Dr Gabriella Spinelli
Associate Director of Innovation and Digital Health/Reader

Summary

Reader in Healthcare Design and Innovation, Brunel Design School, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences.

Dr Spinelli holds a Laurea in Human-Computer Interaction, a PhD in Computer Science, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (FHEA). Her research spans more than two decades and centres on human factors and user-centred design in complex socio-technical systems, with 60+ peer-reviewed journal and conference publications.

Her interdisciplinary research portfolio encompasses public and third-sector settings; in healthcare specifically, her major applied work includes the design and evaluation of inclusive, intuitive and sustainable medical products (supported by AHRC, NHS Charity, NHS England, MRC, Innovate UK and NIHR). More recently, her focus has shifted to strategic design and regulatory innovation in digital health.

She is Principal Investigator of the RADIANT CERSI, a Centre for Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation in Transformative Digital Health and AI.  She also leads programmes on innovation leadership in the NHS, and support the NIHR funded Commercial Delivery Research Centre led by the London North West NHS University Trust to achieve inclusive community engagement and participation in clinical trials for responsible research and innovation.

Dr Spinelli is named inventor on two medical-device patents and co-directs the Centre for Research into Smart Technologies for Health and Rehabilitation (STAHR). She leads the Design for Health programme to facilitate co-development of clinically-led innovations through NHS, medtech and academic collaboration. 

In addition to her research leadership, Gabriella teaches Human Factors to final-year students and supervises undergraduate and postgraduate reserach students in healthcare innovation.

Previous notable projects include the analysis of police command and control room operations in collaboration with the National Police Intelligence Agency (EPSRC); long-term research on technology adoption and inclusive product design for ageing populations (ESRC; DAIWA Foundation); and the development of intuitive product-service systems for later life (Design Council). She has led international research into community currencies and their role in reimagining social care and sustainable economic exchange (Innovate UK, £1M), as well as the development and evaluation of digital complementary currencies aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (FORMAS).

Dr Spinelli is a member of the MHRA National Commission for the Regulation of AI in Healthcare. She serves as Scientific Advisor to the UK Home Office (HOSAC) and she is also a member of the EPSRC Peer Review College and an Associate Editor of the Journal of Design for Augmented Humanity.