◤Breaking News
Locally Grounded, Globally Informed: HTAi at HTAsiaLink 2026
HTAi President Ann Single joined colleagues from across the Asia-Pacific region at HTAsiaLink 2026 in Taipei, Taiwan.
Ann delivered opening remarks as HTAi President and moderated the first plenary, “Facing Uncertainty Together: Shared HTA Challenges and Diverse Approaches.” The session brought together perspectives from Taiwan, India, France, Malaysia, Kyrgyzstan and Cambodia to explore how health systems can make informed decisions amid uncertainty while adapting HTA to different local contexts.
The conference also featured the HTAi Patient and Citizen Involvement in HTA Interest Group’s Asia Pacific 360 workshop. The AP360 initiative has documented patient involvement practices across 16 Asia-Pacific jurisdictions, drawing on workshops and 168 survey responses from 14 jurisdictions.
One message came through clearly: good HTA must be locally grounded and globally informed. Connecting different experiences, settings and approaches creates valuable opportunities to strengthen HTA practice across the region and around the world.
Ann also highlighted an important development in Taiwan: legislation establishing an independent National Center for Health Technology Assessment.
Read Ann’s BlogMore Ways to Connect, More Ways to Contribute
What could we accomplish together?
HTAi is creating more opportunities for individuals and organizations to connect, contribute and collaborate with the global HTA community.
Through the new Collaborate with HTAi initiative, you can register your interest in working with us across a wide range of activities. Perhaps you have an idea for a webinar, workshop or scientific project. Your organization may be interested in contributing to a Policy Forum or Regional Meeting, bringing HTAi to your region or exploring the possibility of hosting a future Annual Meeting. You may simply want to share your knowledge and expertise with our membership.
You do not need to begin with a fully developed proposal. Tell us about your idea, interests or expertise, and let’s start a conversation about what working together could look like.
Start a ConversationApplications Open: Jill Sanders Memorial Scholarship
Applications are open for the Jill Sanders Memorial Scholarship.
Established in memory of Dr. Jill Sanders, former Vice President of HTAi and a dedicated champion of international collaboration, the scholarship supports individuals living in African countries who are studying or working in healthcare and want to strengthen their knowledge and skills in HTA.
Funding can be used to pursue education or training that will help recipients build professional HTA capacity and apply their knowledge in their home countries.
Applications close October 15, 2026.
Learn more and applyGet Ready: HTAi 2027 Abstract Submissions Open Soon
Have research, ideas or experiences that could help shape the future of HTA? Abstract submissions for the HTAi 2027 Annual Meeting in Brussels open September 17.
This is your opportunity to bring your work to the international HTA stage and contribute to the conversations shaping what comes next. The Annual Meeting will bring the global HTA community together in Brussels from June 12–16, 2027.
Thinking about submitting? Get a head start with HTAi’s How to Write a Great Abstract video, featuring practical guidance to help you prepare a clear and compelling submission.
Watch How to Write a Great Abstract:
◤ Webinars
Can Early Feasibility Studies Strengthen Medical Device HTA?
Join the HTAi Medical Devices Interest Group for “Early Feasibility Studies for Medical Devices: HEU-EFS Progress and Implications for Early Evidence Generation and HTA.”
The webinar will examine how Early Feasibility Studies can generate important clinical evidence for innovative medical devices, reduce uncertainty and inform HTA throughout the technology lifecycle. Participants will also hear about progress from the HEU-EFS project and the current implementation of Early Feasibility Studies across Europe.
Richard Charter will moderate the discussion with speakers Giuditta Callea, Laura Sampietro-Colom and Adrian Valledor.
September 16, 2026 | 3:00–4:00 PM GMT
Learn more and registerPhD Opportunity: Help Shape the Future of Generative AI in HTA
How can generative AI add value across the HTA lifecycle—and where do the risks lie?
Utrecht University is recruiting a PhD candidate to investigate the current and anticipated use of generative AI across the full HTA lifecycle for medicines, from horizon scanning through to reassessment. The successful candidate will help translate this research into practical, evaluated tools for HTA assessors.
The project will examine questions including whether large language models can reliably extract and harmonize information from national and European HTA reports, how technology developers use generative AI in submissions, and what these developments mean for assessors.
The position is part of the Academic Research Network HTA, a collaboration between Zorginstituut Nederland, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Utrecht University.
Candidates with backgrounds in HTA, data science, health economics, epidemiology, pharmaceutical or biomedical sciences, or related fields are encouraged to apply.
Applications close September 30, 2026.
View the position and apply◤HTA News Around the World
European Commission Publishes New Joint Clinical Assessment
The European Commission has published a joint clinical assessment of onasemnogene abeparvovec (Itvisma), an advanced therapy medicine for spinal muscular atrophy. Authorities in Ireland and France conducted the assessment under the EU HTA Regulation, with input from patients and clinical experts.
Read the European Commission announcement
NICE Recommends Innovative Lung Preservation Technology
NICE has conditionally recommended a specialist machine that keeps donated lungs functioning outside the body while their suitability for transplantation is assessed. The technology could help make more donated lungs available and increase opportunities for successful transplantation.
New National Framework to Strengthen Surgical Care in Scotland
A new national framework has been published to support consistent evaluation of Surgical Care Practitioners across NHS Scotland. It will help local services gather evidence about the contribution and impact of SCPs across different surgical settings.
Read the framework◤Featured IJTAHC Publications
Developing Mini-HTA to Support Evidence-Based Decision-Making
This new commentary examines Norway’s development and implementation of mini-HTA—a structured and context-specific approach designed to support timely decisions about new technologies, procedures and organizational innovations at the local level.
Making Real-World Evidence Relevant Across Jurisdictions
This article examines what HTA bodies and health technology developers need to determine whether real-world evidence from one jurisdiction can be meaningfully applied in another. The authors identify gaps in guidance, reporting standards and assessment methods while highlighting the importance of early dialogue.
Understanding the Value of Qualitative Research in Clinical Trials
A systematic mapping review examines how qualitative research contributes to randomized controlled trials involving medicines and medical devices. The findings show how qualitative methods can improve trial design, explain results and ensure interventions reflect stakeholder needs.
◤Stay Connected
Thank you for being part of the global HTAi community!
Have news, research or an opportunity you would like us to share in a future newsletter? Contact us at info@htai.org.
Until next time,
The HTAi Team