MiNT UK 2025

In hosting MiNT UK 2025, we wanted to not only hold a great conference, but also create a space where some of the best minds in neurorehabilitation could meet and share ideas about its current landscape, and what its future could look like. It was an excellent opportunity for everyone to understand where neurotechnology, rehabilitation, clinical insight, and human stories come together, and how we could collaborate in all these areas in order to create the best possible environment for rehabilitation. We have learnt so much from this conference, and are so grateful to our exhibitors, innovators, and especially our Supporting Partner, Guldmann, for their continued support for MiNT, and for all the valuable feedback they have given us. We plan to use this feedback to make future events the best they possibly can be. 

We feel so privileged to have created a space where individuals from so many different areas in neurotech could come together and create connections, and begin to close the gap between innovation and clinical practice. The boundary between research and development, and real-world care, is disappearing. It is being replaced by a shared commitment to make neurotechnology work for clinicians, with patients, and in everyday practice.

We had some fantastic talks from lots of brilliant people in the industry, from clinicians to innovators, researchers to patients. 

• In Laura Marriott and Lizzie Mills’ session, we saw how The MiNT Academy’s Level 2 modules and integration of the logbook are creating a framework to close the loop between patient, practitioner, and product.
• Dennis Viet’s talk, “Empowering Therapists - The Importance of Contextualised Data in Rehab” showed the practical side of how therapists can use real-time, meaningful data, using products such as MIDAS and Abilitate.
• Mark McIntosh delivered a thought-provoking session that challenged us to reconsider the ways in which technology and rehabilitation can intersect in the field of amputation. He demonstrated how we can combine neurotechnologies to not only enhance functional outcomes, but also provide richer, more meaningful ways to measure progress. His session reminded us that neurotechnology isn't just an add-on, but a bridge between clinical intuition, and measurable improvement.
• The session from Dr. Louise Johnson, “Rehabilitation in the NHS: Can Robots Do It Better?”, gave us an insight to where robotics can enhance acute stroke care, and where leadership, culture, and workflow remain the real hurdles. 
• Barry’s Bar, was an informal chat with Barry Richards, Dr. Niall McCann, and Mark Pollock about finding purpose after a spinal injury. It reminded us that behind every innovation is a human journey with uncertainty, resilience, adaptation, and hope.
• Dr. Amit Pujari and Laura Jones presented an innovative study which explored how non-invasive random stimuli can be used to enhance light touch sensation in people living with chronic stroke. Their session shed light on a novel approach to sensory rehabilitation, one which uses gentle, carefully modulated simulation to retrain neural pathways and improve tactile awareness. They demonstrated not only measurable improvements in sensation, but also meaningful feedback from patients describing how these changes positively influenced their daily lives.
• Professor Stuart Baker delivered a fascinating and deeply insightful exploration into the neural mechanisms that underpin recovery after stroke. He reminded us that while stroke causes permanent loss of neural tissue, the brain and spinal cord possess remarkable adaptive capacity. His talk unpacked the delicate balance between beneficial plasticity and maladaptive reorganisation, highlighting how understanding these mechanisms can guide more targeted and effective interventions.
• Alison Wildt and Professor Rui Loureiro delivered an inspiring session on the National Rehabilitation Centre, highlighting how clinical excellence and cutting-edge research are being combined to transform rehabilitation across the UK. They showcased the NRC’s mission to expand in-patient capacity, improve regional coordination, enhance access beyond neurological conditions,  and translate large-scale, clinically driven research into tangible patient outcomes.

We were also lucky enough to have two fascinating workshops from experts in their respective fields: Chrissy Bibby and Jen Mellows hosted “In Exploring the Evidence Base for the Use of Neurotechnology in Dysphagia”, while Rose Beacham and Rob Howland lead the “Explorative Workshop in the Interdisciplinary Clinical Application of a Driving Simulator in Neurorehabilitation”. Chrissy and Jen guided us through the current evidence, clinical applications, and research gaps in dysphagia care, which highlighted how neurotechnology can enhance assessment, management, and interdisciplinary rehabilitation. Rose and Rob introduced the use of driving simulators as a neurorehabilitation tool, showing how activity analysis can address cognitive, physical, and sensory deficits, while fostering co-design between clinicians and technology developers. 

Our exhibition and innovator spaces were more than just a showroom - they were a thriving space of co-creation where all of our attendees were exploring the exciting technology on offer, sharing feedback, and imagining future possibilities.

It is clear that MiNT UK has become a microcosm of a healthy ecosystem that is defined by collaboration and partnerships built between clinicians, technology developers, case managers, regulatory voices, and researchers. We don’t want just outputs; we want outcomes that matter. When patients, clinicians, and people in the industry all align around a common goal, we begin to tip the scale towards real impact.

Thank you so much to those of you who came along. We hope you left feeling inspired, energised, and ready to work towards a brighter future.