Nell Thornton Senior Policy Fellow

Nell Thornton is a Senior Policy Fellow specialising in technology and artificial intelligence in health care. She leads research and analysis on how technology and AI can improve health and care, alongside the social, ethical and practical challenges created by their use.

Since joining the Foundation in 2021, Nell has led a number of high-profile research programmes on AI, digital health and learning health systems, including one of the largest surveys of public and NHS staff attitudes to AI in health care globally. Her work focuses on areas including responsible AI adoption, public and staff attitudes to technology, regulation and governance, health inequalities, and the use of data and analytics to improve care.

Before joining the Foundation, Nell worked at Leeds Academic Health Partnership leading city-wide projects across innovation, data, and personalised health care.

Nell works with policymakers, researchers, NHS leaders and industry stakeholders to inform policy and debate on the future of technology in health care. She regularly speaks and writes on technology and AI in health and has contributed to national media coverage on the topic, including appearing on a special edition of BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour focused on AI and women’s health. In 2025, she was named an 'AI Visionary' by the Department of Health and Social Care for her work on AI and inequalities in health care.