Welcome to #OurEntrepreneurs, a series where we meet our innovators and uncover what inspired them to create change. Today, we’re delighted to introduce Dr Mohamed Sheeraz Mohamed Azhar from University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I am a Specialist Registrar in Medical Oncology at University Hospitals of Leicester with interests in acute oncology, digital health innovation, and improving the safety of patients receiving systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT).
Name: Dr Mohamed Sheeraz Mohamed Azhar, NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Cohort 10
Occupation: Specialist Registrar in Medical Oncology
Alongside my clinical training, I have been leading the development of OncsCare, a clinician-designed digital acute oncology safety-net that supports earlier recognition of deterioration in patients receiving systemic anti-cancer therapy at home. My work focuses on translating frontline clinical insight into practical, evidence-based solutions that improve patient safety, strengthen acute oncology services, and support the delivery of more proactive cancer care beyond hospital walls. My longer-term vision is to help develop the digital infrastructure needed to support a neighbourhood oncology model, enabling specialist teams to deliver safer, more personalised care closer to home.
I am passionate about clinician-led innovation and believe healthcare innovation should remain grounded in real clinical need, patient experience and safe implementation.
Tell us about your innovation
OncsCare is a digital acute oncology safety-net designed to support patients receiving systemic anti-cancer therapy between hospital visits. Rather than relying solely on patients contacting hospital services once symptoms become severe, OncsCare enables structured remote symptom monitoring between appointments, helping specialist teams identify patients who may be deteriorating earlier and prioritise clinical attention accordingly.
Many cancer patients spend most of their time at home, where complications such as infection, dehydration or treatment toxicity can deteriorate rapidly if not recognised early. Many NHS acute oncology services still rely heavily on reactive telephone helplines, meaning clinicians often only become aware of deterioration once patients decide to make contact.
We have completed a Trust-approved pilot service evaluation at University Hospitals of Leicester, demonstrating high patient engagement, successful identification of clinically significant deterioration requiring intervention, and evidence that the platform can support earlier clinical decision-making. Since then, the work has been published in JMIR Cancer and recognised through shortlisting in two categories at the 2026 HSJ Patient Safety Awards.
My long-term vision is for OncsCare to become part of the digital infrastructure that enables neighbourhood oncology, supporting patients to receive safer, more personalised care at home while helping oncology teams prioritise limited specialist capacity across increasingly stretched cancer services.
Why did you join the programme and how do you hope it will support you?
I applied to the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Progamme because I wanted to better understand how to responsibly develop and scale clinician-led innovation within the healthcare system. I hope the programme will help bridge the gap between frontline clinical insight and sustainable healthcare innovation, supporting OncsCare from an early successful pilot towards multicentre evaluation and eventual NHS implementation. I am particularly looking forward to learning from mentors and collaborating with innovators across the NHS.
What are your ambitions for the next year?
My ambition is to continue progressing OncsCare through safe, evidence-based development, including regulatory readiness, stakeholder engagement, platform development and preparation for wider NHS evaluation. I also hope to generate further clinical evidence that supports future adoption across NHS cancer services.
Why do you think innovation is healthcare is important?
Healthcare systems are facing increasing pressure from rising demand, workforce challenges and increasing complexity of care. Innovation creates opportunities to improve outcomes, patient experience and service efficiency, but only when it addresses genuine clinical need and is implemented safely. As cancer care increasingly shifts from hospital to home, innovation will be essential to ensure specialist services remain proactive, equitable and sustainable. Digital technologies should support, not replace, clinical judgement, enabling clinicians to deliver safer, more personalised care at scale.