BLOG: Bringing the world to Edinburgh: Reflections on hosting the final SAVE programme meeting

by Iwona Czerwinska | Programme Coordinator, Centre for Medical Informatics, Usher Institute

Some projects stay with you long after they've finished. For me, the Wellcome Leap SAVE Programme is definitely one of them.

With a year now having passed since we gathered in Edinburgh for the final SAVE Programme meeting, it feels like a natural moment to look back and reflect on what the programme achieved, the collaborations it created, and the people who made it so special. 

Although the SAVE Programme officially concluded in January 2026, its legacy is still very much alive. Teams continue to bring the work to completion through concluding publications, while new collaborations have grown from relationships established during the programme, including ongoing work with Sibel Health through the IMPALA project 

The SAVE Programme (Surgery: Assess/Validate/Expand), funded by Wellcome Leap, officially ran from September 2022 to January 2026, bringing together 14 multidisciplinary teams from leading universities, healthcare organisations and technology companies around the world.

At the University of Edinburgh, the programme was led by Professor Ewen Harrison and the Surgical and Critical Care Informatics Group within the Centre for Medical Informatics at the Usher Institute. Working closely with colleagues in the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery, our team collaborated with partners across eight countries, developing innovative approaches to tackle some of the world's biggest surgical challenges.

Bringing the world to Edinburgh

Back in September last year, we hosted our final meeting in Edinburgh, and it felt particularly special. It was an opportunity to welcome colleagues from around the world to the University of Edinburgh and to showcase not only the work of the SAVE Programme, but also the strength of the partnerships that had developed over the previous three years.

Between 22 and 26 September 2025, we welcomed around 150 delegates from ten countries to Edinburgh. Surgeons, clinicians, nurses, engineers, researchers, technology partners and funders all came together for a week of collaboration, discussion and innovation.

Rather than hosting a single conference, we brought together three major international programmes:

• The Fifth Wellcome Leap SAVE Principal Investigators Meeting (22–23 September 2025), including the SAVE Technology Showcase, where research teams demonstrated the latest technologies and innovations developed throughout the programme

• The Annual Meeting of the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery (GSU) (23–24 September 2025), jointly hosted by the University of Edinburgh and the University of Birmingham

• The Intelligent Pregnancy Products Platform (I3P) Global Meeting, hosted by Sibel Health (25–26 September 2025) 

Looking back now, one of the things I am most proud of is having everyone here in Edinburgh. Bringing together colleagues from across the world in one place felt incredibly meaningful. Seeing collaborators reconnect, meet new partners and exchange ideas in person reminded me that successful international research is built on relationships as much as it is on science.

For me, this wasn't just another conference – it was an important milestone, both professionally and personally.

Showcasing innovation

One of the highlights of the week was undoubtedly the SAVE Technology Showcase, held in the stunning Playfair Library.

Walking into such a historic setting and seeing it transformed into an exhibition of cutting-edge healthcare technologies was something I will never forget. Research teams demonstrated innovations developed throughout the SAVE Programme, from surgical skills training and patient monitoring to digital technologies designed to improve patient outcomes.

The showcase was officially opened by Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh.

Around 200 visitors attended during the afternoon, including researchers, clinicians, university leaders, industry representatives and funding organisations.

What I enjoyed most was that it never felt like a traditional exhibition. Instead, it became a space where ideas were exchanged freely. Delegates gathered around demonstrations, asked questions, shared experiences and discussed how technologies could continue to evolve. You could almost see future collaborations taking shape as conversations unfolded.

More than a research meeting

As the week unfolded, it became increasingly clear that the greatest value extended beyond the formal programme.

Clinicians shared experiences from operating theatres across different healthcare systems. Engineers gained valuable insights into the practical challenges faced by healthcare professionals. Researchers explored how promising innovations could move more quickly from laboratory prototypes into clinical practice.

Some of the most valuable discussions happened between sessions, over coffee or at the end of the day. There was a genuine willingness to learn from one another, regardless of discipline, institution or country.

Following the Technology Showcase, the international delegates also gathered at Ghillie Dhu for a gala dinner and traditional Scottish ceilidh. After a day of presentations, demonstrations and discussion, the evening provided an opportunity for colleagues from around the world to relax together, continue conversations informally and experience Scottish hospitality.

For me, these moments reinforced something that had become clear throughout the SAVE Programme: lasting international partnerships are built not only through formal meetings, but through shared experiences and personal connections.

A lasting legacy

Looking back, I am incredibly proud of what our team achieved.

Organising three international meetings in one week was no small task, but the experience reinforced some valuable lessons. Careful planning is essential, but flexibility is equally important. International events are dynamic, and success depends on being able to adapt, communicate effectively and support one another when challenges arise.

Most importantly, the week reminded me that collaboration is ultimately about people. Research, technology and innovation may be at the heart of programmes like SAVE, but it's the relationships built along the way that create lasting impact.

Although the Wellcome Leap SAVE Programme has now come to an end, its legacy extends far beyond the technologies developed over the past three years.

It has created an international network of collaborators who remain committed to tackling some of the world's most pressing surgical challenges through shared expertise, innovation and partnership.

For me personally, hosting the final Principal Investigators Meeting in Edinburgh was a real privilege. It was incredibly rewarding to welcome colleagues from around the world to a city I am proud to call home and to see so many people come together with a shared purpose.

When I think back on that week, I won't just remember the presentations, the technology or the logistics. I will remember the conversations, the laughter, the new friendships and the feeling that, for a few days, Edinburgh became the centre of a truly global community working together to improve surgical care.

The experience and lessons from bringing such a diverse international community together have also been invaluable as I prepare to organise the I3P Annual Meeting 2026 in Rwanda, providing an opportunity to build on that experience and create another meaningful space for collaboration, learning and partnership.

That, more than anything else, is what made the week so special – and something I will always be proud to have been part of.

Further information

SAVE | Wellcome Leap: Unconventional Projects Funded at Scale

IMPALA | Global Surgery Research

Global Surgery | About Us | Global Surgery Research