19 December 2025
Looking back at 2025
Explore our curated overview of 2025, showcasing how we continue to engineer better health through groundbreaking research, strategic partnerships, and clinical innovations.
The year 2025 has been defined by innovation, collaboration, and impact for the School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences. From AI-driven discoveries and pioneering nanotechnology, to a landmark NHS trial and the launch of a new King’s spinout, these highlights reflect the cutting-edge science and collaborations advancing healthcare.
This collection highlights just some of the stories from the past year — with many more examples of innovation and impact continuing to drive our mission forward.
Professor Keyoumars Ashkan awarded MBE in King's New Year's Honours
Professor Keyoumars Ashkan was appointed as a consultant neurosurgeon at King’s in 2006 and is now the lead for Functional and Oncological Neurosurgery.
London Institute for Healthcare Engineering hosts Radiology AI Summit 2025
The Radiology Al Summit (RAIS) is an exclusive annual event uniting industry-leading experts, academics, clinicians, and policy advocates for two days to collaborate on bringing forward Al into clinical and diagnostic settings.
Inaugural King’s MedTech Accelerator at LIHE completes first programme
The inaugural King’s MedTech Accelerator (KMA) programme completed its first iteration of supporting aspiring entrepreneurs from across King’s in medical technologies (MedTech) to grow their understanding of the translation path from bench-to-bedside-to-boardroom.
School alum Nitya Dintakurti featured on BBC's Dragon's Den
Nitya Dintakurti is the founder and CEO of Unpause, a venture she built during her time at King's College London. She discussed her journey from academia to entrepreneurship, and her experience pitching her product on Dragon’s Den.
Professor Tim Witney elected Vice President of ESMI
Professor Tim Witney, Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow and Professor of Molecular Imaging at the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, has been elected the Vice President of the European Society for Molecular Imaging (ESMI), and will take up the role of President in 2026.
School delivers first of its kind Human Tissue Dissection Training with Medtronic spinal robot
The new training enables neurosurgeons to develop operative skills with new cutting-edge technology, the Mazor robotic guidance system.
King's first to benefit from two whole-body PET-CT imaging systems
King’s College London is the first in the UK to benefit from two Biograph Vision Quadra systems from Siemens Healthineers, marking a new era of PET-CT.
King’s College London, Imperial College London and The Alan Turing Institute create 3,800 digital hearts
For the first time, researchers have created over 3,800 anatomically accurate digital hearts to investigate how age, sex and lifestyle factors influence heart disease and electrical function.
King’s researchers support nationwide study demonstrating safety and efficiency of AI in cardiovascular diagnosis
A major new study, co-led by researchers at the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, has shown that an artificial intelligence (AI) diagnostic tool can be safely and effectively implemented to improve the care of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).
Perspectum – a global leader in medical imaging and AI - partners with LIHE to advance AI-powered medical imaging solutions
Perspectum will open a London office on-site within LIHE to bring new technologies to NHS patients.
School radio pharmacist Maggie Cooper awarded British Nuclear Medicine Society Roll of Honour
A brilliant scientist and a generous collaborator, Maggie has played a pivotal role in numerous Nuclear Medicine research initiatives, often working behind the scenes to ensure their success.
London Institute for Healthcare Engineering team wins Best Project — Life Sciences at 2025 European Healthcare Design Awards
LIHE was selected from a highly competitive shortlist that included major projects from Australia and Scotland, making this win a standout moment for King’s and its partners.
King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ complete first ever successful trial of a robotic surgical system for throat cancer surgery
A pioneering study at King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust has successfully tested a new robotic surgical system for treating head and neck conditions, marking a significant step forward in minimally invasive cancer care.
King’s researchers awarded National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funding to develop robotic prototype for safe innerear drug delivery
Researchers at King’s College London have been awarded an NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) - Product Development Award to develop the next generation of steerable balloon endoscopes for hearing loss treatment delivery, which use soft robotics and artificial intelligence technologies to enable precise therapies for hearing loss.
King’s Biomedical Engineering programmes top London for third year and rank among university’s top 10 for student satisfaction in the 2025 National Student Survey
King’s College London’s Biomedical Engineering programmes have achieved 85% for overall student satisfaction in the 2025 National Student Student Survey (NSS).
King’s researchers awarded £10 million Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) grant to fast track clinical translation of healthcare nanotechnologies
A groundbreaking UK research initiative is set to revolutionise the future of healthcare nanotechnology, building on the success of life-saving innovations like the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines and other pioneering drugs based on nanotechnologies.
King’s spinout Fraiya Ltd secures £1.75m National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) grant to explore AI for fetal ultrasound screening
The project, led by Professor Reza Razavi and Dr Jacqueline Matthew, will evaluate the effectiveness of AI-assisted anomaly detection in pregnancy scans across multiple NHS sites.
Dr Konrad Wagstyl and Dr Sophie Adler awarded Michael Prize 2025 for exceptional contributions to epilepsy neuroimaging and artificial intelligence
Together, Dr Wagstyl and Dr Adler co-founded the Multicentre Epilepsy Lesion Detection (MELD) project, where they developed the world’s largest MRI dataset for focal epilepsy.
LIHE launches MedTech Venture Kickstarter with Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst funding on behalf of Health Innovation Network (HIN)
The London Institute for Healthcare Engineering (LIHE) launched its MedTech Venture Kickstarter – a structured programme designed to help ventures bring new medical devices to market.
King’s researchers awarded £268,301 to boost UK supply of radiopharmaceuticals for childhood neuroblastoma scans and treatment
The 24-month project will focus on developing three radiopharmaceuticals: [124I]mIBG, [18F]mFBG, and [211At]mABG, which are not currently produced to the standards required for clinical use in the UK.
King’s spinout Nuclide Therapeutics secures £5m investment from Marathon Beteiligungs AG to advance detection and treatment of therapy-resistant cancers
The milestone-based investment will support the advancement of a new generation of cancer care radiotheranostics for patients who have exhausted standard treatment options.
Professor Prokar Dasgupta OBE elected Honorary Royal Academy of Engineering Fellow for work on public perceptions of robotic surgery
A globally recognised clinician-scientist, educator, polymath and British Journal of Urology International (BJUI) Editor-in-Chief, Professor Dasgupta pioneered robotic urology surgery in the UK.
School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences returns to New Scientist Live 2025 with award-winning ‘Hospital of the Future’ stand
Between 18–20 October at ExCeL London, over 130 volunteers came together to showcase the School’s cutting‑edge work in medical imaging, soft robotics, digital health, and more. Across 10 interactive stands, members of the public had the chance to explore our research and innovations firsthand. Once again the exhibit was voted the festival’s most popular feature.
Funding from Royal Academy of Engineering Diversity Impact Programme enables strategic guide to support underrepresented student groups
The resource draws on successful practices from the School's Success for Black Students programme.
LIHE’s Medical Engineering Quality Management System certified by BSI to International Standard ISO 13485:2016
Being certified to the International Standard ISO 13485:2016 means that the QMS consistently demonstrates its ability to provide medical devices and related services that meet customer and regulatory requirements, ensuring quality and safety.
School welcomes Professor Simon Cherry as new Professor of Total Body Imaging
Simon will lead on innovative physics optimising the use of the School’s unique infrastructure to generate new opportunities in total-body PET scanning and implement improvements in patient care.