Behind every medical breakthrough lies something deeper than technology, the courage, ethics, and collaboration that make progress possible. In this blog, Dr Richard Dune reflects on his early years as an NHS research nurse and how those experiences shaped his understanding of ethical practice, governance, and innovation. He traces the evolution from paper-based systems to today’s digital research governance frameworks, highlighting how technology, compliance, and humanity must work together to protect patients, ensure integrity, and keep healthcare research worthy of public trust.

In this blog, Dr Richard Dune explores how constraints can fuel innovation, drawing lessons from DeepSeek AI’s rise as a low-cost competitor to ChatGPT. Despite resource limitations, DeepSeek’s success disrupted the global AI market, showcasing how scarcity can drive creativity—a powerful lesson for health and social care sectors. Applying the diffusion of innovations framework, Dr. Dune highlights key strategies for fostering progress: leveraging constraints, prioritising affordability, embracing competition, and strengthening infrastructure. Through The Mandatory Training Group’s ComplyPlus™ journey, he illustrates how small organisations can innovate, adapt, and thrive in challenging environments.