ELAROS Hosts Annual Winter Planning Day to Drive Innovation in 2026

The ELAROS team came together for our annual Winter Planning Day, an important moment for reflection, collaboration, and shaping our strategy for 2026 and beyond.

The morning opened with a presentation from Blesson Ezra who shared progress from our South Yorkshire Innovation Programme wearables project and outlined next-stage plans for large-scale validation. Scarlett Shaw and Michalina Gers then showcased how AI could improve clinical insight generation, automate task management, and help users track symptom patterns, predict relapses, and receive personalised support.

The afternoon moved into strategic planning led by Professor Paul O’ Brien who outlined the external healthcare landscape, shifts towards home-based care, digital transformation, prevention-focused pathways, NHS economic pressures, and what this means for ELAROS in 2026. We were then joined by Simon Monaghan (Innovate UK Business Growth), who facilitated a forward-looking session to map ELAROS’s development over the next five years, including opportunities in new condition areas, new venture structures, and international funding routes.

It was a valuable and energising day, a reminder of how much we achieved in 2025 and how much opportunity lies ahead. Thank you to our team, partners, and invited contributors for shaping such an engaging and ambitious agenda!

Here’s to a successful 2026 for ELAROS, our collaborators, and the patients and services we support.