Health and life sciences
Connecting partners to academic expertise to transform healthcare
Exeter Innovation at the University of Exeter supports organisations in health and life sciences to develop collaborative research partnerships that accelerate innovation into practice.
Acting as a gateway to the University’s clinical, scientific and translational expertise, we connect partners with the right researchers, facilities and capabilities to address complex health and wellbeing challenges.
We work with businesses, public sector organisations and third‑sector partners to
shape and deliver projects spanning applied research, translational activity and real‑world evaluation. This includes support with partnership development and navigating funding and delivery pathways.
Exeter Innovation in numbers
600+ health-related projects with business each year, representing an estimated £40 million in collaborative activity
Over 1,300 academic and research staff and 6,000 students contributing to health and life sciences research at the University of Exeter
100% of Exeter’s Health and Life Sciences research rated world-leading or internationally excellent in the Research Excellence Framework 2021
Precision health combines genomic data, biomarkers and advanced analytics to predict disease risk, enable earlier diagnosis and personalise treatment. At the University of Exeter, partners can access expertise in genomics, bioinformatics, clinical expertise, and research to co-develop and translate diagnostic technologies and decision-support tools.
By integrating precision medicine with advances in diagnostics and early detection, organisations can accelerate innovation, support earlier intervention, and improve patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency.
Contact
Aaron Frederick
Health & Life Sciences Business Development Manager
Prevention and lifestyle health focuses on reducing disease risk through physical activity, nutrition, behavioural change and improved public health interventions. Exeter Innovation works with partners to apply University of Exeter expertise in sport and exercise science, behavioural science and population health to develop scalable interventions and technologies. Organisations can collaborate with Exeter to design solutions that improve wellbeing, reduce healthcare demand, and support healthier populations across communities.
Contact
Gemma Mendham
Health & Life Sciences Business Development Manager
g.mendham@exeter.ac.uk
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and fungal infections are growing global health threats requiring new diagnostics, treatments, and surveillance approaches. Exeter Innovation connects partners with University of Exeter expertise in infectious disease, clinical mycology, and microbiology to support the development, testing, and translation of new technologies and therapeutics. The MRC Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter is a unique global centre delivering research to develop new antifungal drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines. Companies, healthcare providers, and innovators can collaborate with Exeter to tackle drug-resistant infections and improve outcomes for patients worldwide.
Contact
Angus Urquhart
Health & Life Sciences Business Development Manager
a.urquhart@exeter.ac.uk
Brain health research addresses the growing challenges of dementia, cognitive decline, and neurological disease in ageing populations. Exeter Innovation connects partners with University of Exeter expertise in neuroscience, ageing research, and population health to co-develop new diagnostics, digital tools, and interventions. Industry partners, health providers, and innovators can collaborate with Exeter to advance solutions that support earlier detection, maintain cognitive health and improve quality of life for ageing communities.
Contact
Aaron Frederick
Health & Life Sciences Business Development Manager
a.frederick@exeter.ac.uk
Environmental factors such as climate change, air quality, and access to natural environments are increasingly recognised as critical determinants of human health and wellbeing. The University of Exeter brings together expertise across environmental science, public health and policy to address these challenges. Exeter Innovation enables businesses, healthcare organisations and public sector partners to collaborate with researchers to co-develop evidence-based solutions that strengthen system resilience, reduce environmental health risks, and improve outcomes for communities and economies.
Contact
Emma McBurney
Health & Life Sciences Business Development Manager
e.k.seymour@exeter.ac.uk
Contact
Sam Blake
Health & Life Sciences Business Development Manager
“Professor Andy Jones was an integral part of the innovative science that was applied to the challenge of running the fastest ever marathon, and his research underpinned many of the decisions made in optimizing athlete performance in the Nike’s Breaking 2 project. The Breaking 2 event has had knock-on long lasting positive impact to Nike as a company, as a brand, and as an innovation driver shaping the future of sport.”
Brett S. Kirby,
Principal Scientist – Applied Performance Innovation, Nike Sport Research Lab.
“Working with the team at Exeter has resulted in huge evolutions of the Youth Talent Programme (YTP). Having youth development experts as part of the project group has enabled us to critically reflect on everything that the YTP can offer. Making sure everything we do at the first stage of the talent pathway is academically justifiable and robust is vital to ensure the sport of Athletics is in the best possible position for the long term.”
Nick Ridgeon,
Youth Talent Programme Lead, England Athletics
“UK Research and Innovation works in partnership with universities, research organisations, businesses, charities, and government to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish. The partnership between the University of Exeter and Medicines Discovery Catapult exemplifies this spirit, unblocking one of the major bottlenecks in translation and commercialisation. It capitalises on the excellent work performed by leading academics and ensures it reaches industry in a format that is ready to attract onwards funding and investment.”
Dr Tony Soteriou,
Director for Commercialisation of Research, UKRI
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