Usher Institute Inaugural Lecture Showcase

The Usher Institute Inaugural Lecture Showcase represents a flagship event in the University of Edinburgh's 2026 academic calendar. This event serves as a formal platform for newly appointed professors to present their groundbreaking research to the public, peers, and industry leaders. Set within the state-of-the-art Usher Building at the Edinburgh BioQuarter, the showcase focuses on the "epic quest" of digital transformation within the NHS and global healthcare systems.

Keynote speakers include Professor Kathrin Cresswell, a leading social scientist specializing in digital innovations, and Professor Nazir Lone, an expert in critical care and epidemiology. Professor Cresswell’s lecture famously uses the lens of Homer’s Iliad to describe the "heroic" struggle of implementing AI and Electronic Health Records in complex medical environments. Meanwhile, Professor Lone explores the frontier of AI-driven epidemiology and its role in improving long-term recovery for critically ill patients. The event is designed to bridge the gap between abstract academic research and practical, life-saving applications in the health sector. Attendees will experience a blend of traditional academic ceremony and forward-thinking technological discourse, followed by a networking reception where the future of data-driven medicine is debated.