University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB)
UHB has an international reputation for quality of care in the form of research. We are one of the largest Trusts in England treating over 2.2 million patients each year and have more than 2,700 beds across our sites. Since 2011, UHB has been part of Birmingham Health Partners, a strategic alliance overseeing collaborations that brings healthcare innovations from research through to clinical application.
We have established research infrastructure, provide specialist services regionally, nationally and internally and have dedicated research facilities across our sites. UHB hosts the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Devices, digital and robotics and the Medical Devices Testing and Evaluation Centre, providing specialist expertise in health technology innovation and development.
Medical Devices Testing and Evaluation Centre (MD-TEC)
MD-TEC provides medtech and life sciences innovators with unique access to cutting-edge facilities and advanced simulation technologies, supporting usability testing, expert clinical review, and academic insight.
We help accelerate the journey from bench to market while reducing risk through an iterative, user-centred design approach. By embedding user insight early in development, we ensure products are aligned with real-world needs—helping to avoid costly redesigns and minimise the risk of regulatory delays.
MD-TEC delivers a near real-world clinical environment, featuring a fully simulated operating theatre, intensive care unit, and ward space, co-located with the UK’s second largest teaching hospital, and enabled through regional investment.
Positioned at the heart of Birmingham’s thriving life sciences ecosystem, MD-TEC offers manufacturers access to world-class test-bed facilities. Working in partnership with the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Devices, Digital and Robotics, we provide a comprehensive range of services and support, as outlined below.
NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Devices, digital and robotics (NIHR HRC-DDR)
The NIHR HRC-DDR is one of 14 HealthTech Research Centres (HRCs) across the UK, funded by the NIHR to support safe, effective and efficient translation of new technologies to improve patient outcomes and experience.
We provide a national service that supports partners through the innovation ecosystem and builds collaborations with expert academics, clinicians and the public. Our services help technology developers towards regulatory approval and clinical adoption by generating evidence through our services, which are:
- Grant application support
- Expert reviews for early HealthTech
- Pre-regulatory human factors and usability testing (formative and summative)
- First-in-human clinical investigations
- Patient and public involvement and engagement support
- Health economics support
- Regulatory advice and support including SaMD
We collaborate with technology developers through our calls for collaborative project proposals, which run regularly throughout the year. Our next call will launch in June 2026. As part of the launch, we are holding a webinar on Wednesday 17 June to share further details about how to submit a proposal and our services.
For more information about working with us and to register for the launch webinar, visit the NIHR HRC-DDR website and follow us on LinkedIn. Contact us on HRCengagement@uhb.nhs.uk.
