Professor Simon Milling Expand Profession: Professor of Immunology Relevant organisations/institutions: University of Glasgow Research areas of interest/specialisms: The immunology of the intestine Inflammation and autoimmunity Work/academic background: Simon received his PhD in Immunology in 1996 from Imperial College, London. He then worked as a researcher in Philadelphia and Oxford. Simon took up a position as a lecturer in Immunology in Glasgow in 2007. The work in his lab focusses on two areas, both involving the immunology of the intestine: basic studies of the functions of 'dendritic cells' in controlling healthy intestinal immune responses ; and more applied projects to understand potentially intestine-related inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Relevant weblinks: Further information about Simon can be found on the University of Glasgow website.Further information about Simon's lab can be found here.See Simon's Google Scholar list here.
Dr Matthew Harries Expand Profession: Consultant Dermatologist Relevant organisations/institutions: Consultant Dermatologist, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust Honorary Senior Lecturer, The University of Manchester Fellow, The Royal College of Physicians of London Committee Member, British Hair and Nails Society Steering Committee member, UK-Dermatology Clinical Trials Network Research areas of interest/specialisms: Clinical = All types of hair and scalp disorders Research = Cicatricial (Scarring) alopecias (particularly the immunology of Lichen planopilaris) and alopecia areata Work/academic background: Matthew received his medical degree from the University of Leeds, UK in 1998. In 2001, he gained membership of the Royal College of Physicians of London, and in January 2003 took a post as a Specialist Registrar in Dermatology in Manchester. During training Matthew took time out of programme to study the hair immune system in primary cicatricial alopecias, working as a Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, and a visiting Research Fellow in Experimental Dermatology at the University of Lübeck, Germany. He was awarded a PhD from the University of Manchester in 2011 for this work. Matthew now works as a Consultant Dermatologist at Salford Royal Foundation Trust in Manchester and has an Honorary Senior Lecturer post at the University of Manchester. He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London. Matthew has a special interest in hair loss disorders, in particular the scarring alopecias, receiving specialist referrals from around the region. He is a founder member of the British Hair and Nails Society (BHNS) and acts as the research lead on the BHNS executive committee. Relevant weblinks: The following are links to some of the research institutions that Matthew has mentioned: The University of Manchester Research & Innovation (working with Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust) National Institute for Health Research Manchester Biomedical Research Centre
Dr Kerry Montgomery Expand Profession: Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner Research Consultant Relevant organisations/institutions: Sheffield Health and Social Care Trust Research areas of interest/specialisms: Psychological impact of living with a condition which affects appearance Peer support for people living with a visible difference Development of interventions to support people with alopecia and their families Training and volunteer management What is your working/academic background? Kerry's research and charitable work has focused on psychological support and interventions for people living with conditions which affect appearance. She has a particular interest in peer support as she feels this is really valuable. Kerry has been involved in developing and facilitating peer support programmes with national charities. Kerry currently provides advice and consultancy to charities to assist them in the development and delivery of support services. She works within the NHS as a Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner supporting people with anxiety and depression as a result of a long term health condition.
Karen Green (AUK) Expand Profession: Retired Teacher Relevant organisations/institutions: Alopecia UK Trustee & Chair of Research Committee Research areas of interest/specialisms: Areas of interest: understanding the microbiome in the gut, controlling inflammation by diet. Work/academic background: Karen will be on the Committee as an Alopecia UK Trustee as well as being the Chair of the Research Committee. Having developed Alopecia Universalis at the age of 52 Karen will also be representing the patient perspective. Karen became involved with the first alopecia charity dedicated to research (AAR-UK) in 2012 after a year of searching for answers and finding none. Upon merging with Alopecia UK in November 2017 Karen is pleased to be able to continue the work done at AAR-UK, playing a part on the newly formed research committee. Relevant weblinks: You can find Karen's Alopecia UK Trustee Profile link here.
Jen Chambers (AUK) Expand Profession: Alopecia UK Charity Development Manager Research areas of interest/specialisms: Specialisms: Psychology Art Psychotherapy Areas of interest: The mind and body - how they work together and the impact one can have on the other The biology of emotion - the physical impact that emotion can have on the body Brain development & coping mechanisms Psychosomatic disorders Healing capabilities of the body and the individual conditions needed for this Work/academic background: Academic Background: Psychology with Health Studies BSc (Dissertation - 'Alopecia & Identity') Art Psychotherapy MA (Dissertation - 'Alexithymia & Art Psychotherapy: Exploring the case for the use of art psychotherapy with alexithymic individuals focusing on those with somatoform disorders') During Jen's five years of studies she researched alopecia and included it in projects as much as her tutors would allow. This left her with a keen interest in the relationship between mind and body. Alopecia background: Jen has had alopecia areata since 1995, developing it at the age of 11. This progressed on to universalis, regrowing by the age of 16, but then all going again at the age of 20. Her current status is somewhere between alopecia totalis and alopecia universalis. Work background: Jen has been with Alopecia UK since 2012, first as a volunteer and working up to Charity Development Manager. Prior to this she had various job roles, the most relevant one in this instance being that of Participation Worker. Jen is keen to ensure the voices of those with alopecia are heard at all levels within Alopecia UK however particularly so when it comes to alopecia research. Jen wants to ensure the charity develops methods of including the patient perspective and getting research projects off the ground that those with alopecia want to see happen. Relevant weblinks: You can find Jen's Alopecia UK profile here.
Harry Brunt (AUK) Expand Profession: Property Developer Relevant organisations/institutions: Alopecia UK Trustee Research areas of interest/specialisms: Harry will be on the Committee as an Alopecia UK Trustee as well as representing the alopecia areata (universalis) patient perspective. Harry is interested in all areas of research that might further understanding of the disease and help lead to the development of effective treatments and ultimately a cure. Relevant weblinks: You can find Harry's Alopecia UK Trustee Profile link here.
Professor Fiona Henriquez Expand Profession: Research Group Leader Relevant organisations/institutions: School of Health and Life Sciences University of the West of Scotland (UWS) Research areas of interest/specialisms: clinical immunology host-pathogen relationships immunomodulation by mechanotransduction Work/academic background: Fiona is a Professor of Parasitology and leads the Infection and Microbiology Research Group within the Institute of Biomedical and Environmental Health Research of the School of Science and Sport at UWS. She is currently focused on leading high quality interdisciplinary research, teaching and mentoring early career researchers and PhD students in the area of Infectious Disease, Immunology and Biomedical Science. Fiona gained her BSc (Hons) in Immunology and Microbiology at the University of Strathclyde, where she continued on to a PhD focusing on the characterisation of secretory proteins of the obligate parasite Toxoplasma gondii. She has carried out postdoctoral positions at the Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow and won a Royal Society International Fellowship pursue host-pathogen relationship research at the University of Chicago. Fiona joined UWS in November 2005 as a Lecturer in Immunology, embedding important parasitology and immunology research skills in the curriculum and establishing important networks with NHS biomedical laboratories. In parallel, her research on amoeba pathogens (Acanthamoeba and Paramoeba) has gained international recognition and has also made a considerable impact on public, industrial and health service engagement. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, Higher Education Academy and Leadership Foundation for Higher Education. She is a Member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Young Academy of Scotland and a passionate STEM ambassador to encourage young people into Science. Relevant weblinks: Further information about Fiona can be found on the University of the West of Scotland website.
Professor Desmond J. Tobin Expand Profession: Professor of Dermatological Science Relevant organisations/institutions: The Charles Institute of Dermatology, University College Dublin Honorary Visiting Research Professor, Centre for Skin Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford Research areas of interest/specialisms: Skin & Hair in Health and Disease using Cell Biology and Immunology research approaches. Work/academic background: Dr Desmond J. Tobin is Professor of Dermatological Science and Director of the Charles Institute of Dermatology, University College Dublin, Ireland (2018-) and former Director of the Centre for Skin Sciences at University of Bradford, where he now holds an Honorary Visiting Research Professorship. Des holds a BSc from the National University of Ireland (Maynooth), a PhD from the University of London (St. John’s Institute of Dermatology) and post-doctoral training from New York University Medical School - Dept. of Dermatology. Over the past 25 years he has researched basic, applied and translational skin/hair sciences, with a particular focus on the biology of human melanocytes/ pigmentation and hair growth disorders (immune based). He is a Fellow of Royal College of Pathologists; Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, and Fellow of the Institute of Trichologists (Vice-president). He has published over 170 publications and his H-Index is currently 56 (Scopus, 2018). Relevant weblinks: University College Dublin, Charles Institute of DermatologyUniversity of Bradford, Centre for Skin Sciences
Dr Annika Åstrand Expand Profession: Project Leader/Principal Scientist Relevant organisations/institutions: AstraZeneca Gothenburg - R&D Research areas of interest/specialisms: Autoimmunity, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases Work/academic background: Annika has a PhD in renal Physiology. She has thirty years of Pharma experience ranging from bench scientist, line management to project leader.
Dr Andrew Thompson Expand Profession: Registered Clinical and Health Psychologist Relevant organisations/institutions: University of Sheffield - Reader in Clinical Psychology Sheffield Health & Social Care NHS Foundation Trust - Lead for dermatology pathway IAPT Health and Wellbeing service Relevant advisory/editorial roles: All Party Parliamentary Group on Skin Conditions The Vitiligo Society (Scientific Board) The Katie Piper Foundation (Advisor) British Journal of Dermatology (Editorial Board) Dermatological Nursing (Editorial Board) Research areas of interest/specialisms: Psychological aspects of conditions that affect appearance. The aim of Andrew's research is to gain an understanding of the psychosocial issues associated with conditions affecting appearance; and to develop supportive interventions aimed at alleviating distress. Work/academic background: Andrew is qualified/registered as both a Clinical and as a Health Psychologist. He also holds an additional practitioner qualification in a type of psychological therapy called 'cognitive analytic therapy'. Andrew works on the NHS clinical psychology training programme at the University of Sheffield and teaches a variety of mental health trainees. He is also an active researcher. Andrew has a background in mental health and health and wellbeing associated with long term conditions. He has worked in a variety of NHS clinical psychology services over the last 25 years. Andrew currently provides input into the Sheffield Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies Health and Wellbeing service. Relevant weblinks: Further information about Andrew can be found on The University of Sheffield website.
Professor Andrew Messenger Expand Profession: Consultant Dermatologist Relevant organisations/institutions: British Association of Dermatologists European Hair Research Society British Hair and Nail Society British Society for Investigative Dermatology Research areas of interest/specialisms: Biology and disease of hair growth Work/academic background: Andrew is a semi-retired clinical dermatologist. He has had a clinical and research interest in hair disease for many years, including alopecia areata, female pattern hair loss and frontal fibrosing alopecia. Andrew was president of the European Hair Research Society 2004-6, of the North of England Dermatological Society 2008-9 and has been president of the Institute of Trichologists since 2009. Andrew was also Chair of the 7th World Congress for Hair Research in 2013.
Dr Abby Macbeth Expand Profession: Consultant Dermatologist Relevant organisations/institutions: Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals NHS Trust (Consultant Dermatologist) University of East Anglia (Honorary Senior Lecturer) NIHR Clinical Research Network (Eastern Dermatology Speciality Lead) Research areas of interest/specialisms: Hair loss disorders Alopecia areata Outcomes for research Work/academic background: Dr Abby Macbeth is a Consultant Dermatologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals Trust. Abby has a clinical and research interest in hair disorders, in particular Alopecia areata (AA). She was Co-Champion and Data lead for the Hair Loss Priority Setting Partnership funded by Alopecia UK. Current work is looking at ‘outcomes’ for clinical trials in AA, with a focus on what is most important to patients (ROMA- refining outcome measures for trials in alopecia areata). This is funded by the UK Dermatology Clinical Trials Network (UK DCTN). She is the Clinical Research Network Eastern Dermatology lead, a former UK DCTN Registrar fellow, a founder member of the UK DCTN Trainees Research Group and recipient of the Maxwell Charnley Dermatology Research Fellowship. Abby is also a former Trainee Representative of the British Hair and Nail Society. Relevant weblinks: Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust University of Nottingham, Refining Outcome Measures for trials in Alopecia Areata (ROMA)