Visiting Professor Programme Strengthens AI-Driven Digital Twin Collaboration for Stroke Prevention

Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 3-4 May 2025 – As part of the Digital Twin Stroke Care Network and StrokeDT project activities, two landmark events were successfully held in Indonesia: a Networking Session (3 May) and a Hybrid Workshop & Visiting Professor Programme (4 May) hosted by Department of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada and supported by The London Digital Twin Research Centre, Middlesex University London and Bach Mai Hospital Vietnam. 

  The Network brings together researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders to drive innovation, share best practices, and foster interdisciplinary partnerships across the UK, Vietnam, and Indonesia. These May events mark an important step in strengthening regional cooperation and accelerating the use of AI-driven digital twins in stroke care.

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LDTRC to Present Special Awards at Regeneron ISEF 2025

London Digital Twin Research Centre is proud to present four Special Awards at 2025 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF 2025) Special Awards Ceremony in recognition of outstanding high-school student projects that reflect our core mission: to advance science, technology, and sustainability through innovation and inclusivity.  The ISEF 2025 is organised from May 10-16, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio, USA, celebrating ISEF’s 75th anniversary. It is a celebration of vision, passion, and the boundless potential of young scientific minds from around the world.

2025, Columbus, Ohio, Society for Science, Regeneron ISEF2025, Special Awards Ceremony

Our Centre is dedicated to advancing cutting-edge technologies for the digital transformation of real-world environments and shaping a future where technologies help us better understand, simulate, and improve the real world – from health sciences to sustainable futures. And while we celebrate innovation at every level, we are especially committed to supporting and uplifting the work of young researchers from underrepresented and underserved regions – places where science and technology too often play catch-up to the developed world.

This year, we are delighted to honour the following categories:

    1. The Biomedical Engineering Excellence Award – $1,000: Presented to a project that demonstrates outstanding innovation in the application of engineering principles to advance medical devices, diagnostics, or therapeutic systems.
    2. The Sustainable Futures Award – $1,000: Awarded to a visionary project that proposes transformative, science-based solutions for building a more sustainable and equitable future – whether in environmental, social, or technological domains.
    3. The Innovative Materials & Biochemistry Award – $1,000: This award honours a project that creatively integrates materials science with biochemical approaches to address real-world challenges in medicine, energy, or the environment.
    4. The Health Sciences Discovery Award – $2,000: This award recognises impactful research in the health sciences that deepens our understanding of disease mechanisms, treatment strategies, or patient care solutions

These awards are a tribute to the determination, creativity, and global perspective that this new generation of researchers brings to the challenges we all share.

Update: List of winners here; and video of the award presentation here (from 1:06:12 to 1:08:30).

 

Bridging Academia and Employability: Reflections from EDUCON 2025

By Dr. Ramona Trestian

I recently had the exciting opportunity to present our research on “Enhancing Employability and Engagement in a Student-Centred Learning Environment: Insights from the MDX Internship Scheme” at EDUCON 2025 in London, a leading global conference dedicated to engineering education and innovation. This collaborative work with my colleagues Dr. Homeira Shayesteh, Jack Tims, and Dr. Purav Shah explores how Middlesex University is addressing three of higher education’s most pressing challenges: student employability, engagement, and financial accessibility.

Today’s graduates are expected to enter the workforce with more than just academic knowledge. Employers seek professionals who can solve real-world problems, collaborate effectively, and adapt quickly in fast-changing environments. But socio-economic barriers, lack of experience, and limited access to industry networks often leave students underprepared.

In an increasingly competitive job market, universities must go beyond traditional classroom instruction. Student-centred, employability-focused initiatives like the MDX Internship Scheme not only enhance graduate outcomes but also foster a more inclusive and applied learning environment. This approach is particularly crucial in engineering, where experiential learning, international research, and industry engagement are key to building future-ready professionals. Importantly, the internships also aligned with the MDX Graduate Competency Framework, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the future-facing priorities of Industry 5.0 , that is preparing students to be both technologically agile and human-centric in their approach to innovation.

Presenting at EDUCON 2025 was an enriching experience, offering the chance to connect with fellow educators, researchers, and industry leaders who share a commitment to bridging the gap between academia and the real world.

This initiative, part of the UKIERI-SPARC project “DigIT—Digital Twins for Integrated Transportation Platform”, demonstrates what’s possible when academic institutions reimagine student engagement in practical, scalable, and inclusive ways.

#EDUCON2025 #HigherEducation #Employability #StudentEngagement #DigitalTwins #STEM #Internships #EngineeringEducation

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Opening positions: Eight postdoctoral research fellows

The LDTRC, in collaboration with other departments at Middlesex University are recruiting eight fellows from Vietnam and Indonesia within the scope of our project TECHLEAD – Empowering Future Innovators: Advancing Early Career Researchers through Digital Technologies Leadership.”

The selected ECFs will enjoy an excellent benefit package:

1) Minimum net income of £2,850 monthly

2) Research related expenses up to £10,000 per 12 months (consumables, small equipment, travel and subsistence within the UK, publication costs, or other expenses related directly to the research project)

3) Return airfare, visa, health insurance and NHS surcharge

4) Childcare support (up to £4800 per year)

Research Areas: (but not limited to)

a) Digital twinning for: crisis and resilience, decarbonisation in transport, Net-Zero, environment, healthcare (particularly stroke care), built environments, smart manufacturing, telecommunications, energy grid, and green hydrogen.

b) Next-gen telecommunication networks: Beyond 5G and 6G, and IoT smart solutions.

c) AI and computer vision: AI in telemedicine, AI-powered nature disaster prevention, AI-enabled colour-enhanced systems for early cancer/disease detection management, AI for stroke care, and AI for infectious diseases

d) Quantum computing and cybersecurityfor digital twinning, for 5G and 6G

e) Digital technologies for governance, modelling the damage reducing effects of flood warnings, climate change, water hazards, resilience and wellbeing of communities and key livelihood systems, geomorphological response to flooding

f) Digital technologies and AI to support environmental biotechnology, microorganisms in sustainability, bioengineering, e-waste and household waste treatment and management, circular economy, wastewater surveillance, urban pollutants

g) Robotics and automation

h) Digital twin and AI to support optimisation of cognitive load humans

For more details and how to apply, please see the project weblink.

Workshop Report: Quantum and Digital Twin Technologies for 5G/6G

The “Workshop on Quantum and Digital Twin Technologies for 5G/6G” was held on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at the London Digital Twin Research Centre, Middlesex University. This event gathered leading international researchers and industry experts to discuss the integration of Quantum Computing (QC) with Digital Twin technologies, particularly in addressing security challenges within OpenRAN (O-RAN) for 5G and 6G networks. The hybrid workshop attracted over 50 participants, both in person and online, from Vietnam, India, and the UK. The programme featured 10 presentations and 6 poster sessions on the topic.

The workshop,  sponsored by our EPSRC UKI-FNI pilot project Q-DTRAN and the British Council ISPF project QuanDT, served as a dynamic platform for exploring cutting-edge research at the intersection of quantum computing, digital twin technologies, and 5G/6G networks. Participants gained valuable insights into the latest advancements and future challenges in these fields. Discussions highlighted the need for continued interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation to address the complexities of securing next-generation communication networks.

Key Highlights:

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Workshop on Quantum and Digital Twin Technologies for 5G/6G

Date: Thursday 27th February 2025, Time: 10:00 – 15:30

Location: Room C214, College Building, London Digital Twin Research Centre, Middlesex University, The Burroughs, Hendon, London, NW4 4BT

This half-day event brings leading international researchers in model driven DT engineering and 5G/6G to showcase research challenges, current research and applications of Quantum Computing (QC), QC-based Digital Twins, O-RAN, security in O-RAN, and other topics in 5G/6G.  The event is jointly sponsored by EPSRC funding through our UKI-FNI EPSRC pilot project Q-DTRAN: Feasibility Study of Quantum-based Digital Twin Concept for Security Enhancement in OpenRAN and the British Council ISPF project QuanDT: Quantum Computing-Assisted Digital Twinning for Enhanced Open RAN Towards 6G.

The workshop will feature talks followed by a plenary discussion. While there has been significant research progress and focus on security in O-RAN, this workshop will aim to progress our understanding and designing of quantum-based digital twins that tackles the challenges in O-RAN. The sessions will be particularly suited to those seeking a broader understanding of digital twins, applied quantum computing/mechanics, and O-RAN.

Register for the workshop: Link.

Downloadable version of the programme: Programme

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Global Experts and Policymakers Convene for Workshop on Digital Twin for Stroke Care in Bali

Pioneering the Future of Stroke Care

Bali, Indonesia – February 3-4, 2025 – Leading healthcare professionals, researchers, academicians, and technology experts across Indonesia, the UK, and Vietnam are gathering at the ‘Digital Twin for Stroke Care Global Partnership’ Workshop in Bali, Indonesia. Hosted at Aryaduta Hotel Bali, the workshop is a collaboration between Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia, and the London Digital Twin Research Centre, Middlesex University London, UK, supported by DTStroke Care Network under The Academy of Medical Sciences Grant, British Council ISFP Project Grant and British Council Women in STEM Project Grant, to explore the transformative potential of Digital Twin (DT) technology in stroke prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation in Indonesia.

Join our network on Digital Twin for Stroke Care here

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Two New Grants: Exploring Quantum Computing and Digital Twin Technologies for O-RAN

The future of wireless communication is being shaped by the potentials of 6G networks, which promise faster speeds, lower latency, and more reliable connectivity to support an array of advanced applications, from autonomous vehicles to smart cities. However, the complexity of these networks poses significant challenges in terms of real-time optimisation, energy efficiency, and security. At the London Digital Twin Research Centre (LDTRC), we are exploring cutting-edge research that combines Quantum Computing (QC) and Digital Twin (DT) technologies to address these challenges in Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) architecture.

O-RAN is an emerging framework that enables a flexible, cost-effective, and open approach to managing wireless networks. Unlike traditional telecom architectures, O-RAN is based on modular, disaggregated components that can be sourced from multiple vendors, increasing adaptability and innovation. However, this modularity also introduces challenges in coordinating real-time operations, optimising resources, and safeguarding data security across diverse systems.

DTs are virtual models that mirror the physical components of a network, allowing for real-time monitoring, simulation, and optimisation. They enable network operators to test “what-if” scenarios, optimise configurations, and predict potential issues without disrupting live operations. When enhanced by QC, DTs become even more powerful, capable of running multiple complex simulations simultaneously and solving optimisation problems at unprecedented speeds.

At LDTRC, we are now leading two projects that explore the integration of QC and DT technologies into O-RAN:

    1. Exploring the concept of QC-Based Digital Twin for O-RAN:We will study and explore the concept of QC-Based DT for O-RAN, with collaborations between partners from the UK and India. Learn more about the project here.
    2. Quantum-Enhanced Digital Twin for Secure Open RAN: This collaborative effort with researchers from the UK and Japan explores deeper how Quantum Computing can amplify the capabilities of Digital Twins in O-RAN. By using QC’s computational power, the project seeks to optimise network performance and enhance efficiency. A real-world case study will demonstrate how QC-assisted DTs can transform O-RAN operations, providing tangible benefits for network operators and end-users alike. Find out more about this project here.

These projects highlight LDTRC’s commitment to addressing the most pressing challenges in next-generation telecommunications. By combining the strengths of Digital Twin and Quantum Computing technologies, we aim to deliver practical solutions for O-RAN that are scalable, efficient, and secure.

Stay tuned for updates on these exciting projects!

Grant news and recruitment coming soon

The LDTRC, in collaboration with other departments at Middlesex University, has secured a British Council ISPF early career fellowships grant to support three fellows from Vietnam in project TECHLEAD – Empowering Future Innovators: Advancing Early Career Researchers through Digital Technologies Leadership.”

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Grants under the British Council ISPF fellowships programme allows fellows to collaborate internationally, and gain access to new research environments, facilities, knowledge, and expertise, to enhance the quality of their research environments and enable them to translate research and innovation into economic and societal benefit.

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Update: 2024 International Stroke Conference in Hanoi

The 2024 International Stroke Conference in Hanoi: With a huge audience of 1500 participants including stroke experts, policy makers in health, practitioners and researchers from Vietnam and overseas, the event was a great success with many insightful discussions and sharing sessions from more than 100 speakers and panelists.
The opening ceremony
Prof. Huan Nguyen chaired one of the sessions

The conference was organised by our project partners, The Stroke Centre at BACH MAI HOSPITAL and Hanoi Stroke Association (led by our Vietnam project lead Prof. Mai Duy Ton), and supported by the London Digital Twin Research Centre at Middlesex University, VNU University of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oxford, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and other partners. The event is also part of our two ISPF projects, StrokeDT and DT-StrokeNetwork, focusing on interdisciplinary research of Digital Twin for Stroke Care, funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and supported by The British Council and The Academy of Medical Sciences.

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