The University of Leicester and Apollo Healthcare showcased cutting-edge research aimed at transforming healthcare delivery in the UK, India and globally during the University of Leicester-Apollo Healthcare Conference 2026, highlighting the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI), precision medicine and international collaboration in advancing patient care.

Held on 14–15 July, the conference marked the first major event featuring researchers from the newly established Centre for Digital Health and Precision Medicine (CDHPM), a joint initiative launched in 2025 by the University of Leicester, The Apollo University and Apollo Hospitals.

The Centre combines the partners' expertise in clinical research, digital health and precision medicine to develop innovative, data-driven solutions that improve patient outcomes through advanced analytics and personalised healthcare.

The two-day conference brought together clinicians, researchers, healthcare executives and innovators from the UK and India to explore collaborative approaches to addressing major healthcare challenges through applied research.

A key focus was the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in healthcare, with presentations highlighting AI applications in orthopaedics, uterine cancer and mesothelioma, alongside discussions on translating AI innovations into real-world clinical practice.

The programme also covered critical healthcare priorities including health inequalities, multiple long-term conditions, healthy ageing, environmental health and preventive care. Participants identified cardiovascular disease, respiratory disorders, infectious diseases, metabolic health and cancer prevention as priority areas for future collaborative research.

Nilesh Samani, Professor of Cardiology at the University of Leicester and Co-Director of CDHPM, said, “It was great to see this inaugural Leicester-Apollo conference take place and to have the opportunity to discuss major health issues affecting patients in both UK and India and how these can be tackled through innovative approaches, including AI.”

Established in 2023, the strategic partnership between the University of Leicester and Apollo focuses on precision medicine, healthcare data science, respiratory, cardiovascular and diabetes research, and healthcare workforce development, with the shared objective of accelerating healthcare innovation and improving patient care across India, the UK and beyond.

Professor Tom Robinson, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Life Sciences at the University of Leicester, said the collaboration extends beyond education into translational research.

He noted that the partnership includes student mobility programmes, postgraduate medical training, nursing education and joint research initiatives, adding that the Centre for Digital Health and Precision Medicine represents the most significant component of the collaboration by integrating research discoveries into clinical practice.

Dr Sujoy Kar, Chief Medical Information Officer and Vice President at Apollo Hospitals Group and Co-Director of CDHPM, said, “At the Centre for Digital Health & Precision Medicine, we are transforming healthcare by combining clinical excellence, rigorous science, and responsible artificial intelligence to deliver measurable improvements in patient outcomes worldwide.”

Dr Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director, Apollo Hospitals said, “Apollo's partnership with the University of Leicester combines complementary strengths in academia, research, and clinical practice, creating an enduring platform for innovation, education, and improved patient outcomes.”