Gabriella Spinelli

Gabriella Spinelli serves as Reader in Healthcare Design and Innovation and Associate Director of Innovation and Digital Health at Brunel Design School, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University London. With over two decades of research experience and 60+ peer-reviewed publications, she specializes in human factors and user-centred design for complex socio-technical systems in healthcare, ageing populations, and sustainable development.

Her educational background includes:

• Laurea in Human Computer Interaction
• PhD in Computer Science
• Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (FHEA)

Spinelli's research integrates Digital Health, Regulatory Innovation, and Inclusive Design to address critical healthcare challenges. She pioneers strategic design approaches for medical technology regulation, focusing on AI-driven solutions, equitable access for diverse populations, and sustainable health innovation models that bridge NHS, academic, and industry collaboration.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2025-2009) reveals three dominant themes: wearable rehabilitation technologies (e.g., stroke recovery devices), AI-driven reduction of health inequalities (particularly for people of color in dermatology), and sustainable economic frameworks through complementary digital currencies aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals. Her work consistently emphasizes co-design methodologies and cross-cultural perspectives.

No scientific awards or major fellowships were explicitly documented in the source materials.

Spinelli has secured £4.5M+ in competitive research funding from EPSRC, ESRC, Innovate UK, MRC, and FORMAS. Current leadership includes RADIANT-CERSI (MRC, £1M) on regulatory science for AI in healthcare, Innovate UK (£250k) on NHS innovation leadership, and NIHR (£260k) on inclusive clinical trials. She supervises PhD candidates including an EPSRC DLA Studentship examining AI technology regulation.

She co-directs the Centre for Research into Smart Technologies for Health and Rehabilitation (STAHR) and leads the Design for Health programme, which drives NHS-medtech-academic partnerships for clinically validated innovations. As Director of Innovation and Digital Health for Brunel Partners Academic Centre for Health Sciences (BPACHS), she operationalizes translational research pathways.