Associate PIs
SurfON trial is being supported by highly skilled Associate PIs across various sites. NIHR Associate PI scheme is now open to any Allied Health Professional interested in making a significant contribution to the conduct & delivery of SurfON.
St Marys Hospital, Manchester
Emma McDermott
My name is Emma and I am an ST8 paediatric trainee completing a SPIN module in neonates. I have been interested in research ever since I completed my masters in Immunology and Immunogenetics before I embarked on my medical training. I find it fascinating how research can be used to improve our understanding of disease processes and how to target potential future therapies. I have been involved in research projects previously gaining consent from families to participate. I will use this opportunity to take part in the associate PI scheme with SurfON to increase my understanding of implementation of an NIHR portfolio study within a clinical setting.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals
Emily Cottrell
My name is Emily and I am a Paediatric Trainee in West Yorkshire. Completing a Good Clinical Practice course and obtaining consent for clinical trials during my time on the neonatal unit sparked my interest in research. It made me appreciate how research underpins our key treatment principles and how much potential exists for further analysis and discovery. I recently completed a PhD investigating novel genetic causes of growth failure. I also helped to develop the 'Academic Toolkit for Paediatrics,' endorsed by the RCPCH and Academic Paediatric Association. This toolkit provides research advice and useful resources for paediatricians at all levels of training. I hope this will encourage more paediatric trainees to consider academic careers and strengthen the UK research base. I believe research is key to driving positive informed change. I look forward to my role as Associate PI and learning more about the clinical trial process. I hope to help improve research trial awareness and confidence on our unit to help optimise the number of babies that can benefit from this fascinating study.
Mervat Elyas
My name is Mervat Elyas , I am an international medical graduate currently working as an ST4 Paediatric trainee in West Yorkshire.
I have completed courses in research practice to increase my knowledge and to be qualified for any research opportunities. These include: Good Clinical Practice, Introduction to the Principles and Practice of Clinical Research (IPPCR), and a scientific writing course.
I started my neonatal rotation in Leeds teaching hospitals with enthusiasm to participate in research , and being an Associate Pi for SurfON study will help to me gain that experience in clinical trials , develop my skills in randomization and recruiting.
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Rowan Toyer
I have worked in neonates since 1992 and have an Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner for the last 23 years. I have worked in a few places including St Thomas', Leicester Royal Infirmary, ANTS transport team and currently work in NICU at Luton & Dunstable Hospital. I firmly believe that we should be using up to date clinical evidence to guide our practice. Use of surfactant in this age group is currently very variable and hence Surfon should hopefully guide us in what we should do. I have been involved in research at unit level by taking consent and carrying out research interventions. I wanted to become an API in order to get a fuller understanding of the research process.
Belfast HSC Trust
Dr David Cummins
My name is David and I was recently appointed as a consultant neonatologist at Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital in Belfast. During my fellowship in Melbourne I became interested in neonatal research and gained experience with recruiting and randomising babies into international RCTs. I'm excited about the SurfON trial as it could potentially answer a very important question and it's been quite straight forward to recruit into. I hope the associate PI scheme can help me gain the necessary skills to become a PI at RJMH in the future.
Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Asad Abbas
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Madhusudan Guin
My name is Madhu. I have completed my Medical School and Post-Graduation in Paediatrics from India. I have been a member of Royal College of Paediatric and Child Health since 2016. Furthermore, I have successfully completed a Royal College of Canada accredited Neonatal Fellowship from University of Calgary (Foothill Medical Centre and Alberta Children's Hospital). Upon completion of my Fellowship, I have joined as a Neonatal Specialty Doctor in NHS UK (William Harvey Hospital, Ashford). During my fellowship, I have been trained and actively involved in Research Projects; Some of my projects are still ongoing under ACRI (Alberta Children Hospital Research Institute) in Calgary. I have carried forward that culture to my current position. Having ten years' of quality experience in Clinical Neonatology from different continents, which helps me contribute substantially to the field of neonatal care in my present organisation. I hope, as an Associate PI, I will have more opportunity to share my research experience.
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Patrycja Prusak
My name is Patrycja, I am a Trust Grade Doctor working across Paediatric and Neonatal Department in Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (hopefully getting into Paediatric Training this year). My interest in the field of Neonatal Research was sparked by amazing Consultants that I happen to work with. I am excited to be appointed as a SurfON associate PI and I am looking forward to gaining valuable experience in NIHR research study.
Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Dr Jane Lawson
My name is Jane Lawson, I am a neonatal grid trainee in Yorkshire and Humber, currently working at Hull Royal Infirmary. I am excited about being involved in SurfON as a means of gaining experience in multicentre trials. This will complement my learning from the clinical research I am doing as part of an MSc in child health. I also hope to enthuse my colleagues and give more families the chance to be involved in research.
Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Danielle Llabres
My name is Danielle and I am a lead advanced neonatal nurse practitioner. I have worked with neonates for 16 years during which time the number of research trials taking place within units I have worked has increased dramatically. Observing the processes required to recruit babies into trials, monitoring and recording the effects of the research interventions and subsequently witnessing changes in routine practice has led to my desire to become more involved in these processes. In 2019 I completed a Good Clinical Practice course and began obtaining consent for clinical trials. I developed skills in randomising babes and monitoring for potential recruits to the trials'. When the opportunity to develop these skills as an Associate PI came about I was keen to be involved and expand my knowledge of the clinical trial process. I aim to improve research trial recruitment amongst the ANNP and junior medical colleagues in my unit by developing my awareness further of the research trials process and gaining hands on experience. This will enable me to address the challenge of optimum recruitment when working within a large team.
Medway NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Kehinde Aiyenigba
I am Dr. Kehinde. My academic journey commenced in Nigeria, culminating in the successful completion of my medical training. I commenced my postgraduate training in Paediatrics before I relocated to the United Kingdom and attained membership in the esteemed Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Presently, I hold the position of a Trust grade doctor at the Level 3 neonatal unit within Medway Maritime Hospital. My enthusiasm for research was sparked by the influential colleagues with whom I have collaborated in the role of a research assistant. In this capacity, I played a key role in patient recruitment and consent processes for research initiatives. I am honoured to be actively involved in the API scheme for the SurfOn trial, a significant opportunity that promises to expand my experience in multicentred studies. I am committed to making valuable contributions within this field as I progress in my professional journey.
Dr Shiranthi Jayasekara
Belfast HSC Trust
Dr Sarah Berry
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Dr William Dodwell
I am a paediatric ST5 working within the East Midlands Deanery. I currently work on the Leicester Royal Infirmary Neonatal Unit and with CenTre, the Regional Neonatal Transport Team. I am planning to pursue a career in neonatology. Working as the associate PI as part of the SurfON team I look forward to championing the study, trying to further embed research in our day to day clinical practice and increase my knowledge of the logistics and practicalities of running a multicentre research study.
North Bristol NHS Trust
Dr Sarah Oram
My name is Sarah and I am a Paediatric registrar training in the Severn deanery. My first experience of research was prior to medical training, as a Psychology undergraduate student. As a doctor, I completed the Good Clinical Practice course during an SHO placement at Southmead hospital, a tertiary NICU. This enabled me to have my first hands on experience of medical research by consenting for clinical trials. I have since returned to Southmead and its exciting research repertoire has captured my interest in being more hands on. Becoming an Associate PI is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the research process and have more involvement in a study that will help inform the next steps in caring for the neonatal population. I hope that as an Associate PI, I will also encourage my peers to become involved in research and see that it is accessible to all.
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Grace Bradley
Southern Health & Social Care Trust
Dr Colm Darby, Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
My name is Colm Darby and I work as an Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner within the Southern Health and Social Care Trust at Craigavon Area Hospital. I've worked at this neonatal unit for over 12 years and has been involved in various studies within this time. As an ANNP I was awarded the UK Neonatal Nurse of the Year in 2017 for my work on regional implementation of a hypoglycemia protocol which saw a decrease in neonatal admissions and increase breastfeeding practices across Northern Ireland. I am an advocate for the newborn infant and their families with a role as the Regional Lead for the Neonatal Nurses Association in Northern Ireland and Executive Board Member. As an ANNP I aim to improve care delivery and the neonatal journey for parents. The SURFon study will answer important questions and potentially develop evidence-based practice that could improve care delivery and the experience that parents have on the units. I am developing a research career and the Associate PI training will support me in the 1st step to achieving this.
Caitlin McKeone
Hi, my name is Caitlin and I am an ST3 in paediatrics with an interest in neonatology. I currently work in Northern Ireland in the Ulster Hospital. Our unit has recently joined to SurfON trial. I have a Master's in Public Health and a background in analyzing and interpreting research but am excited to be involved in SurfON to gain experience in consenting for clinical trials and interacting with patients in research.
University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust
Dr Lucy Bradley
Past Associate PIs
University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) NHS Trust
Dr Ranveer Singh Sanghera, Neonatal Speciality Trainee
My name is Ranveer, I qualified in medicine in 2014 from the University of Hull and York medical school and since then most of my training has been within the East Midlands deanery. I have just recently become the associate PI for the SurfON study in Leicester and hope to drive change in the way we recruit for the study. I am a Neonatal ST6 working at Leicester Royal Infirmary and have just recently been successful at Neonatal GRID interviews and on my way to becoming a Neonatologist. My passion is research, ever since I qualified, I have learnt the importance of research and the way it has shaped our management and our outcomes. I hope, as Associate PI, to inspire the new trainees to have the same level of excitement and enthusiasm as I have for SurfON.
Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, NHS Tayside
Dr Sue Anne Lim, Paediatric Trainee
My name is Sue Anne Lim and I am a Paediatric Trainee in the East of Scotland. I have a particular interest in neonatal medicine and am passionate about delivering the best care possible for these babies and their families. I think research like the SurfON study, is so important to guide and improve our practice, which is why I applied to be an associate PI. In this role, I hope to be able to share my enthusiasm with my colleagues and help drive recruitment. I am excited to be offered this opportunity to work alongside other centres to improve neonatal care.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Dr Kate Parmenter, Paediatric Trainee
Hello there, my name is Kate Parmenter and I am an ST4 Paediatric trainee in the Eest Yorkshire and Humber deanery. I hope to pursue a career in Neonatology with a dwell role in academic research. Taking part in the associate PI scheme has allowed me to understand more about high quality trial governance and the research cycle generally. Next year I will take the Leeds Children's hospital Clinical Research Fellow position to further my understanding in this field and key areas I wish to focus on include; making research an "always event" via encouraging increased trial awareness and consent practice within the children's hospital as well as working towards a PhD proposal. I have a keen interest in health equity and completing a pilot diploma in health inequality.
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Samantha Sadoo, Neonatal Grid Trainee
I am a neonatal grid trainee in the East of England deanery, currently at Luton & Dunstable NICU. Since 2015, I have been involved in clinical research primarily based around neonatal brain injury and early child disability outcomes in low-and-middle- income countries. I will be commencing an MRC-funded PhD this year in the field of global neonatal encephalopathy with LSHTM (London) and MRC/UVRI Uganda. Through this Associate PI opportunity I look forward to enhancing my clinical research experience in a UK setting, and contributing important data to improving outcomes for our patients.
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Pri Madawala, Speciality Doctor
My name is Pri Madawala, I have qualified in medicine, completed postgraduate training in paediatrics and practiced as acting consultant neonatologist in Sri Lanka before move in to UK. Currently I am working as a speciality doctor in neonatal intensive care unit at Birmingham Heartland Hospital, University Hospital Birmingham NHS foundation trust.I have particular interest in neonatal medicine and I am passionate about delivering the best care for the infant and their families.Always I will put myself further challenge, which will drive me to gather further learning and experience.I hope, as Associated PI for the SurfON study at UHB will give me exciting opportunities to share my enthusiasm with my colleagues and gain more experience on research.
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Dr Hannah Watts, Paediatric Trainee
My name is Hannah, I'm a paediatric trainee in Wessex Deanery. I'm based on the neonatal unit at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth where I have been working with the research team since September 2021. Within this role I have had the opportunity to develop my interests in neonatal medicine whilst gaining valuable practical experience in neonatal research. I'm excited to have the opportunity to become an Associate PI for SurfON and look forward to championing the study, whilst gaining a valuable insight into the practicalities of delivering an NIHR portfolio study locally.
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Teck Guan Ong, Neonatal Consultant
My name is Teck Guan and I am one of the Neonatal Consultant at Royal Oldham Hospital. I am grateful to have the opportunity to become an Associate PI for SurfON to gain a formal recognition of engagement in NIHR Portfolio Research studies. Hopefully, this experience would help me to become a well-rounded clinician with strong research portfolio.
