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LIDA Academic Fellowship: One Year On – Building National Leadership in Process Mining for Health

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Illustration showing a laptop displaying electronic health records

At a time of significant uncertainty across the National Health Service, the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (LIDA) Academic Fellowship is demonstrating clear value, strategic alignment and real-world impact. One year into the first LIDA Academic Fellowship, the programme is already positioning Leeds as a national leader in process mining for healthcare and AI-enabled health systems.

The Fellowship, held by Owen Johnson, Associate Professor in the School of Computer Science, focuses on developing a robust Process Mining (PM) methodology for the NHS (ClearPath 2) and supporting its adoption at scale. Process mining, the analysis of real-world processes using event data from electronic health records, is increasingly recognised as a critical capability for improving healthcare delivery and governing the safe deployment of AI.

Owen Johnson

Owen Johnson

This Fellowship has allowed us to move quickly from methodology to real-world NHS application at a time when the system is under immense pressure. Process mining provides a practical, data-driven way to understand how care is actually delivered, and that insight is essential if AI is to be deployed safely, effectively and at scale. LIDA has been instrumental in creating the space and support to build this work with national relevance.

Strategic Alignment with LIDA and the University

Running from March 2025 to March 2027, the Fellowship is a core element of LIDA’s Research & Innovation strategy. It directly supports LIDA’s ambitions around:

  • Building research communities through the recruitment of Academic Fellows
  • Developing pipelines of world-class research and impact
  • Creating exemplars of data-driven innovation
  • Strengthening infrastructure for REF2029 and future large-scale funding
  • Enhancing partnerships and reputation, particularly in health and AI

Academic Fellows are intended to act as catalysts, connecting disciplines, partners and opportunities. In its first year, the Fellowship is showing strong progress in the role.

“The Academic Fellowship programme is a strategic investment in people who can connect research excellence with real-world impact,” said Dr Roger Beecham, LIDA Director of Research & Innovation. “At a time when resources are under pressure, this Fellowship shows how targeted support can generate national visibility, deepen NHS partnerships and position the University of Leeds for future funding and policy influence.”

Expertise and Leadership

Johnson was appointed as LIDA’s first Academic Fellow in March 2025. He brings an international reputation in process mining of electronic health record data, with over £30m in grant income as Co-I or PI, more than 100 publications, and an h-index of 27. His work sits at the intersection of data science, healthcare and policy, aligning closely with LIDA’s Health and AI priorities.

Delivery Model and Collaboration

The Fellowship formally allocates one day per week, supplemented by an additional day of Johnson’s own research time, ensuring sustained momentum while embedding the work within existing research activity. It is delivered through close collaboration with NHS England, NHS Trusts, industry partners and academic colleagues, supported by LIDA’s infrastructure and engagement activities. It forms part of the LIDA AI and LIDA Health communities, enabling interdisciplinary working across the University.

LIDA has actively supported dissemination and engagement, including public-facing talks and specialist training.

Tangible Achievements in Year One

The Fellowship has delivered a strong set of outputs:

  • Development and delivery of a LIDA Process Mining CPD course, reaching 60 delegates from the University of Leeds and external NHS and industry organisations
  • Securing £10k HEIF funding to support an International Process Mining Workshop (April)
  • Six invited presentations at local, regional, national and international level, plus a major international conference presentation
  • Development of a process mining case study template with international collaborators
  • Active case studies underway at four NHS England sites
  • Work towards an online hosting of a Process Mining “Body of Knowledge”
  • Invitation to join the new UK National Commission on the Regulation of AI in Medicine, strengthening Leeds’ voice in national policy

Wider Impact and Strategic Importance

Collectively, these activities position LIDA, and the University of Leeds, for national leadership in process mining at a critical moment for the NHS. Process mining is emerging as an essential capability for understanding, improving and governing complex health processes, particularly as AI tools are deployed at scale.

The Fellowship has deepened LIDA’s relationships with the NHS, creating multiple points of engagement that are expected to translate into strategic partnerships, research grants and policy influence. This is an area where significant national funding opportunities are anticipated, and Leeds is increasingly seen as a national leader.

Next Steps

By the end of March 2026, the NHS case studies will be completed, followed by a national presentation to NHS leaders. The second year of the Fellowship will shift emphasis towards:

  • Writing and submitting two major academic papers
  • Completing and disseminating the Process Mining Body of Knowledge
  • Developing large-scale funding applications

A key evolution of the work is the positioning of process mining as a pre-requisite, evaluation tool and “guardrail” for AI deployment in healthcare. Through Johnson’s role on the UK National Commission, Leeds is helping to shape emerging policy around post-market surveillance of AI in medicine.

There is a growing expectation within both the health and AI communities that Leeds can, and should, play a leading role in this space. One year on and the opportunity that the Fellowship offers is already delivering on that promise.