Building neurotech with people, not just for people - Putting meaningful public and patient involvement at the heart of neurotech innovation
What happens when the people developing the future of neurotechnology work with the people whose lives that future will impact?
Your perspective matters. Join the conversation, challenge ideas, build connections, and help shape what comes next in neurotechnology.
This event brings together the neurotech community for an engaging conversation about people, participation and the future of neurotechnology. We’ll explore how the voices and experiences of a diverse audience can help shape neurotechnology that is not only cutting-edge, but meaningful, trusted and fit for purpose.
Whether you're a researcher, clinician, engineer, industry innovator, patient or family member, policymaker, funder, or simply passionate about the future of neurotechnology, we encourage you to participate in this event.
Expect a dynamic programme featuring:
- 🎤 Keynote - Rethinking What’s Possible
Hear from an inspiring voice exploring the opportunities, challenges and bigger questions facing the future of neurotechnology. Why is effective PPIE so fundamentally important to the development and success of innovative neurotechnology? - 🔥 Fireside Chat - The Human Side of Neurotech
A candid conversation exploring what it really takes to develop neurotechnology with people, not simply for people. We’ll unpack perspectives, challenges and lessons from across the field. - 💬 Five-Person Panel - Many Perspectives, One Future
Hear diverse perspectives from across the neurotech ecosystem as our panel tackles the questions that matter: What does meaningful involvement look like? How do we ensure involvement influences decisions and outcomes? Are we involving people early enough to genuinely impact the chances of success rather than simply reacting to decisions that have already been made? How can we ensure tomorrow’s technologies reflect the needs, values and priorities of the people they are intended to serve? - 🤝 Co-Production Workshop - From Conversation to Action
This is where you can get involved. Working collaboratively, we’ll move beyond discussion to explore ideas and challenges, co-creating practical approaches for putting meaningful public and patient involvement at the heart of neurotechnology.
For more information and to sign up.
Date: Wednesday 7th October 2026|Time: 09:30-15:00|Venue: Cambridge Union Society, 9A Bridge St, Cambridge CB2 1UB
Agenda
| Timings | Details |
|---|---|
| 09:30 | Welcome Keynote presentation from Robin Stevens, Chair of CUHP PPIE Forum and Board member. |
| 09:45 | Panel - Many perspectives, one future This panel will be speaking about the most challenging questions in PPIE, to finish with a Q&A. Mike Willis – Steering Group member, James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership on implantable Brain-Computer Interfaces, and person living with MND Sam Kamali – CEO, Myonerv Lynda Barnes - R&D PPIE Lead/Clinical Research Nurse, Research & Development, CPFT Milly Barker - Patient Contributor |
| 10:35 | Break |
| 11:00 | Fireside chat - The human side of Neurotech Rory Cellan Jones, Former technology correspondent for BBC and patient contributor. Hosted by Roger Barker, Professor of clinical neuroscience and honorary consultant in neurology at the University of Cambridge and at Addenbrooke's Hospital. |
| 11:30 | Co-Production Workshop - from conversation to action his speed co-production activity will allow you to discuss the challenges of PPIE including: • Recruitment • Accessibility • Communication • Research priorities • Inclusive design Findings will be shared post event. |
| 13:00 | Lunch, networking and exhibition |
| 13:50 | Nobody Mentioned Bandwidth! Asking what patients, carers and clinicians really want from iBCIs Mike Willis, Steering Group member, James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership on implantable Brain-Computer Interfaces, and person living with MND |
| 14:20 | Overcoming Translational Barriers with Lived Experience: A roadmap Melanie Fleming, Associate Professor, NeuroRehabilitation Research Group, Oxford University Centre for integrative neuroimaging (OxCIN) & MRC CoRE in restorative neural dynamics, and academic lead for patient involvement and public engagement medical, will present on Overcoming Translational Barriers with Lived Experience: A roadmap for development and deployment of neurotechnologies for neurological conditions. |
| 14:50 | Closing Comments | TBC |
| 15:00 | Event Ends Want the conversation to continue? Meet in the Orator after the event. |