped to navigate uncertainty—and lead the industry transformation already underway. The takeaway for innovators everywhere: When facing entrenched systems and high stakes, don’t just think different—build systems that work differently.

Rural India just crossed a massive healthcare line and the IVD industry needs to pay attention A recent Medical Buyer article dropped a startling statistic: Rural patients at government hospitals are now spending “𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲” on hospitalization than urban patients. The narrative that rural healthcare is purely a low-volume, low-priority market is officially dead. When patient volume surges, diagnostic volume follows. The demand for foundational testing—biochemistry, hematology, diabetes screening, and rapid Point-of-Care Testing (POCT)—is exploding across districts, small towns, CHCs, and local labs. For In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) manufacturers and leaders, the strategic mandate has shifted. Growth is no longer concentrated in overcrowded Tier-1 metros. The next true growth corridor lies deep within India's rural heartland. But winning this market requires a completely different playbook. We cannot simply push urban products downward. Success in rural IVD hinges on four critical pillars: 👉Value-Engineered : Affordability Reimagining cost-per-test models without compromising on quality. 👉Robust Last-Mile Distribution: Building airtight supply chains that keep reagents and kits moving uninterrupted. 👉Hyper-Local Service & Support: Ensuring rapid uptime where engineering support has historically been scarce. 👉Technician Education :Empowering local lab technicians with continuous training on modern diagnostic tools. Rural India is no longer an afterthought or an "add-on" market. It is the core engine driving the future of Indian healthcare diagnostics. Companies that build for this ecosystem today will define the market landscape tomorrow. What strategies is your organization deploying to bridge the rural-urban diagnostic divide? 👉Let’s discuss in the comments? Read the full insight here: https://lnkd.in/gSYNZkPb #IVD #HealthcareIndia #Diagnostics #RuralHealthcare #MedTech #PointOfCare ASSOCIATION OF DIAGNOSTICS MANUFACTURERS OF INDIA

If it works for the airline industry, why is simulation not used more in healthcare? What do you think❓ Patient safety and education comes first, and Baptist Health and Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute are helping lead the way here! I recently toured a 38,000 sq.ft. facility outfitted with the latest in imaging, echo, robotics, angiographic and operating room simulators. ICU beds, nursing stations-- and even VR sim and training. All supported by patient actors, realistic phantoms, and sophisticated A/V. It's not just about learning how to intubate, or catheterize a vessel, or visualize a cardiac chamber. Bringing the entire care team *together* into a simulated cath lab, OR or ICU, and 'throwing curveballs' at us is how we all improve together. And at MCVI, they even have exhibition glass-walled #Azurion interventional suites-- with comfortable 'movie theater' seats allowing physicians of all disciplines to watch and learn during live endovascular procedures. As we think together on how to expand skillsets, access to care, and even new innovations, these types of technologies are extremely important!