We’re proud to announce that PHARMExcel was runner-up in the SEHTA 2025 Healthcare Technology Awards for “Best Partnership between Academia and Business”, sponsored by the University of Southampton, School of Healthcare Enterprise & Innovation.
This recognition highlights our role as a trusted CRO for medical device trials in the UK, and celebrates the innovative collaboration between PHARMExcel and Barking & Havering NHS Trust — a partnership focused on advancing a next-generation brain-machine interface that has the potential to transform mental health and neurological care.
PHARMExcel is proud to be supporting the clinical trial delivery and regulatory strategy for an Ultrasonic Neural Interface (UNI) — a novel medical device designed to interact with the whole brain using ultrasonic signals. The technology represents a major leap forward in wearable neural interface development and may provide new hope for people living with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and epilepsy.
Through this investigator-led project, Barking & Havering NHS Trust brings clinical and academic leadership, while PHARMExcel leads on clinical trial management, compliance, and governance. Our collaboration demonstrates the value of partnerships between NHS Trusts and CROs in clinical innovation, combining academic insight with the operational rigour needed to bring technologies like this safely and effectively to patients.
Neurological and psychiatric disorders remain among the NHS’s greatest challenges, costing the UK economy an estimated £96 billion annually. Despite this, up to a third of patients do not respond to existing treatments. The Ultrasonic Neural Interface (UNI) offers a new approach — one that could enable non-invasive, real-time monitoring of brain activity, opening the door to more targeted, personalised therapies.
This project highlights how a clinical research organisation for medical device trials in the UK can help bridge the gap between innovation and real-world patient care. If successful, the UNI could become a wearable device capable of continuous brain monitoring and early intervention, helping patients avoid unnecessary hospital stays and lengthy recovery times.
Through this partnership, we aim to accelerate the clinical validation of neurotechnology that:
This collaboration not only benefits the NHS and its patients but also has significant commercial potential. With the global neurostimulation market valued at over $6 billion, the UNI is a viable, scalable innovation poised to meet both clinical and market demands. PHARMExcel’s regulatory expertise supports faster approval of medical devices in the UK, EU, and US, helping our partners navigate the complex clinical and compliance landscape.
“This project exemplifies what can be achieved when clinical innovation meets operational excellence,” said Yvanne Enever, CEO of PHARMExcel. “We are proud to work alongside Barking & Havering to fast-track such a promising technology that could make a meaningful difference in millions of lives.”
If you’re seeking a CRO specialising in neurotechnology or wearable device trials, PHARMExcel provides the strategic insight and operational excellence needed to guide your innovation from research to regulatory approval.
Talk to us about how we can support your next breakthrough.
