The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has partnered with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust to launch the Manchester Sandbox, a program designed to test emerging healthcare technologies within NHS settings.

Officials say the sandbox will enable faster access to new technologies for patients, including AI risk-identification models and innovative treatments.

A roundtable with regulators, NHS bodies, innovators, researchers, and patient representatives is planned to identify additional opportunities for the programme.

The initiative will explore regulatory approaches for increasingly sophisticated medical technologies and aims to share lessons to support safe NHS adoption.

The sandbox provides a structured real-world environment for innovators, healthcare professionals, regulators, and researchers to evaluate technologies before broader use.

MHRA says the programme will allow earlier assessment of technologies and clarify the evidence developers need to support adoption in healthcare.

MHRA plans to invite medical device developers to submit expressions of interest for the next phase of the sandbox.

At launch, technologies showcased included wearable devices and AI-powered Ambient Voice Technology already used to support patient care.

Initial focus includes AI-enabled medical devices and other technologies, with the aim of generating evidence on safety, effectiveness, and suitability for NHS care.

The sandbox will help NHS organisations understand how technologies perform in operational settings and how they can be integrated into existing services.

The Manchester Sandbox aligns with broader efforts to accelerate healthcare innovation while maintaining appropriate regulatory oversight.

The launch took place at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust’s Oxford Road Campus, with participation from regulators, NHS, industry, and research sectors.