Manchester University NHS FT partners with Medtronic

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is working with MedTech firm Medtronic to co-develop AI and robotic surgery solutions. The organisations have signed a research, development and innovation (RDI) collaboration agreement to focus on projects in four main areas: cardiovascular, neuroscience, medical surgery and diabetes. Through the partnership, they aim to accelerate the development of tech solutions for unmet clinical needs that could benefit patients and healthcare providers globally. Dr Katherine Boylan, deputy managing director of research and innovation at MFT, said: “We are delighted to sign this partnership agreement which highlights our existing strong commercial relationship with Medtronic, allowing us to capitalise on opportunities to work together. “Medtronic’s standing as one of the largest, most innovative HealthTech companies in the world aligns perfectly with the innovation ambitions of MFT. “This collaboration provides a huge opportunity to pioneer breakthroughs in healthcare and accelerate our joint projects to design and deliver innovative research that will really make a difference in the NHS, to benefit people in Greater Manchester and beyond.” The partnership will be supported by MFT’s clinical data science unit which transforms anonymised clinical data for public and professional benefit, using a trusted research environment to support the development of innovation. It will also provide opportunities for MFT’s existing hosted infrastructure, including the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Emergency and Acute Care, with a focus on increasing remote patient monitoring and community-based care complimented by Medtronic’s product portfolio to help meet the ambitions of the NHS 10 year health plan. Dr Matthew Williams-Gray, senior director of UK and Ireland at Medtronic, said: “We are thrilled to strengthen our longstanding partnership with MFT through this groundbreaking RDI collaboration agreement. “This partnership aligns perfectly with Medtronic’s commitment to pioneering innovative health technology solutions that address unmet clinical needs. “By co-developing novel solutions in cardiovascular, neuroscience, medical surgery, and diabetes, we aim to accelerate the transformation of healthcare and improve patient outcomes. “Together, we are poised to make a significant impact on the NHS.” The agreement with Medtronic builds on an existing partnership, which included a pilot of remote heart monitoring pathway TriageHP Plus, which has been proven to reduce the number of hospitalisations due to heart failure. In October 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended NHS use of the pathway for heart failure patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices such as pacemakers. Patients have a transmitter box attached to their phoneline which sends alerts from the patient’s device to the hospital’s heart failure team if abnormal readings are identified. In June 2025, Manchester’s Inward Investment Agency and the Oxford Road Corridor launched the life sciences prospectus, which highlights Manchester’s position within the UK’s £120bn growing life sciences market and the role the region can play in the future of life sciences.