Dr Nick Peres
Professor of Interdisciplinary Health Innovation
Nick joined Falmouth University as a Professor in the Centre of Blended Realities in October 2025. His career path from broadcast media and screen production into digital innovation within the NHS has cultivated a distinctive perspective on how emerging technologies may serve to centralise healthcare's fundamentally human dimensions. He continues to serve as Director of Digital Innovation and Transformation at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, where he co-leads the Digital Futures programme, and as XR technologies adviser for NHS England. Through these dual roles at Falmouth and within the NHS, he maintains an active practice bridging research inquiry with the realities of healthcare delivery and transformation.
Nick's research investigates the convergence points of technology, clinical expertise, and human experience. The concept of boundary innovation spaces describes the setting of conditions for safe collaborative environments where diverse stakeholders co-create solutions that balance technical capability with genuine care needs. This thinking underpins his development of Minimal Viable Simulation (MVS), a methodology that questions whether technological sophistication inherently produces better outcomes. MVS instead emphasises purposeful design aligned to learning objectives and humanistic skill development. His innovation PatientVR exemplified this approach during the advent of the most recent wave of interest in VR, employing 360° documentary filmmaking techniques to immerse healthcare professionals in patient experiences of feelings like disorientation and anxiety, creating powerful tools for clinicians reflecting upon compassionate practice.
Nick completed his PhD as part of Transtechnology Research at the University of Plymouth whilst in his NHS role, examining technological mediation and the development of humanistic skills in medical simulation. This research established new methodologies for recording and analysing human interaction in simulated and practice environments. Nick has shaped national policy through contributions to frameworks, landscape reports, and guidance including NHS England's VR Accessibility Guidelines and XR courses, and co-chairs multiple innovation and XR communities of practice. His work has attracted parliamentary award nominations and invitations to 10 Downing Street and presenting a TEDx, and he presents regularly at conferences across healthcare, technology, and innovation sectors.
His research has been featured in WIRED Magazine, BBC, ITV, and Sky. Through his roles in the NHS and on UKRI's Mindset Advisory Board, he influences how emerging technologies are understood, adopted, and integrated into health and care practice.
External Links
Qualifications
Qualifications
| Year | Qualification | Awarding body |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2025 Innovation Professional (IKE) | |
| 2024 | Doctor of Philosophy | University of Plymouth |
| 2024 | PhD Technological Mediation and the Development of Humanistic Skills in Medical Simulation | University of Plymouth |
| 2006 | BA(Hons) Screen Production | University of Winchester |
Honors and awards
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Government Invitation to Present - Extended Reality in Healthcare Innovation |
| 2024 | HSJ Partnership Awards - Digital Futures Lab (Digital Literacy, Education and Upskilling Award) |
| 2024 | Parliamentary Review Award Nomination - Digital Innovation in Healthcare |
| 2022 | Finalist, HETT Digital Innovation Awards (Digital Futures project) - Digital Services for Children and Young People |
| 2020 | NHS Parliamentary Award Nomination - Digital Futures Programme |
| 2017 | TEDx Speaker - "The Humanity of Technology; A Change of Perspective" |
| 2016 | Health Education England Star Award |
Research Interests
Research interests and expertise
My research trajectory bridges creative practice, emerging technologies, and human-centred innovation, drawing from over 15 years of professional experience in digital transformation within the NHS, a background in broadcast media and the creative industries, and the completion of my PhD in 2024 exploring technological mediation and humanistic skills development in medical simulation through the lens of Covid-19 and immersive media. My work challenges conventional approaches to technology adoption by foregrounding human experience and collaborative creation, advocating for approaches that enhance rather than replace human connection in healthcare, education, and beyond.
As a practitioner-researcher with roots in broadcast media and the creative industries, I bring a distinctive humanities perspective to technology conversations. My approach is grounded in practice-led methodologies, viewing technology not as an end in itself but as a medium for storytelling, learning, and human connection. This background informs my research into how immersive technologies can be deployed meaningfully across healthcare, education, and creative sectors, particularly in contexts where resources are constrained and human needs are paramount.
My research has directly informed national policy, contributing to NHS England's XR Accessibility Guidelines and the National Framework for Simulation-Based Practice. As National Advisor for XR & Immersive Learning Technologies for NHS England, I work to ensure that emerging technology adoption in healthcare remains grounded in evidence, accessibility, and human-centred design principles. I have authored key NHS guidance on creating accessible Extended Reality content and contributed to national definitions and standards for simulation and immersive technologies.
I co-chair two national communities of practice; the NHS England XR in Healthcare Education Community of Practice and the Association for Simulated Practice in Healthcare (ASPiH) XR & AI Special Interest Group, facilitating knowledge exchange and collaborative innovation across healthcare organisations. These leadership roles reflect my commitment to building collaborative networks where practitioners, researchers, and technologists can share knowledge, challenge assumptions, and develop innovations together.
Research topics
- Extended Reality (XR) Technologies in Healthcare and Education: Application, evaluation, and ethical deployment of immersive technologies
- Practice-Led Research Methodologies, where creative practice as a form of knowledge generation and inquiry
- Boundary Innovation Spaces and Co-Design
- Minimal Viable Simulation (MVS): Prioritising learning objectives and human experience over technological sophistication
- Immersive Storytelling and 360° Documentary
- Digital Health Accessibility and Inclusion: Ensuring equitable access to digital innovations
- Technology-Enhanced Learning: Pedagogical approaches that meaningfully integrate emerging technologies
- Empathy Development in Clinical Education: Using experiential learning to foster humanistic skills
- Human-Centred Digital Transformation
- Film Theory Applications in Simulation: Visual storytelling principles in immersive learning design
- AI Applications in Healthcare Education: Responsible integration of artificial intelligence
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Interventions: Therapeutic applications of immersive technologies
- Digital Literacy and Workforce Transformation: Building digital capabilities in healthcare settings
Areas for Supervision
I welcome enquiries from prospective doctoral students interested in:
- Practice-led and practice-as-research methodologies exploring emerging technologies
- Human-centred approaches to digital innovation and transformation
- Interdisciplinary projects bridging creative industries and healthcare
- Co-design methodologies and boundary spaces for innovation
- Accessibility and inclusion in digital health and education
- Policy development and implementation frameworks for emerging technologies
- Therapeutic applications of XR technologies for mental health and wellbeing
- Digital skills development and organisational change in care contexts
- Frugal innovation and democratising access to technology
I particularly encourage applications from practitioners seeking to develop research questions grounded in real-world challenges, and those interested in methodologies that value creative practice, lived experience, and collaborative knowledge generation.
Policy engagement within Cornwall
Engagement with organisations which contribute to the development of educational, cultural or socio-economic policies in Cornwall
- Regional NHS
Business Engagement
Consultancy and facility services
- Digital Innovator support for health and social care
Professional Engagement
Social, community and cultural engagement
Public Lectures and Speaking Engagements
Health Innovation South West Roadshow 2025, Exeter
Keynote Speaker for UKRI Mindset Event on Digital Mental Health
Public engagement presentation on extended reality applications in mental health innovation, part of the national Mindset-XR programme.
South West Digital Innovation in Healthcare "InSites Workshop", Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, May 2024
Conference Organiser and Opening Keynote Speaker
Regional public engagement event bringing together healthcare professionals, technology companies, and the public to explore digital innovation.
Digital Body Festival, Hackney Bridge, London, 15-17 November 2024
Speaker: "Feeling Bodies"
Public engagement on embodiment and sensory experience in immersive technologies.
Health Innovation South West Roadshow 2024, Exeter, 19 July 2024
Keynote Speaker: "XR in Action: Transforming Health and Care Delivery in the NHS"
UKRI Mindset Event focusing on immersive technology applications in mental health services across the South West region.
ISPIM Innovation Global Conference 2020: Innovating in Times of Crisis, Virtual Conference, 7-10 June 2020
Keynote Speaker with Halkes, M.: "Immersive Technologies in Healthcare"
Public presentation on innovation responses during the Covid-19 pandemic.
TEDx Torquay: Wisdom and Innovation, Torquay, 17 November 2017
Speaker: "The Humanity of Technology; A Change of Perspective"
Public lecture exploring how technology can enhance rather than replace human connection in healthcare delivery.
Media Coverage and Public Awareness
National and Regional Media Features:
- Featured in WIRED Magazine for innovations in healthcare VR applications
- BBC coverage of Digital Futures programme and immersive healthcare solutions
- ITV News feature on PatientVR and its impact on healthcare education
- Channel 5 and Sky News interviews about digital transformation in healthcare
- Regular contributor to national and regional press on digital health innovation
Digital Media Engagement:
- Podcast guest appearances discussing XR technologies in creative and healthcare sectors
- Media spokesperson for NHS on immersive technologies initiatives
- Public awareness campaigns highlighting accessible applications of XR and emerging technologies
Community Engagement Activities
Digital Futures Lab Public Demonstrations
- Regular technology demonstrations and open days showcasing emerging technologies to diverse community groups, schools, and public audiences.
- Digital Literacy and Inclusion Programmes
- Public-facing initiatives bringing emerging technologies to underserved communities, addressing digital exclusion through accessible technology experiences and training.
Community Workshops
- Facilitating workshops on digital literacy and emerging technologies for community groups, libraries, and educational settings across the South West region.
Industry and Public Sector Knowledge Exchange
- Industry roundtables and public events facilitating knowledge exchange between creative industries, healthcare sectors, and community organisations.
Engagement with professional associations and societies
Active Director of Digital Innovation and Transformation, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust 2022-Present
National XR Technologies Advisor, NHS England, 2021-Present
Co-Chair, XR & AI Special Interest Group
Association for Simulated Practice in Healthcare (ASPiH), 2025-Present
Leading quarterly meetings advancing simulation-based education through emerging technologies. Facilitating collaboration between healthcare educators, technology developers, and researchers. Establishing national standards for XR and AI applications in healthcare simulation.
Co-Chair, XR in Healthcare Education Community of Practice
NHS England, 2022-Present
Leading monthly national meetings with over 200 regular participants from across NHS organisations. Facilitating knowledge exchange and best practice development. Coordinating collaborative projects and resource sharing across healthcare education providers.
Technical Advisory Board Member
StoryFutures, Royal Holloway University, 2023-2024
Providing technical expertise and strategic guidance on XR technologies for health and social prescribing as part of the ConnectXR programme.
XR Technologies Advisor
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), 2024-Present
Serving on the advisory board for UKRI digital mental health work stream. Providing expert guidance on extended reality applications in mental health innovation.
Policy and Standards Contributions
Policy Contributor
NHS England XR and simulation workstreams. Work has included Accessibility Guidelines and Adoption Framework, 2024, Content creation and deployment guides & Definition of Simulation and Immersive Technologies for NHS.
South West Digital Innovation in Healthcare "InSites Workshop", May 2024
Conference Organiser bringing together healthcare professionals, technology companies, academic institutions, and policy makers to explore regional digital innovation ecosystems.
International Virtual Reality Healthcare Association (IVRHA) Health Europe Conference 2023, Helsinki, Finland, 19-20 October 2023
Panel Member contributing to international dialogue on VR applications in healthcare.
Active Membership and Contributions
Scientific Advisor
Cineon Training, 2023-Present
Providing scientific guidance on the development of immersive training solutions for healthcare, ensuring evidence-based approaches to educational technology design.
Creative Technologies Consultant
Cotton Globe Expedition & Research, 2024-Present
Consulting on creative technology applications for research and expedition data collection.
XR Technologies Advisor
Health Innovation Network, 2025-Present
Advising on the implementation and scaling of XR technologies across healthcare innovation programmes in South West and surrounding regions.