Prof Alastair Denniston

Theme Lead, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Honorary Professor, specialising in AI and Digital Health Technologies, (University of Birmingham)

Prof Alastair Denniston is Professor of Regulatory Science and Innovation at the University of Birmingham and Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist at University Hospitals Birmingham NHSFT. He is a Senior NIHR Investigator, leading a research and policy group on the evaluation and regulation of digital healthcare, including artificial intelligence (AI). He directly advises the UK Government through his role on the UK Government’s Regulatory Horizons Council with his reports on needed regulatory reform for medical devices (2021) and AI as a medical device (2022) being a key part of current innovation and MHRA regulatory policy in this area.

Prof Denniston and Dr Xiaoxuan Liu co-lead the AI & Digital Health Group, a research and policy group focused on responsible innovation of AI health technologies. The group’s work seeks to ensure AI technologies are safe, effective, and equitable, and benefits patients and society.