News: ABSPIE recent initiatives

The ABSPIE Lab celebrates the exceptional achievement of PhD student Pedro Checa Rifa, who has graduated with Distinction from the MSc in Digital Health, Data and Diagnostics at the University of Warwick and received the Head of School Prize for best overall performance. Pedro’s success reflects years of dedication, impactful research contributions, and sustained mentorship under Dr Davide Piaggio, and the lab looks forward to his continued achievements during his PhD journey.

The ABSPIE Lab celebrates its co-authorship role in the new WHO guide, Development of medical device policies, 2nd ed., shaping global standards for technology access. The Lab co-leads, Davide Piaggio and Leandro Pecchia, were involved via IFMBE HTAD. This new guide ensures policy alignment with SDGs, digital health, and sustainability. This publication marks a continuing trend of high-level collaboration between the ABSPIE Lab and the WHO, maximising research impact on global healthcare systems.

Dr. Davide Piaggio has received the 2025 IPEM Early Career Award in Innovation for his work on accessible, sustainable healthcare technologies. His research focuses on frugal medical devices and AI-driven diagnostics for low-resource settings. The award recognises impactful innovation with real-world clinical translation.

The ABSPIE Lab from the University of Warwick showcased its pioneering research at the IUPESM World Congress 2025 in Adelaide, earning multiple prestigious awards and recognitions. The team presented cutting-edge contributions in affordable and sustainable healthcare, including an award-winning, 3D-printed spirometer for low-resource settings, AI-driven diagnostics, and novel digital health solutions.

Key achievements included Dr. Davide Piaggio receiving a major European award for early career researchers, and a student team—James Wallace, Wanzi Su, and Pedro Checa Rifa—winning a merit award at the student design competition. The lab's significant presence highlighted its commitment to advancing global biomedical engineering.

At the 12th EDCTP Forum held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 15th to 20th June 2025, Ernest Bwogi, a biomedical engineer from Ernest Cook University, presented collaborative research on “Oxygen Concentrator Failures in Resource-Limited Settings.” This study, jointly conducted with the University of Warwick and University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome and funded by EPSRC IAA, examines the technical, environmental, and operational factors affecting the performance of oxygen concentrators essential to healthcare in low-resource environments. Bwogi’s presentation highlighted the significance of publishing peer-reviewed, evidence-based research to inform practical solutions and policy discussions. The forum provided a platform for interdisciplinary engagement and underscored the critical role of emerging professionals in driving innovation for healthcare delivery in underserved regions. Bwogi’s participation demonstrated the impact of global research partnerships in addressing real-world health challenges.