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

Summary

Gabriella Spinelli is Reader in Healthcare Design and Innovation at the Brunel Design School, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences. She 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, spanning over two decades, focuses on Human Factors and User-Centred Design applied to complex socio-technical systems, with over 60 peer-reviewed journal and conference publications. Her research portfolio includes interdisciplinary projects across the public and third sectors. Notable projects include the analysis of police command and control room operations in collaboration with the National Police Intelligence Agency (EPSRC, £75k); long-term research on technology adoption and inclusive product design for ageing populations (ESRC, £520k; DAIWA Foundation, £15k); and the development of intuitive product-service systems for later life (Design Council, £25k; Research Councils UK, £40k). She has led applied 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, £2M). In healthcare, her work includes the design and evaluation of inclusive, intuitive, and sustainable medical products (AHRC, £25k; NHS Charity, £60k; NHS England, £48k; POGP, £9k).

Her current research centres on strategic design and regulatory innovation in digital health. She is Principal Investigator of RADIANT-CERSI (Centre for Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation) in Transformative Digital Health and AI, funded by the MRC (£1M), and leads additional programmes on innovation leadership in the NHS (Innovate UK, £250k), inclusive participation in clinical trials (NIHR, £260k) for sustainable health innovation models.

She is named inventor on two medical device patents and co-founder of a start-up focused on women’s health. Gabriella co-directs the Centre for Research into Smart Technologies for Health and Rehabilitation (STAHR) and serves as Director of Innovation and Digital Health for the Brunel Partners Academic Centre for Health Sciences (BPACHS). She leads the Design for Health programme, facilitating co-development of clinically relevant innovations through NHS, medtech, and academic collaboration.

In addition to her academic roles, she serves as Scientific Advisor to the UK Home Office (HOSAC), is a member of the EPSRC Peer Review College, Associate Editor of the Journal of Design for Augmented Humanity, and sits on the Organising Committee of the BMJ Future Health Conference. She is also a member of the Research and Innovation Steering Committee at Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and advisor to NeuroMind XR.