Digital Health Validation Lab (DHVL) Enters Next Chapter as HealthTech Innovation & Translation Lab
Published: 16 April 2026
Strategic rebrand aligns with relocation to dedicated facility in the Health Innovation Hub (HiH), enhancing real-world testing and co-design capabilities
The Digital Health Validation Lab (DHVL) has officially rebranded as the HealthTech Innovation & Translation Lab, marking a new phase for the team as it continues to support the development and clinical adoption of pioneering healthtech solutions.
The strategic rebrand is part of a planned evolution that includes the team’s move into a dedicated space within Glasgow’s Health Innovation Hub (HiH), a state-of-the-art life sciences facility designed to accelerate next-generation health technologies and support their progression from breakthrough to patient benefit.
The rebrand reflects the University of Glasgow’s growing ambitions and the expanding scope of projects and partnerships it supports across the healthtech landscape. Guided by the Lab’s mission to advance promising technologies from early concept or prototype into meaningful real‑world impact, the refreshed brand identity reinforces this commitment while reflecting the full breadth of innovations the team champions.
Established by the University of Glasgow, in partnership with NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (NHS GGC), the HealthTech Innovation & Translation Lab provides an end-to-end evaluation pipeline for health technologies. By offering a trusted, evidence-based route to assess the safety, usability, acceptability, and effectiveness of emerging healthcare solutions, the Lab helps innovators generate the evidence needed to achieve adoption within healthcare systems.
To date, the team has supported a diverse range of health technologies and collaborative projects, ranging from AI-driven diagnostics and point-of-care devices to remote wearable monitoring and sensing platforms. By evaluating these innovations in real-world settings, they help to ensure that they are robust, user-centred, and ready for deployment in clinical environments.
A New Facility in the Health Innovation Hub (HiH)
The rebrand is accompanied by a move into a dedicated facility within the Health Innovation Hub (HiH) in Glasgow. The 87,000 sq ft Hub, developed by the University of Glasgow’s Living Laboratory for Precision Medicine in collaboration with Kadans Science Partner, was officially opened on 5 March by Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Located within the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District (GRID), the Hub transforms a former brownfield site into a world-class destination for research, innovation, and collaboration.
Purpose-built to support real-world development and testing, the Lab’s new facility within HiH features a clinical simulation suite, enabling innovators to test technologies in a quasi-real-world environment and gain early feedback on usability and performance. Co-design workspaces will also bring patients and members of the public directly into the innovation process, providing insights that help shape product design and optimisation.
Dr Ruth McLaughlin, Programme Director of the Living Laboratory programme, said: “We’re incredibly proud of these dedicated facilities, which allow us to test technologies in environments that closely reflect real clinical practice, while also involving patients and members of the public much more directly in the process.
“By bringing these capabilities together in a purpose-built environment, we can ensure that promising technologies are not only effective and user-centred, but also ready for use in real-world healthcare settings, ultimately benefiting both patients and healthcare systems.”
The HealthTech Innovation & Translation Lab emphasises that while its name, visual identity, and location have evolved, its leadership, team, services, and mission remain unchanged.
Professor David Lowe, Academic Lead of the HealthTech Innovation & Translation Lab, said: “Our transition to the HealthTech Innovation & Translation Lab, together with our relocation into the Health Innovation Hub, marks a significant step forward. This evolution sharpens our focus on healthtech and expands our capacity to accelerate high‑potential innovations from early concept through to clinical adoption.
“By combining a clearer brand identity with a purpose‑built environment for collaboration, co‑design, and real‑world evaluation, we are better positioned than ever to support innovators and deliver meaningful impact across the healthcare system.”
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For any questions, get in touch at healthtech-innovation-enquiries@glasgow.ac.uk
First published: 16 April 2026
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