Local MP for Chelsea and Fulham Ben Coleman visited the White City Deep Tech Campus.
Ben Coleman, MP for Chelsea and Fulham, visited Imperial to learn more about the university's ambitions for WestTech London to become a global powerhouse for innovation and entrepreneurship. WestTech London will drive growth, create jobs, and attract investment across London and the UK, anchored by Imperial's science and innovation assets in South Kensington, Paddington Life Sciences, the White City Innovation District and Old Oak and Park Royal.
As a member of the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee, Ben heard how Imperial and WestTech London are playing a critical role in improving health and wellbeing globally. The School of Public Health, based in White City, works with local communities to address major global public health challenges such as obesity, cancer, heart disease, dementia and infectious disease. The Fleming Centre, a joint initiative between Imperial and the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, will be based at the Paddington Life Sciences cluster, tackling antimicrobial resistance on a global scale.
Imperial's new School of Health and Technology, recently launched as one of four Schools of Convergence Science, will transform Imperial's approach to addressing pressing and emerging healthcare challenges. The School will drive convergence science across disciplines, technologies and mindsets to shift the global conversation from treating illness to sustaining lifelong health across diverse populations, geographies and systems.
Harnessing technology to support people living with dementia
During the visit, Professor David Sharp, Centre Director of the UK DRI Care Research and Technology Centre demonstrated how researchers are developing smart technologies to support people affected by dementia to live safely and independently in their own homes. Ben toured the Living Lab, a model home environment where ideas and technological innovations are tested and validated. Professor Sharp showcased a range of low cost devices such as a digital sleep mat and a movement-tracking radar sensor, which can help detect early signs of medical complications in the home.
These tools are now being implemented into the homes of people with dementia through Minder, the UK DRI's flagship digital care platform. Developed at the Care Research & Technology Centre, Minder uses AI and machine learning to reduce preventable hospitalisations and support independent living for people with dementia.
Minder will soon launch as an NHS service, MinderCare, in collaboration with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and medical research charity LifeArc. The service will provide specialist support for remote, at-home monitoring, which can lead to appropriate interventions and earlier treatments for people living with dementia.
Accelerating deep tech startups through WestTech London
Ben also visited the White City Incubator, Imperial's innovation hub based in Scale Space, to learn how the university supports deep tech startups. The Incubator helps early-stage companies tackle some of society's biggest challenges through MedTech, biotech, climate solutions, and drug research and development. By removing barriers to entry, the Incubator provides companies with state-of-the-art wet labs, equipment and flexible office and prototyping space.
Graham Hewson, Head of Incubation and Prototyping Spaces, spoke about Leap: Powered by Imperial Incubator, a new incubator facility based in Ben's constituency of Chelsea and Fulham. Led by Imperial's Incubator in partnership with ARC West London, Leap extends Imperial's innovation ecosystem across West London. The space will provide early-stage ventures with access to cutting edge facilities, shared equipment, expert support, and scaleup programmes, reinforcing WestTech London's position as a global hub for deep tech and life sciences innovation.
