Today, 1 September 2026, marks the launch of the fourth cohort of the Health Innovation East Digital Health Hub programme, with 11 finalists beginning a fully funded journey to develop and accelerate their digital health innovations.
The latest cohort follows the highest number of applications received since the programme launched, highlighting growing interest in developing innovative digital solutions to address challenges across health and care.
Delivered by Health Innovation East, powered by Cogniss, the Digital Health Hub provides selected innovators with support to rapidly develop digital health apps. The annual programme is designed to help innovators turn great ideas into solutions that make a meaningful impact on health and care.
The 11 finalists were selected following an expression-of-interest process, with applications assessed by a panel of internal and external experts.
Over the course of the programme, the 11 innovators will work with Health Innovation East and Cogniss to develop their digital health apps, benefiting from the expertise and resources provided.
The programme begins with a six-month phase dedicated to designing and building the digital health app, giving participants the tools, support, and expertise needed to bring their idea to life. Innovators that successfully deliver a functional, pilot-ready product by the end of this stage will unlock an exclusive extension to a full ten-month programme. These additional four months provide an opportunity to pilot in real-world settings, generate meaningful user insights, and build the evidence needed to accelerate adoption – rewarding those who move quickly from concept to impact.
Dr Cameron Black – MSK Specialist Physiotherapist Occupational Health and Wellbeing, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and NHS Clinical Entrepreneur
A digital early intervention platform that helps employees stay in work before problems escalate into sickness absence.
Ben Chandler – NHS Transformation and Change
Building two connected tools that together address the most significant gap in NHS dental public health infrastructure: the complete absence of real-time data on where oral health need is highest and where families are falling through the system before they ever reach a specialist pathway.
Sarah McKenna – Founder
Foundations Beyond Birth is an evidence based digital parent education programme designed to complement existing antenatal and postnatal support by providing accessible, consistent and trusted information between professional contacts.
Imene Bensalma – NHS Obstetrics and Gynaecology Speciality Trainee- ST6 (EOE)
A digital patient decision support platform designed to improve informed consent, patient understanding, and shared decision-making in women’s healthcare.
Dr Mutwakil Abdulla – Cambridge NeuroSystems
A patient and caregiver centred recovery support platform designed for neurological and neurosurgical recovery after discharge from hospital.
Louise Coke – Lead Research Nurse, Commercial & Strategic Partnerships, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, NIHR Senior Research Leader
An interactive, accessible digital platform that helps patients and members of the public better understand clinical research and what to expect during a research visit.
Helen Hilton – Cambridge University Hospitals
An app to spark creative thought and healing in bereaved NHS staff members.
Maxime Levasseur – Incoming Trainee Clinical Psychologist, Assistant Psychologist, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
DemySTIfy aims to improve sexual health by offering an easy, practical solution which reduces the mental load of staying sexually healthy.
Emma McCullagh – Head of Clinical Services and Innovation, Headway Essex
A simple, accessible, and clinically informed digital tool that supports individuals from the moment they experience a head injury—no matter how mild it may seem.
Samuel Jude – NHS Community Team Manager, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Compassion Connect is a workforce wellbeing and retention innovation focused on understanding and addressing what we describe as “Silent Under-Supported Endurance” – the period where healthcare professionals continue to function, care, and perform while experiencing significant emotional strain, but before any formal indicators such as sickness absence, wellbeing referrals, grievances, or turnover become visible.
Jonathan Fisher – Founder, Cambridge NeuroWorks Fellow
A digital auditory cueing solution designed to support people living with Parkinson’s disease who experience freezing of gait and other mobility impairments.
The launch of the fourth cohort marks the latest stage in Health Innovation East’s ongoing work to support the development adoption of digital health innovations across the region and beyond.
If you would like to find out more about the programme, please email enquiries@healthinnovationeast.co.uk
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