Celebrating Innovation: The Harley Street HealthTech Pioneer Award
By Molly Gilmartin
Posted
The Harley Street HealthTech Pioneer Award was created to recognise companies delivering genuinely meaningful innovation at the intersection of healthcare, science and patient impact. More than just recognition, the Award is designed to supercharge one exceptional company with a high-impact package of support from across the entire ecosystem.
The applications were remarkable. They spanned early-stage ideas through to companies already making tangible progress against some of the most complex challenges in health, bringing together an exceptional group of innovators working across clinical research, patient-centred design, complex care pathways, and long-term health outcomes.
“The quality of applications this year was outstanding – spanning a wide range of company stages, healthcare domains and approaches to innovation,” said Prof. Jenny Shand, Harley Street Health District. “It is incredibly exciting to see so many impactful health technology companies emerging within the Harley Street Health District ecosystem, and the diversity and strength of submissions made selecting a single winner a genuinely difficult task.”
The Judging Process
The Pioneer Award winners were selected by a multidisciplinary judging panel spanning patient, clinical, health innovation, research and investment perspectives:
- Olivia Burns – Patient Advisor (Founder, Startup Navigation Y&H HIN)
- Helen McShane – Director, Young Lives Innovation Lab, Executive Director Research and Innovation, Young Lives vs Cancer
- Dr Dominique Allwood MBE – CEO, Imperial Health Partners
- Zoe Bedford – CEO, ZPB Associates
- Annette Shiel – Head of Marketing & Communications, The Howard de Walden Estate
- Prof Jenny Shand – Senior Advisor, Harley Street Health District; Professor of Applied Health Research, UCLL
- Dr Molly Gilmartin – Venture Partner, AlbionVC
Each company was evaluated against a structured set of criteria designed to balance patient impact, clinical reality and commercial sustainability: patient need & benefit, evidence & impact, clinical relevance & adoption, stage, traction & scalability, market opportunity & sustainability, and team & strategic fit.
This approach ensured recognition was given to solutions that are evidence-led, clinically grounded and built to last.
The Winner: Signatur Biosciences
The Pioneer Award was awarded to Signatur Biosciences, in recognition of its outstanding work advancing precision diagnostics.
Signatur demonstrated a rare combination of deep scientific rigour, translational relevance and real-world applicability, exemplifying how cutting-edge science can be translated into tools that clinicians can trust and patients can benefit from. Their work stood out for its potential to meaningfully improve clinical decision-making while remaining grounded in robust evidence and clear pathways to adoption, with a clear commitment to widening access and reducing inequalities in diagnostic care.
“Signatur Biosciences exemplifies the very best of university driven innovation: world-class science, a rigorous evidence base, and a clear focus on real-world clinical impact,” said Annette Shiel, Head of Marketing & Communications, The Howard de Walden Estate. “What stood out to the panel was not only the strength of the underlying research, but the company’s ability to translate that research into a credible, scalable solution that clinicians can trust and patients can benefit from. Signatur Biosciences represents a strong strategic fit with the Harley Street Health District, aligning closely with its concentration of clinical excellence, innovation, and patient-centred care.”
Highly commended organisations
The judging panel also recognised several exceptional applicants, each commended for excellence in a specific and vital dimension of healthcare innovation:
Clerkenwell Health – Commended for Research
Recognised for leadership in enabling high-quality clinical research, particularly in complex and underserved patient populations, with a strong emphasis on methodological rigour and ethical study design.
“Clerkenwell Health stood out for its innovative approach bringing cutting-edge research and experimental medicine into real clinical pathways – especially for patients who have seen limited benefit from existing treatments,” said Dr Molly Gilmartin, Venture Partner, AlbionVC. “With a founding team spanning drug discovery, CROs, clinical trials, commercial strategy and healthcare, alongside an exceptional advisory board, the company is uniquely positioned to help shape the future of neurological and psychiatric care.”
Joey – Commended for Tackling Complexity
Commended for addressing fragmented and challenging care pathways in paediatrics, simplifying coordination across services and reducing friction for patients navigating complex systems.
“Joey stood out because it addresses an area of care that is often avoided due to its complexity,” said Olivia Burns, Expert by Lived Experience, Healthtech Startup Navigator, Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber. “For parents, being able to message a trusted clinician 24/7 can be transformational, providing both clinical reassurance and peace of mind. Joey places lived experience, access and continuity at the heart of care in a way that feels genuinely patient-centred.”
Speek – Commended for Patient and Family Co-production
Recognised for placing patients and families at the centre of service design and translating lived experience into a scalable solution with outstanding patient outcomes in an area of unmet need.
“Speek impressed the panel with its deep commitment to co-production and its thoughtful engagement with people who have lived experience of self-harm,” said Helen McShane, Director, Young Lives Innovation Lab, Executive Director Research and Innovation, Young Lives vs Cancer. “Translating such sensitive insight into a scalable, clinically responsible solution is not easy, and Speek has done so with care, credibility and a clear focus on improving outcomes for young people and families.”
Neurolase – Commended for Long-Term Benefit
Commended for a focus on sustained, long-term outcomes in neurosurgery (another unserved area) and a clear commitment to durable patient benefit and clinical relevance.
“Neurolase stood out for tackling one of healthcare’s most complex and high-risk challenges: making brain tumour surgery safer and more precise,” said Dr Dominique Allwood MBE, CEO Imperial College Health Partners. “Its AI-powered, real-time intraoperative guidance has the potential not only to improve surgical accuracy, but to preserve long-term brain function, independence and quality of life for patients – creating a longer term patient and system benefit.”
Looking Ahead
The Harley Street Health District Pioneer Award is not just about recognising individual companies – it is about celebrating a growing ecosystem of innovators who are raising the bar for what healthcare innovation can and should be.
“London’s health technology ecosystem is entering an exciting new phase, where advances in technology are translating into real improvements in how care is delivered, accessed and experienced,” said Zoe Bedford, CEO of ZPB Associates. “With Hale House at the heart of the London Quarter and the Harley Street Health District, we are seeing clinicians, innovators and partners come together to turn research, data and technology into meaningful healthcare impact. This convergence of talent, infrastructure and ambition positions London as a leading centre for the future of health innovation.”
We are proud to spotlight this year’s winner and commended companies, and we look forward to supporting their continued progress as they scale, collaborate and deliver lasting impact for patients, clinicians and health systems alike.
