CTU staff profiles Professor Lelia Duley (CTU Director) Professor Duley was previously Professor of Obstetric Epidemiology at the University of Leeds. She was chief investigator of the Collaborative Eclampsia trial (Lancet 1995; 345: 258) which showed that magnesium sulphate was safer than other anticonvulsants for the mother, and changed practice worldwide. She was also chief investigator for the MAGPIE trial (Lancet 2002; 359: 1877) which showed that the same drug could prevent eclamptic fits. She is Editor and Review Author with the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group, and was previously deputy director of the UK Cochrane Centre and MRC Senior Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. Her present research interests include care of the newborn immediately after birth, including such issues as the timing of cord clamping, and evaluation of care for prevention and treatment of pre-eclampsia. Professor Jim Thornton (Deputy Director) I have been principle investigator for five MRC-funded trials (amniotomy, prenatal counselling, home BP monitoring, GRIT, and SNAP) as well as other NHS (ARIA), and charity funded (pelvic pain) trials. I am currently TSC chair of the following national multi-centre trials (VIP, RELEASE, ECLIPSE, and RELAX), and DMEC chair for the TRUFFLE and PETS (Pfizer A148-1206) trials. I am past chairman of the Northern and Yorkshire Region MREC, and currently a member of the MRC HSR&PH board. Diane Whitham (CTU Manager and Deputy Director) I have worked in commercial clinical research for 14 years. During this time I was responsible for a large portfolio of clinical trials and managed the clinical research department as well as providing regulatory advice and marketing support. Originally I trained as a nurse, specialising in renal medicine and then worked as a clinical educator. This was followed by seven years with, a renal company specialising in renal replacement therapy, four of these years were spent in the UK and three in the USA. I then worked in the USA for J&J Codman in neuroscience research. In 2003 I moved back to the UK and worked for an ophthalmology company, where I was responsible for their global clinical research program and managed the clinical research department. Latterly, I have worked for a contract research organisation where I divided my time between the USA and Europe, managing the clinical department and all clinical operations, ensuring compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures. Eleanor Mitchell (Trial Manager) I started as a medical secretary after leaving school, but moved to an academic research department 7 years ago when I was appointed as project co-ordinator for a large osteoarthritis gene-environmental interaction study called the ‘GOAL’ Study. After 3 years, I was promoted to Research Manager in Rheumatology, where I oversaw a variety of research projects investigating common musculoskeletal disorders such as a osteoarthritis, knee pain and gout. During my time in Rheumatology, I undertook a BA(Hons) in business studies – having previously completed a management diploma. Matthew Leighton (Trial Manager) I have worked in clinical research for 2 years. In that time I managed 2 different gastroenterology-related clinical trials. In addition I have helped several researchers in gaining ethical and regulatory approvals for their studies. Currently I am the Trial Manager at the CTU working on HTA-funded clinical trials. Florence Day (Trial Manager) I completed a BSc in Applied Psychology and Sociology at the University of Surrey in 2004, having spent a year on placement as an Assistant Psychologist in a secure hospital. After graduating I worked in clinical audit before moving on to start a career in health research. Having worked with the Mental Health Research Network for 3 years I joined the CTU in May 2009. For the past two years I have also been studying part-time for an MA in Research Methods which is due for completion in September 2009. Nazia Boota (Trial Manager) I am a graduate of the University of Leicester and hold a BSc in Biological Sciences. I first gained my enthusiasm for clinical research working as a Clinical Research Assistant in the Oncology & Haematology Trials Unit, UHL Trust. This was an extremely varied role involving the collection of data for patients mainly on early phase commercial trials. Prior to this I was as a Clinical Trial Coordinator at the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG). This role involved the coordination of paediatric CNS, new agent and leukaemia trials. I have recently started a part-time MSc in Oncology. Anna Sandell (Trial Manager) Details to follow Viv Turtle-Savage (Trial Manager) Details to follow Alex Erven (CTU Clinical Research Facilitator) Prior to working in clinical research I was a research scientist. I studied molecular biology in The Netherlands and obtained my PhD in human genetics in Ireland. Subsequently I worked at the MRC in Nottingham for several years investigating the genetics of deafness. I started working in clinical research as a trial coordinator and then I joined the University as a clinical research facilitator. Daniel Simpkins (Data and IT Manager) I have a degree in Computing and have worked for eight years as a data manager, within the pharmaceutical industry. During this time I've successfully performed / managed the data management function for a large number of clinical trials. Keith Whitaker (IT programmer) After gaining a degree in Computer Science, I have spent almost 40 years in IT working on a wide variety of systems and applications, but most recently in the field of credit referencing and credit card management, including intranet administration and Office desktop automation. Pat Morris (Trial Administrator) Prior to being appointed TOMAS trial administrator, I worked as a temporary administrator - on the Softened Water Eczema Trial (SWET) in the University’s Centre for Evidence Based Dermatology and then in the CTU. Before temping I was administrator for the East Midlands Ministry Training Course for 7 years, after administrative roles for 5 years in the Nottingham University Business School and for 20 years at St John’s College, Nottingham. Jacqueline Stanesby (Administrator) Details to follow