The team met with Mr Willis to discuss driving innovation in the health sector, in particular and how the Partnership's activities underpinned national healthcare innovation strategies. Discussions also focused on the background to the project and White Rose University Consortium Chief Executive Julian White presented the full scope of the project - from the creation of innovative collaborations, through to helping these reach the marketplace.

Mr Willis praised the collaborative nature of the programme in particular. He said: "The White Rose Health Innovation Partnership is a dynamic organisation that's demonstrating the value of collaboration between academic institutions, industry and clinicians to bring novel diagnostic and treatment techniques from academia and into clinical practice."

The visit took place at the University of York , where Mr Willis went on a tour of the Neuroimaging Centre.

Picture shows (from left to right):

Julian White - CEO White Rose University Consortium; Kathy Armour - WRHIP Business Development Manager; Prof Tony Morland - University of York; Brian Cantor - Chairman WRUC and Vice Chancellor, University of York; Phil Willis MP; Gill McArdle - WRHIP Programme Administrator/Business Development Manager; Sarah Thomas - WRHIP Programme Manager