Fibre Connects: Networking Innovation

Join us for an inspiring in-person event at the Innovations Gallery!

Presented by the Fabric Based Research Platform (FIBRE), the EMBS Toronto Chapter, and KITE Creates, this gathering brings together an exciting blend of science, technology, design, and healthcare innovation.

We are thrilled to welcome Professor Kai Yang and Gillian Lake-Thompson from the Winchester School of Art’s E‑Textiles in Healthcare Innovation Lab (University of Southampton, UK). They will share insights into their groundbreaking lab, current research, and emerging opportunities at the intersection of fashion, textiles, and health technologies.

This informal talk and open discussion is a fantastic opportunity for our community—scientists, healthcare professionals, textile innovators, and fashion creatives—to meet, exchange ideas, and spark new collaborations.

Come connect, be inspired, and explore what’s possible when disciplines weave together.

Bio’s:

Kai Yang

Kai Yang is a Professor of E-textiles in Healthcare at the Winchester School of Art (WSA), University of Southampton. She is the Head of Research in the Department of Fashion and Textiles. Her research interests focus on e-textile materials and manufacturing, wearable medical devices, user-centered design, and sustainable textiles/e-textiles. She has been PI/Co-I on a total of £12 million E-textile research projects funded by UKRI (MRC, EPSRC, AHRC, Innovate UK) and NIHR. She has published over 90 papers. She is the Lead of the WSA E-textile Innovation Lab, Co-chair of the E-textiles Network, the Founder of Etexsense Ltd, and a Co-Founder of the Smart Fabric Inks Ltd. Her work has been featured on Sky News, BBC South, and BBC Radio Solent.

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=XyMFUWEAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate

Gillian Lake-Thompson

Gillian is an e-textile technician and lab manager at the WSA E-Textile Innovation Lab, Winchester School of Art (WSA), University of Southampton, UK. With a background in garment and textile design, she leads on co-design with end users and e-textile development. Her project experience includes work on e-textiles for stroke rehabilitation, fetal monitoring, and pain management. Her interests include sustainable textile materials and processes, end user engagement, functional garment development, ethics and regulatory compliance, and partnership co-ordination.

Accessibility:

The Innovation Gallery is on the ground floor, the nearest entrance is at 550 University Avenue which has a ramp. You can also enter via the Elm Street entrance. If you have accessibility needs that you would like to talk to us about please email the event organiser.

About Kite (UHN)

The University Health Network’s KITE Research Institute is redefining what’s possible in injury prevention, rehabilitation research, aging and accessibility. As part of UHN, Canada's top research hospital, KITE combines groundbreaking science with real‑world impact to transform care, improve quality of life and support independent living. KITE is part of the World Health Organization's new Disability Health Equity Network, and it was named to the inaugural Forbes in its Accessibility 100 list in 2025.

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