2026 CDT AI-Medical Retreat:
AI-Medical Retreat 2026: Shaping the Future of AI in Medicine
In September 2026, Post Graduate Researchers, clinicians, industry leaders, and alumni from the CDT AI-Medical community came together at the Craiglands Hotel in Ilkley for the annual AI-Medical Retreat. The event provided a unique opportunity to step away from day-to-day research activities and engage in meaningful discussions about one of the most important questions facing healthcare today:
“What will the future of AI in medicine look like?”
The two-day retreat was designed to encourage collaboration across disciplines, bringing together expertise from academia, healthcare, and industry. Through keynote presentations, networking activities, panel discussions, and interactive roundtable sessions, participants explored both the opportunities and challenges that artificial intelligence presents for modern healthcare.
Inspiring Perspectives from Leading Experts
A highlight of the retreat was a series of keynote talks delivered by distinguished speakers from clinical practice and industry, Professor Andy Scarsbrook from School of Medicine and Lisa-Marie Scott and Andrew Meyer from Gartner.
Participants heard insights and real-world AI deployment, gaining valuable perspectives on how AI is already influencing healthcare systems and where future developments may lead.
These talks reinforced a common theme: successful AI innovation in medicine requires more than technical excellence. It demands collaboration between clinicians, data scientists, engineers, policymakers, and patients to ensure that AI solutions are safe, effective, equitable, and aligned with clinical needs.
Identify a near impossible problem and think I can make that smaller
Andrew Meyer
Networking matters, because Clinicians move around and when they do, they take trusted and valuable connections with them
Lisa-Marie Scott
Exploring the Future Through Discussion
The centrepiece of the retreat was a roundtable discussion featuring invited clinical and industry experts. Students worked alongside experienced professionals to explore how AI may transform medical and clinical practice over the next decade. Topics ranged from diagnostic support tools and personalised medicine to workflow automation, decision support systems, and the evolving role of healthcare professionals in an AI-enabled future.
The discussion format encouraged active participation. Through structured table rotations, students were able to engage with multiple experts, compare perspectives across disciplines, and build a broader understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders
One of the key objectives of the retreat was to help students understand how they can contribute to the future of AI in medicine throughout their careers. Discussions focused not only on technological innovation but also on responsible AI development, regulatory considerations, clinical adoption, and the importance of maintaining patient trust.
Students were encouraged to reflect on the skills and attributes needed to lead future developments in healthcare AI. These included technical expertise, interdisciplinary communication, ethical awareness, and an understanding of real-world clinical challenges.
Benefits and Challenges Ahead
During the retreat's reflection sessions, participants considered the key benefits and challenges associated with AI in medicine. Potential benefits identified included improved diagnostic accuracy, greater efficiency in healthcare delivery, and enhanced support for clinical decision-making. At the same time, discussions highlighted challenges such as data governance, transparency, fairness, regulatory compliance, and ensuring that AI systems remain human-centred.
These conversations demonstrated the importance of preparing researchers and clinicians who can navigate both the technological and societal dimensions of AI innovation.
Building a Stronger Community
Beyond the formal programme, the retreat provided valuable opportunities for networking and community building. A collaborative walking session, informal discussions, and an alumni panel enabled participants to share experiences, discuss career pathways, and strengthen connections across different stages of academia and industry.
The alumni panel was particularly inspiring, showcasing diverse career journeys from Andrew Broad, Jack Breen and Jason Keighley, illustrating the wide-ranging impact that AI-Medical graduates are already having across healthcare, research, and technology sectors.
Looking Forward
The AI-Medical Retreat 2026 highlighted the strength of the CDT community and its shared commitment to advancing responsible AI in healthcare. By bringing together experts, students, alumni, and industry leaders, the retreat fostered discussions that will help shape future research, innovation, and clinical practice.
As AI continues to transform medicine, events such as the AI-Medical Retreat play an essential role in preparing the next generation of researchers and leaders to develop solutions that improve patient care while addressing the complex challenges of healthcare delivery. The conversations begun in Ilkley will undoubtedly continue to influence the future direction of AI in medicine for years to come.
2026 Leeds AI Medical PGR Conference:
This year we brought together researchers working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare. Organised by the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in AI Medical, the event aimed to showcase research, encourage collaboration, and strengthen the interdisciplinary AI health community at the University of Leeds.
A defining feature of the 2026 conference was its expanded accessibility, inviting postgraduate researchers beyond the CDT AI-Medical cohorts from across AI and healthcare related disciplines. This broader inclusion fostered richer collaboration among computer scientists, clinicians, and data scientists, reflecting the growing interdisciplinary nature of AI in medicine. The research presented ranged from early-stage concepts to applied innovations with potential clinical impact.
Opening remarks by Professor David Hogg set the tone for a day centred on collaboration and responsible AI development. The programme included oral presentations and poster sessions, enabling both concise research overviews and in-depth discussion. These formats supported engagement, feedback, and networking among attendees.
Key research themes included clinical decision support (e.g. AI in diagnosis and screening), ethics and governance (such as bias, explainability, & data privacy), and digital health technologies, including patient centred systems. Additional topics covered AI applications in surgical robotics and large-scale data analysis.
The conference featured keynote talks from Professor Ibrahim Habli (Professor of Safety-Critical Systems, University of York) and Owen Johnson, who stepped in for Jessica Paulsen (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency). Supporting early-career researchers remained central, with opportunities for spotlight presentations and poster feedback from academics and clinicians.
Overall, the conference highlighted the strength of interdisciplinary collaboration and the importance of integrating technical innovation with ethical and clinical awareness in advancing AI-driven healthcare.
2026 MI4H Joint Conference – Event Highlights
This year’s two-day Joint CDT Conference, Machine Intelligence for Health (MI4H), hosted by the Imperial College London CDT at the Warwick Conference Centre from 27–28 May 2026, took place during an intense week of summer heat. Despite the soaring temperatures, the Leeds AI-Medical cohort arrived slightly wilted but in good spirits and ready to engage.
The programme opened with an inspiring keynote from Alistair Denniston, Chair of the UK’s National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare. His talk, “Begin with the end in mind: a guide for innovators,” set a powerful tone for the conference. His words,
I am a researcher and innovator because I believe tomorrow can be better
resonated strongly with attendees. Our second keynote was delivered by Dimitris Spathis (Google), who presented “Foundation models for health insights,” offering valuable perspectives on the future of AI-driven healthcare solutions. This was followed by an engaging business development session led by Sinead O’Connor (Trinity College Dublin) titled “Translating Research into Commercial Success: Steps, strategies, and pitfalls,” which provided practical guidance on bridging the gap between research and real-world impact.
We were proud to see our CDT AI-Medical students—Raneem Toman, Arpita Saggar, and Oliver Mills—deliver excellent oral presentations, while the wider cohorts showcased their work through poster sessions. Congratulations to Eddy Ellis for winning the Best Poster Prize.
A special mention goes to our in-house “disruptor,” David Marples, whose thought-provoking and unconventional questions kept speakers and participants on their toes throughout the event.
This year also brought a delightful highlight with the presence of our “mini associates,” as Omar and Sobia introduced the next generation to the academic community, giving them an early and memorable start.
We conclude by extending our sincere thanks to Safa Abu-Sway and the Imperial College London CDT for organising such a successful event and for being truly gracious hosts.
CDT Careers Retreat: Two Days of Insight, Networking, and Practical Skills
The CDT Careers Retreat recently brought together students, researchers, and professionals for an enriching 48-hour experience focused on career development, networking, and hands-on learning. Over two days, participants explored opportunities across academia, industry, and the public sector through engaging discussions, collaborative exercises, and moments of relaxation.
The retreat opened with a warm welcome from the CDT Director Prof. David Hogg, setting the tone for an event that combined professional insight with personal well-being. A key highlight was the fireside chat featuring three distinguished guests:
- Netta Cohen (School of Computer Science, University of Leeds)
- Fouzhan Hosseini (Intel Corporation)
- Claire Rix (Workforce Transformation Lead, NHS England – North-East & Yorkshire Region)
Their candid reflections on career journeys sparked meaningful conversations about navigating roles in research, technology, and healthcare leadership. Attendees had the chance to ask questions, share experiences, and gain practical advice on building successful careers.
Beyond the formal sessions, the retreat offered opportunities for informal networking, relaxation, and reflection. Participants enjoyed dedicated time to unwind, connect with peers, and engage in open discussions about career aspirations and challenges.
Mock Interview Assessment and Scenario-Based Group Discussion
The retreat concluded with a practical exercise designed by Assoc. Prof. Owen Johnson and Dr Steve Carter for PhD candidates to demonstrate advanced analytical, ethical, and communication skills in the context of AI applications. Working in groups, participants reviewed a provided scenario, discussed technical, ethical, and practical implications, and presented concise recommendations with academic rigor. Observers assessed interactions and provided constructive feedback, focusing on communication, ethical reasoning, and problem-solving.
This exercise not only tested professional competencies but also offered valuable insights into teamwork and decision-making under pressure. The retreat closed with a sense of achievement and community, equipping attendees with both strategic career knowledge and practical skills for future success.
2025 The CDT AI-Medical Conference: A Resounding Success!
Our Annual CDT Conference, held on 18th June 2025, was a gathering of great minds, bringing together our talented doctoral researchers, esteemed academics, and invaluable industry partners. With over 30 PhD students presenting their research through spotlight talks and posters, the event highlighted the depth and diversity of innovation across disciplines. The event was a resounding success, showcasing the cutting-edge research and collaborative spirit thriving within our Centre for Doctoral Training.
Attendees were treated to an inspiring program, featuring insightful presentations from our students and engaging discussions with leading experts. We were particularly honoured to welcome our distinguished keynote speakers, including Florian Markowetz - Professor of Computational Oncology, University of Cambridge and Pearl Pu - Senior Scientist and Maître d'Enseignement, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
A dynamic guest panel discussion about “Cutting-edge commercial research at the intersection of AI and healthcare.” also sparked lively debate, featuring panellists such as Rashik Parmar MBE FBCS (formerly Group CEO of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT and IBM Fellow); Rachel Beverly-Stevenson (Co-Founder and Chief Executive of OneMedical Group); and James Pathan (whose work in mental health and simulation training aligns with medical AI applications).
The event fostered invaluable networking opportunities, allowing students to connect with potential mentors and collaborators, and for industry representatives to engage with the next generation of researchers. We extend our sincere thanks to all our speakers, panellists and participants for making this year's conference a memorable and impactful experience. We look forward to seeing you at our next event!
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Ping Lu for inviting MSc Students to present their posters.
The conference concluded on a powerful and uplifting note, as Richard Stephens a patient advocate shared personal reflections and words of encouragement—reminding us all of the human stories at the heart of our work.
We also celebrated outstanding contributions - congratulations to Xin Ci for winning Best Spotlight Presentation, and to Arpita and Yushi for receiving the Best Poster Prize. Your work stood out for its clarity, creativity, and impact.
Conference Highlights
A huge thank you to Arpita, Sashi, Hien and Azema for their exceptional efforts in organising the event.
2025 Joint CAI4H CDT Conference
Exciting Highlights from the Joint Conference!
We’re delighted to share that PhD & MRes students from several UKRI-funded Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) recently participated in the Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence for Healthcare (CAI4H) 2025, held on 28–29 May in York. This in-person event brought together emerging researchers and leading experts from across the fields of AI and healthcare, creating a vibrant space for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.
Organised by the CDT at UCL, the conference offered our students a unique platform to present their pioneering research, receive insightful feedback, and engage in thought-provoking discussions. It was also a fantastic opportunity to network with peers, academics, and industry professionals—including distinguished keynote speakers, Dr Isabell Straw (UCL) and Professor Sir Mike Brady (Oxford).
Events like CAI4H are vital for the academic and professional growth of our PhD students. They not only showcase the impactful work being done across our CDTs but also help students build meaningful connections with potential collaborators, mentors, and future employers.
Congratulations to Ben Keel for winning the Best Poster!
Your outstanding research and presentation truly stood out among a field of brilliant contributions. We're incredibly proud of your achievement and excited to see where your work leads next.
We’re incredibly proud of all our students’ contributions and the exciting research they’re advancing. Stay tuned for more updates on their achievements and future events!
2025 Pint of Science
Pint of Science
“How AI is Changing Healthcare” – A Pint of Science Success!
On 21 May 2025, The Attic in Leeds was filled with energy and curiosity as part of the Pint of Science festival, where science meets the public in the most engaging way—over a pint! The event, titled “How AI is Changing Healthcare,” was a fantastic success, drawing a lively and diverse audience eager to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of medicine.
The evening featured a compelling talk by Xin Ci Wong, titled “Dr AI Will See You Now: The Good, The Bad & The Algorithm.” Her presentation took the audience on a fascinating journey through the promises and perils of AI in healthcare. From AI-generated drugs entering clinical trials to the ethical dilemmas posed by deepfake doctors, Xin explored how generative AI is already diagnosing diseases, designing treatments, and even acting as a medical chatbot. Her talk sparked thoughtful reflection on whether we are witnessing the dawn of a medical revolution—or staring into a digital abyss.
The event also featured a dynamic panel discussion, with Owen Johnson among the expert panellists. The conversation delved into the real-world implications of AI in clinical settings, addressing both the transformative potential and the challenges of integrating these technologies into healthcare systems. Audience members were actively involved, asking insightful questions and contributing to a rich, open dialogue.
Held in the relaxed setting of The Attic, the event captured the spirit of Pint of Science—making cutting-edge science accessible and engaging. Attendees enjoyed lively conversations over drinks, connecting with researchers and fellow enthusiasts.
Events like this highlight the importance of public dialogue around emerging technologies. A big thank you to the organisers and everyone who joined us—we look forward to more inspiring evenings like this!
2024 CDT Retreat
Empowering Future Researchers: The AI-Medical CDT Retreat
The recent CDT AI-Medical 24 hour retreat was a transformative experience with over 60 delegates attending, it was designed to equip students with essential skills for their future careers. The retreat's primary purpose was to provide mentorship and training, focusing on effective communication with patients and industry partners, as well as honing the art of pitching innovative ideas.
Throughout the retreat, students engaged in a variety of activities aimed at enhancing their professional development. We started the retreat with a mentoring session led by Vania Dimitrova CDT Co Director, expert mentors from diverse fields shared their insights and experiences, offering invaluable guidance to cohorts 2 & 3 students. Interactive workshops and role-playing sessions allowed students to practice and refine their communication skills in realistic scenarios.
The evening featured a networking dinner, with a delightful meal prepared by the Weetwood Hall staff. Special thanks to Ben Keel for organising the after dinner quiz, which added a fun and engaging element to the evening.
One of the highlights of the retreat was the collaborative design session led by Owen Johnson – CDT Co Director. This session brought together patients, resident doctors, supervisors, and students, fostering a deeper understanding of the challenges and needs withing the healthcare industry. The collaborative environment encouraged the exchange of ideas and perspectives, leading to innovative solutions using AI and building stronger connections among participants.
During this time some of our Cohort 2 students (pictured left) were given the opportunity to write up their thesis in a quiet location away from everyday distractions, which they found highly beneficial.
Simon Cain - Westbourne Training & Consulting, delivered a workshop on the art of presenting pitches, where he shared valuable tips and strategies with the students; who then used these tools to enhance their pitches. The session culminated in a pitch competition, moderated by CDT Co-Director Owen Johnson in front of an expert panel of David Hogg - CDT Director and Vania Dimitrova – CDT Co Director with Simon Cain observing the pitches and providing individual feedback as well as awarding the prize for the best pitch.
2024 Cohort 2 Farewell
Best Wishes For Your Future Endeavours!
This October the CDT Management Board bid a heartfelt farewell to cohort 2. We celebrated their invaluable contributions and camaraderie with a memorable meal at the Lost and Found restaurant in Leeds. Their presence has been a cornerstone of the CDT, they will be greatly missed!
We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Jack Breen who is the first from Cohort 2 to successfully defend his PhD thesis and has secured employment at Perspectum Ltd based in Oxford.
2024 CDT Dragons Den
This year, once again the students were given the opportunity to be part of the Dragons Den organised by Mr Richard Stevens – Patient Advocate. 12 students presented their ideas to a panel of experts following consultation with patients over Zoom. This process involved multiple stages of interaction with patients, to gather valuable insights and feedback. These consultations ensured that the projects addressed real-world needs and challenges faced by patients.
The event was a testament to the students’ creativity and dedication. Each presentation reflected hard work and commitment of the students. The panel of experts provided constructive feedback, helping to refine and enhance the projects further. The Dragons Den event fostered collaboration with patients, encouraging students to think critically and creatively about their work.
Overall the event was a resounding success, highlighting the importance of patient-centred research and the potential of these innovative ideas to make a significant impact. It was an inspiring experience for all involved, showcasing the bright future of our PhD Students.
2024 CDT Networking Walk
This year cohort 5 invited students from the other cohorts to join them for their networking walk from Burnsall to Grassington in Yorkshire. This provided an opportunity to socialise and discuss their work with more experienced students in the great outdoors. The event fostered meaningful connections making it a valuable experience for everyone involved.
2024 Leeds AI-Medical ConSim Conference
This year cohort 5 were given the opportunity to present their MSc project presentations as simulated in a real conference, to fellow students and supervisors. The event was a fantastic platform for showcasing their ground breaking ideas and fostering collaborative discussions making it a memorable experience for all involved.
2024 CDT Conference
We recently hosted 2024 CDT Conference in Sir William Bragg Building, where innovation met inspiration! This annual event brought together leading researchers, industry experts and talented students from across the UK and beyond. The event featured Keynote speakers Prof. David Preen (Applications and opportunities for linked data research to tackle the big questions in health services policy and planning) and Prof. Keeley Crockett (People Powered AI- Challenged and Opportunities in Responsible and Ethical AI Development) as well as a panel of Leading Industry panellists’ Nishant Ravikumar - Adsilico, Zahra Ehteshami - Depuy Synthes (J&J) and Fiona Costello – ORCHA.
The event featured a diverse array of cutting-edge topics, from sustainable technologies to digital transformation, sparking thought provoking discussions that are set to shape the future of AI in medicine. The conference also offered students the opportunity to network, collaborate and be part of groundbreaking advancements.
2023 ConSim Conference
We are organising the MSc project presentations as a simulated real conference in September 2023, ConSim2023.
2023 CDT Conference
Our Leeds CDT AI Medical Conference in June 2023 was another great success. We were delighted to have a talk delivered by Sarah Culkin, Deputy Director of Analytics and Data Science in NHS England on ‘AI in the NHS’.
The students from all cohorts were given the opportunity to present their research and ideas through oral talks followed by poster sessions given by Cohort 1, Cohort 2 and Cohort 3.
2023 UKRI AI CDTs in Healthcare Joint Conference
In June 2023 the University of Leeds CDT hosted the UKRI AI CDT Joint Conference, which took place at the Principal Hotel, York. The conference offered an opportunity for our PhD researchers to showcase their research through oral presentations and poster sessions. The conference welcomed guest speakers Dorothy Monekosso, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Durham who gave a keynote talk on ‘Why is innovating in digital health challenging?’ and Richard Stephens from NCRI Consumer Forum who gave a keynote talk on ‘Fleshing Out the Data – Involving Patients in Your Research’. The conference was a great success, giving the students an opportunity to network with fellow researchers.
2022 Retreat Program
In Nov 2022 our Cohort 1, 2 and 3 students attended a retreat program at Weetwood Hall in Leeds. During this program, they participated in mentoring sessions and career panels which covered academia/industry/public sectors, interdisciplinary research; delivered by Ann Blandford from UCL and included a networking lunch.
2022 ConSim Conference
We organised the MSc project presentations as a simulated real conference C0nSim2022
2022 CDT Conference
Our Leeds CDT AI Medical Conference in June 2022 was a great success. We were delighted to have talks delivered by Hamish Fraser (Associate Professor of Medical Science Associate Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice Brown University) on the “Evaluation of diagnostic and triage accuracy and usability of a symptom checker in an emergency department: observational study” and by Alison Noble (Technikos Professor of Biomedical Engineering Fellow of St Hilda's College University of Oxford) on “The Emergence of Sonography Data Science”.
The students were given the opportunity to showcase their research and ideas through oral talks followed by poster sessions given by Cohort 1 and Cohort 2.
2022 Dragons Den
We are grateful to Richard Stephens for his enthusiasm, energy and passion to help everyone in our Centre, and especially the students, to become aware of the patients’ perspective when AI research is being translated to healthcare. Richard has been advising us, helping us shape the research programme, presenting to our students, and always reminding us to appreciate patients for sharing their data for research. The Patient Dragon’s Den Richard organised was a fantastic event that gave unique opportunity to the first cohort of our students to present their work to patients.
Alexandra, Della, John, and Richard were fantastic dragons. Not only did they share personal experience, but they could also gave a broad view of how patients could be affected by the research. We were impressed by the breadth of knowledge, understanding of AI, and the willingness to help our PhD students. They offered constructive feedback how to consider the effect on patients and shared invaluable tips how to engage with patients. Following the event, students who did not present (but participated as observers) were eager to have their patient dragon’s den presentations.
2022 UKRI AI CDTs in Healthcare Joint Conference
In May 2022 Cohort 1 and 2 attended the Joint CDT Conference. The conference offered an opportunity for our PhD researchers to showcase their research and ideas through oral talks and poster sessions. The conference began with a presentation from guest speaker Maria Liakata, Professor in Natural Language Processing (NLP) followed by a Q&A session. Our students were given the opportunity to network with fellow researchers from University College London, Edinburgh University, and Imperial College London.
Patient Engagement seminar with Richard Stephens
CDT journal club and seminars
The CDT journal club involves all students who are 6 months past the start of their studies. The students meet weekly, every Wednesday at 3pm, to present and discuss papers related to AI in Medical Diagnosis and Care. Some of the slots include presentations from internal or external speakers. If you wish to join the CDT journal club and seminars, contact Lucy Godson, Anna-Grace Linton or Zoe Hancox.
A monthly university-wide forum on Applications and Implications of AI, initiated and run by the students, providing an opportunity to meet diverse role models from different sectors and career stages.
Online activities and support
CDT-led coffee and chat sessions happen every Friday and provide an opportunity for social interaction and informal catchup. The students maintain regular contact through WhatsApp and Discord. The Discord channel is particularly effective in maintaining day-to-day activities of the CDT. We have two student led discord servers, one for work-related conversations/collaborations and another for socialising. The work-related server is where students keep in contact most days to discuss our work, clarify common queries, give reminders, give announcements, share useful resources, and share any relevant events to their studies. The students have separate channels for modules and were able to utilise this space to support each other and make sure that each student had a colleague to work with during group projects, which helped with group cohesion. The social server is a space for the CDT students and related courses which is mainly used for online social events. Over the summer this server is used to aid in the cohesion of the new cohort before joining in the autumn semester. This provides new students with a local contact with whom they are able to occasionally interact or ask questions.
CDT Cohort Walks
2024 CDT Networking Walk
This year cohort 5 invited students from the other cohorts to join them for their networking walk from Burnsall to Grassington culminating in a delightful lunch at the Red Lion Inn. This was a great opportunity to for cohort 5 students to socialise and connect with fellow cohort students.
As part of the induction for new students, we organise a social walk to allow the students to meet in an informal atmosphere and get to know each other. Cohort 3's induction included a walk in Ilkley Moors in September 2021.
In the summer 2021, a walk in Ilkley (Leeds) was organised for Cohort 2 students. Due to lockdown, Cohort 2 students had all activities online. The walk provided an opportunity to meet each other face to face, offering a good chance for group bonding and team building.
As part of their induction, Cohort 1 went for a walk in the Yorkshire Dales.
Social Activities
In addition to the walks, we regularly organise social activities to promote group bonding, team building, build a relaxing atmosphere and have fun :). The pictures below show two examples - celebrating the Chinese New Year with Cohort 1 and farewell to the CDT manager Ellen Goodison.
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