Meet the third cohort who are taking part in FLIER, our cross-sector leadership programme:
Dr Rubina Ahmed, Director of Research, Policy and Services, Blood Cancer UK
(Job title at the start of the programme: Dr Rubina Ahmed, Associate Director for Systems Engagement, Stroke Association)
Dr Rubina Ahmed is the Associate Director for Systems Engagement at the Stroke Association where she is responsible for a wide portfolio of activities, including research funding, policy, public affairs and campaigns, health inequalities, international engagement and broader objectives around working in partnership with system decision-makers at the local and national level. Rubina’s team work collaboratively with NHS England to support the delivery of the stroke ambitions in the NHS England Long-term plan, and she is a member of the Stroke Delivery Programme Board. Her team also lead on building partnerships with other funders and charities across the sector.
Rubina holds a PhD in Immunology and an MSc in Management and has a background in scientific research funding, strategy and management. She has worked in both the public and charity sector for a number of years, including with the Wellcome Trust and Cancer Research UK, working across a range of areas from fundamental and translational research through to clinical trials regulation and delivery.
Alongside her work at the Stroke Association she is a Council Member of the British Science Association. She is also the UK Board Member for the Stroke Alliance for Europe.
Professor Alex Casson, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, University of Manchester
(Job title at the start of the programme: Dr Alex Casson, Reader (Associate Professor), Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Manchester)
Alex Casson is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Manchester; Bioelectronics technology platform lead for the EPSRC Henry Royce Institute for advanced materials; Visiting Reader in the School of Medicine at the University of Leeds (2022-2024); Honorary Reader in the Medical Physics Department at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (2022-2024); and previously a Fellow of the Alan Turing Institute for data science and artificial intelligence (2021-2023).
His research focuses on non-invasive bioelectric interfaces: the design and application of wearable sensors, and skin-conformal flexible sensors, for human body monitoring and data analysis from highly artefact prone naturalistic situations. He is best know for his work on wearable devices, spanning from hardware for flexible electronics to signal processing and analysing the 100,00+ wearable accelerometer records in the UK Biobank; and for wearables for non-invasive brain interfacing. Applications of his work include in Long COVID Autism, Chronic Pain, and Rehabilitation.
Professor Joan Condell, Professor of Intelligent Technologies, Ulster University
(Job title at the start of the programme: Professor Joan Condell, School of Computing, Engineering and Intelligent Systems, Ulster University)
Professor Joan Condell works within the School of Computing, Engineering and Intelligent Systems at Ulster University focusing on data analytics, AI and (wearable/ambient) IoT sensors. Awarded a Distinguished Teaching and Learning Fellowship in 2011, she regularly has External Examiner positions in UK and Ireland in teaching and research and is also a member of the Royal Irish Academy Engineering committee, regularly sitting on funding review panels for the UK Research Councils, the Irish Research Council, Innovate UK and UK Research and Innovation and is a member of the Royal Irish Academy’s STEM committee.
She manages PhD researchers and Research Associates/Fellows across 24 national, EU and commercial projects; and has published 250+ papers, actively securing grants from external sources over £34M. Professor Condell has considerable commercial experience; she is CEO of a spinout company ActionSense Ltd and previously CEO of spinout company HidInImage Ltd. Joan has won Innovation and Enterprise awards for commercialisation work, creativity and bio-entrepreneurship; also having been involved in innovation voucher and Fusion projects.
Professor Bibek Gooptu, Professor of Respiratory Biology, University of Leicester
(Job title at the start of the programme: Professor Bibek Gooptu, Professor of Respiratory Biology, University of Leicester)
Bibek Gooptu’s research integrates studies of the molecular structures of proteins with cell and tissue studies and findings from clinical practice, to define and target mechanisms underlying chronic disease processes including inflammation, scarring and dementia. He is a Consultant in Respiratory Medicine at Glenfield Hospital, a group leader within the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, and Professor of Respiratory of Respiratory and Structural Biology at the University of Leicester Institute of Structural & Chemical Biology (LISCB).
He dual-trained in biomedical research and medicine at the Universities of Manchester and Cambridge (MB/PhD). As a junior doctor he undertook 6 years of full-time clinical work (East Anglia, Nottingham, London, Essex), before gaining further research experience with Structural Biology methods (crystallography, NMR, cryo-EM) at Birkbeck College and UCL (Wellcome Trust Intermediate Clinical Fellowship). He worked as a Consultant/Senior Clinical Lecturer at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospitals/KCL prior to moving to Leicester.
Dr Gita Khalili Moghaddam, UKRI Innovation Scholar, University of Cambridge
(Job title at the start of the programme: Dr Gita Khalili Moghaddam, UKRI Innovation Scholar, University of Cambridge)
Gita is an entrepreneur and a UKRI Innovation Scholar at the University of Cambridge (Department of Clinical Neurosciences). She is committed to improving healthcare outcomes through bio/med-tech innovations. She works with several partners in the research landscape from academia to the NHS, charities, patients’ groups and industry.
As a science-based entrepreneur, she has been widely recognised including a RAEng Engineers Trust Young Engineer of the Year 2021. She innovated an imaging device for accurate cancer surgery in collaboration with Cambridge University Hospital. She is also leading a spinoff company to develop a wearable platform for continuous molecular monitoring to improve experience of people with chronic conditions.
She is currently seconded at GSK (Global Health), where she is developing AI/ML and digital health tools for tuberculosis drug development. Previously, she was awarded a Borysiewicz Biomedical Sciences Fellowship at the University of Cambridge in recognition of her research in the field of bioengineering.
Dr Simon Lambden, Head of Medical Science, Inotrem
(Job title at the start of the programme: Dr Simon Lambden, Head of Medical Science, Inotrem)
Simon Lambden is the Head of Medical Science at Inotrem, a Paris-based biotech company that is focused on developing novel therapies targeting the TREM-1 pathway, an important regulator of the innate and endothelial immune response in acute and chronic inflammatory disease. He benefits from extensive clinical and translational pathway experience as an attending physician and academic in intensive care medicine and anaesthesia at Cambridge University.
His clinical and scientific background is combined with strong experience in therapeutics development ranging from discovery, pre-clinical validation, CMC and toxicology through to multi-national precision medicine clinical trials and the development of companion diagnostics.
As a Founder and Senior executive in biotech companies, he has been part of teams that have secured more than €100million in funding to develop new treatments for patients in disease with large unmet clinical needs and limited existing treatment options.
Professor Julie-Anne Little, Professor in Optometry & Vision Science, Ulster University
(Job title at the start of the programme: Dr Julie-Anne Little, Senior Lecturer in Optometry, Ulster University)
Julie-Anne Little is a Senior Lecturer in Optometry and leads the Centre for Optometry and Vision Science. She is Associate Research Director for Biomedical Sciences, comprising >88 researchers spanning nutrition, diabetes, genomic and personalised medicine, pharmaceutical and vision science.
Her research has a strong clinical focus, concerning the investigation of structural and functional aspects of vision, with the aim of improving vision, education outcomes and quality of life for individuals across the world. Publications in high-impact journals and international presentations disseminate this work, and she was returned in the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, with Biomedical Sciences ranked 5th in the UK for biomedical research, with a 100% world-leading research environment.
She contributes to postgraduate and undergraduate Optometry programmes and has a strong external profile in optometry as past President of the European Council of Optometry and Optics, and as Chairman of the Association of Optometrists.
Emma Lowe, Head of Research Policy: Clinical Research and Growth, Department of Health and Social Care
(Job title at the start of the programme: Emma Lowe, Head of Research Policy: Clinical Research and Growth, Department of Health and Social Care)
Emma works within the Science Research and Evidence Directorate at the Department of Health and Social Care, leading on policy related to clinical research and growth. Her role includes leadership of the UK Clinical Research Recovery Resilience and Growth programme, supporting the implementation of the Life Sciences Vision, enhancing the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) offer for Industry, and other areas of policy which contribute to making the UK the destination of choice for life sciences research.
Emma has an MSc in People and Organisational Development from the Roffey Park Institute, has held a variety of roles within the NHS and previously led the design and delivery of learning and workforce development programmes in the NIHR Clinical Research Network, including the NIHR’s Good Clinical Practice (GCP) programme.
Professor Charlotte Manisty, Professor of Cardiology, University College London
(Job title at the start of the programme: Dr Charlotte Manisty, Associate Professor of Cardiology, University College London)
Charlotte Manisty is a Professor of Cardiology at University College London and set up and leads the specialised cardio-oncology service at Barts Heart Centre. Her research group works on improving understanding of the cardiovascular toxic effects of cancer therapies, including developing imaging tools for better diagnosis and risk stratification. She plans to harness cross sector expertise to deliver improved pathways for better health outcomes for cancer patients and survivors. She is also a founder and on the Board of MycardiumAI - a UCL spinout founded in April 2022 to transform how medical imaging is delivered in healthcare through the use of “super-human” AI.
She is research lead for British Cardio-Oncology Society and on the research council of International Cardio-Oncology Society, alongside Board membership of the Society of Cardiovascular MRI. She also leads the UK Joint Working Group on MRI for patients with cardiac devices which has brought together 13 National societies to deliver a four fold increase in MRI provision, winning national awards for imaging. She is author of over 180 publications and her group have been awarded multiple National and International awards.
Dr Maeva May, Associate Director of Systems Engagement, Stroke Association
(Job title at the start of the programme: Dr Maeva May, Head of Policy, British Heart Foundation)
Dr Maëva May has been a biomedical research and health policy professional for over a decade, both in the United States and in England. Currently the head of policy for the British Heart Foundation (BHF), she leads a team of bright, dedicated policy professionals who develop the BHF’s public policy positions on topics related to cardiovascular research, prevention, health and care, and the wider charity environment.
In her previous role at the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood institute, Maëva supported the institute’s Chief of Staff across a wide variety of strategic projects for the research funder, including leading an in-depth analysis on research funding for women’s health.
Dr Jacqueline Maybin, Senior Clinical Research Fellow, MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh & Honorary Consultant Gynaecologist, NHS Lothian
(Job title at the start of the programme: Dr Jacqueline Maybin, Senior Clinical Research Fellow, MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh & Honorary Consultant Gynaecologist, NHS Lothian)
Jackie leads a research program that aims to develop better preventative and therapeutic strategies for abnormal uterine bleeding, a common and debilitating symptom. Specifically, she holds a Wellcome Trust Clinical Career Development Fellowship to investigate the role of hypoxia in menstrual physiology and pathology with the aim of developing more effective, acceptable treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding.
She completed her PhD in Edinburgh and a post-doctoral fellowship in Belgium. Jackie sits on the Editorial Board of Reproduction, Frontiers in Reproductive Health and Physiological Reviews. She is a member of the RCOG Blair Bell committee and the RSE Young Academy of Scotland.
Clinically, Jackie runs a specialist menstrual disorders service and offers medical treatments as well as surgical interventions ranging from minimally invasive hysteroscopy and laparoscopy to open abdominal procedures.
Dr Shivani Misra, Senior Clinical Lecturer in Diabetes & Consultant in Metabolic Medicine, Imperial College London
(Job title at the start of the programme: Dr Shivani Misra, Senior Clinical Lecturer in Diabetes & Consultant in Metabolic Medicine, Imperial College London)
Dr Shivani Misra is a Senior Clinical Lecturer in Diabetes at Imperial College London and a Consultant in Metabolic Medicine at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
Shivani leads a portfolio of studies that investigate early-onset type 2 diabetes, defined as a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in childhood or early-adulthood.
In 2021, she was awarded a Wellcome Trust Clinical Career Development Fellowship to study the genetics and epidemiology of early-onset type 2 diabetes and she is a co-investigator on an NIHR programme grant investigating the treatment of early-onset type 2 diabetes. In 2014, she set up the MY DIABETES study which phenotyped early-onset diabetes in south Asian and black individuals with diabetes in UK, highlighting the misdiagnosis of monogenic diabetes across ethnic groups.
Shivani was awarded a Future Leaders Mentorship award from the European Federation for the Study of Diabetes and in 2021 was awarded Quality in Care from NHS England for contributions to diabetes research / services.
Dr Dhruv Parekh, Associate Professor in Critical Care and Respiratory Medicine, University of Birmingham
(Job title at the start of the programme: Dr Dhruv Parekh, Associate Professor in Critical Care and Respiratory Medicine, University of Birmingham)
Dhruv graduated from Barts and the London Medical School and completed clinical training in London and Birmingham. He is an Associate Professor at the University of Birmingham and Consultant in Critical Care and Respiratory Medicine at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. As Programme Director of the Birmingham NIHR/Wellcome Clinical Research Facility and Deputy Lead of the cross-cutting Acute Care Research Collaborative within the Birmingham Health Partnership he oversees a breadth of academic and industry led research. His own programme of research from discovery science to clinical trials is based principally around improving the care and outcomes of acute and critically ill patients admitted to hospital.
Dhruv’s interests have grown around the inequity in and access to research studies and is now with his leadership roles passionate about reducing health disparities by ensuring a cohesive cross-sector approach to research, so that every patient regardless of background, location, diversity, language or disability has equal access to innovation.
Professor Sheena Ramsay, Professor of Public Health & Epidemiology, Newcastle University
(Job title at the start of the programme: Dr Sheena Ramsay, Clinical Senior Lecturer & Honorary Consultant in Public Health, Newcastle University)
Sheena Ramsay leads a programme of research that aims to improve population health, with a particular focus on reducing health inequalities. Sheena has been awarded a Personal Chair at Newcastle University as Professor in Public Health & Epidemiology (from August 2022). Her research focuses on addressing socio-economic determinants of ill-health to improve health and social care for the most disadvantaged populations. Sheena is an academic and honorary Consultant in Public Health.
As a dental surgeon with specialisation in Public Health, she bridges epidemiology and public health research with policy and practice. Sheena works closely with partners from Local Authorities, voluntary sector, policy, and primary and secondary care. Complementary to her research, a key part of Sheena’s role is training and building capacity in academic public health. She has held prestigious MRC Fellowships, undertaken Public Health Specialty Training in London, and been awarded grants from NIHR, UKRI, US NIH, and charities.
Dr Jenny Rivers, Director of Research & Development, Barts Health NHS Trust
(Job title at the start of the programme: Dr Jenny Rivers, Deputy Director of Research & Innovation, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust)
Jenny joined Barts Health NHS Trust in October 2023 to develop and deliver the Trust's research strategy. In this role, Jenny oversees the Trust's research resources and infrastructure, including the Joint Research Management Office with Queen Mary University of London, the NIHR Barts Health Clinical Research Facility and hosts the Local Clinical Research Network, supporting clinical research delivery across the wider North Thames region.
This is Jenny's third NHS role; she was at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust for five years, in the role of Acting Director of Research & Innovation for seven months, following her role as Associate Director of Research at the Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust. Prior to these roles, Jenny has worked in a variety of research management roles at the University of Liverpool, most recently Research and Impact Manager for the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences.
Jenny is an experienced research leader, having led large teams (c. 200 staff), driven research strategy across the NHS, academia and beyond, and managed operations, governance, and finance across complex and diverse research portfolios. Jenny has a BSc in Bioveterinary Science and a PhD in Biochemistry and has held post-doctoral academic positions in higher education and industry, including a collaborative Knowledge Transfer Partnership applying analytical proteomics to the dairy industry.
Dr Sarah Stock, Reader & Honorary Consultant in Maternal and Fetal Medicine, University of Edinburgh
(Job title at the start of the programme: Dr Sarah Stock, Reader & Honorary Consultant in Maternal and Fetal Medicine, University of Edinburgh)
Sarah Stock is a Professor in Maternal and Fetal Health and honorary consultant and subspecialist in Maternal and Fetal Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. She went to Manchester University Medical School, and has a PhD from the University of Edinburgh. Her training was undertaken in Edinburgh, with periods in Glasgow, London and Australia. She has research interests in preterm birth and stillbirth. With a laboratory science background, she now focuses on clinical trials and international data-driven studies.
She is currently the 'In Utero' Programme Director at Wellcome Leap; a three year, $50 million program to create scalable capacity to measure, model and predict gestational development and reduce stillbirth rates by half, without increasing provider-initiated births.
Dr Helen Surana, Associate Editor, BMJ Innovations
(Job title at the start of the programme: Dr Helen Surana, Associate Editor, BMJ Innovations)
Helen Surana is a medical doctor who’s had a varied portfolio career - mainly in medical publishing and digital education. She started as a junior doctor working in the NHS, specialising in anaesthetics, and after a fun year in Australia moved to the BMJ as clinical editor, via the Imperial College Science Communications MSc programme and a role as health advisor in the House of Commons Library.
At the BMJ she’s been responsible for multimedia, online learning and digital content strategy development, as well as leading on content for the events team. She led a BMJ project in Washington DC for 18 months to support the implementation of US health reforms. She’s held leadership roles at BMJ and Macmillan Cancer Support, and is currently combining a consultancy career with being the Associate Editor at BMJ Innovations.
Alongside work, she enjoys cricket, comedy, swimming and chatting.
Professor Mike Trenell, Honorary Professor of Digital Medicine, Newcastle University
(Job title at the start of the programme: Professor Mike Trenell, Founder, Changing Health & Honorary Professor of Digital Medicine, Newcastle University)
Mike Trenell is a clinical scientist, specialising in digital health and innovation. He holds a PhD in Neurogenetics from Sydney University (Australia) and MBA in Strategy and Innovation from Durham University (UK). A former Diabetes UK RD Lawrence Fellow and NIHR Senior Fellow, Mike is a Founder of Changing Health, a digital health company, and an Honorary Professor of Digital Medicine at Newcastle University. Having published widely in metabolic medicine and ageing, Mike is passionate about translating science into practice.
He was the founding Director of the NIHR Innovation Observatory, the largest non-commercial horizon scanning facility globally, and former Deputy Director of the MRC Centre for Ageing and Vitality.
Professor Paul Welsh, Professor of Molecular Epidemiology, University of Glasgow
(Job title at the start of the programme: Dr Paul Welsh, Reader, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow)
Paul is an epidemiologist with a wide range of research interests encompassing biomarkers, lifestyle, and clinical research in the fields of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolism, and healthy ageing, including influential clinical trials, large observational studies and meta-analyses. He leads the Metabolic Medicine Biomarker Laboratory, and has a particular interest in cardiovascular disease risk stratification, and cardiac biomarkers.
Paul completed a PhD on inflammatory markers of cardiovascular disease at University of Glasgow and an MSc in Epidemiology at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine with distinction, winning the 150th Anniversary prize. He has held two British Heart Foundation Research Fellowships and has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications. He is an associate editor of Atherosclerosis, and Cardiovascular Research, and an editorial advisor for BMC Medicine and has served on the Independent Scientific Advisory Committee for MHRA. He has an active interest in developing the equality agenda and career development opportunities within academia.