TEDMEDLive comes to Bristol

Could the quantum computing revolution transform drug development, are there new approaches for improving sleep and do people benefit from being diagnosed with early-stage dementia? These are some of the questions that will be discussed at the first TEDMEDLive Bristol event at the MShed on Thursday [18 April].

TEDMEDLive Bristol will bring together some of Bristol and the UK’s leading thinkers, researchers and innovators and will be the official launch of Bristol Health Partners. The event aims to inspire and provoke, to share ideas and find ways to transform the understanding of, and approach to, key health problems in Bristol and beyond.

Professor Peter Mathieson, Director of Bristol Health Partners and Dean of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Bristol, said: “TEDMEDLive Bristol will launch Bristol Health Partners, which is a collaboration between four NHS Trusts, Bristol’s two universities and Bristol City Council, and it will bring a new approach to the way that innovative health benefits will be delivered to patients.”

The event will open with Professor Peter Mathieson and Deborah Evans, Chair of Bristol Health Partners, talking about the Bristol health system and Bristol Health Partners.

During the day there will be a selection of talks by patients, practitioners and academics on key health problems including the role of the patient and prevention. There will also be speakers ranging from an Executive Producer at Aardman Animations to a Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre. The event will link in with worldwide coverage of the TEDMED 2013 event in Washington DC.

David Relph, Head of Strategy and Business Planning at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, said: “TEDMEDLive Bristol is about reframing the way health challenges are faced and building the relationships to tackle them. We hope that TEDMEDLive Bristol is the start of something bigger.”

There will be 29 talks during the day, including:

The quantum pharmacy – Professor Jeremy O’Brien will outline some of the radical transformations in medicine that could occur as a result of the quantum computing revolution.

How vaccines really work – Professor Adam Finn will explain how vital it is for people to gain a better understanding of the importance and impact of vaccines if dangerous illnesses are to be controlled.

I don’t like the way I look – Dr Nicky Rumsey will argue it is crucial for society to challenge the ‘beauty myths’ to achieve change.

Thoughts that go bump in the night – Dr Matt Jones will follow the case for new, non-invasive approaches to sleep and how neuroscience might finesse the technologies that some people swear by but many psychiatrists dismiss.

Early dementia: a label too far – Dr Chris Fox will discuss his roadmap proposal for dementia to guide healthcare practitioners through this difficult area.

This place is killing me – Professor Gabriel Scally will throw a gauntlet to central and local government and the private sector that they should devote more time, energy and resources to designing healthy and sustainably built environments.

TEDMEDLive Bristol will culminate with a People’s Choice session for the public on the evening of 18 April. Dementia: does everyone want an early diagnosis? is the subject voted by the people of Bristol as the biggest health challenge facing the city. The debate between Professor Derek Hill and Dr Chris Fox will be chaired by Dr Peter Brindle and the event is in association with Bristol Festival of Ideas.

TEDMEDLive Bristol will be streamed live online at www.bristolhealthpartners.nhs.uk and the event can be followed on twitter #tedmedbristol