Professor Simon Milling Expand Profession: Professor of Immunology Relevant organisations/institutions: University of Glasgow & Chair of Research Committee 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
Karen Green (AUK) Expand Profession: Retired Teacher Relevant organisations/institutions: Alopecia UK Trustee 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.
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.
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)
Professor Nigel Hunt Expand Profession: Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences Relevant organisations/institutions: University of Nottingham Research areas of interest/specialisms: Trauma and stress, particularly narrative approaches to understanding the responses to difficult events. Work/academic background: Nigel was awarded his PhD (The Long Term Psychological Effects of War Experience) at the University of Plymouth in 1996. He Is now an associate professor at Nottingham and a Docent in Social Psychology in the Swedish School of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki. Professionally, Nigel is a Chartered Health Psychologist (HCPC Practitioner), an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He is also an honorary member of the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security, Iran, a member of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, UK Trauma Network, and the Society of Authors. Nigel is a co-author of 'Understanding Alopecia' (with Dr Sue McHale) which focuses on the psychological aspects of alopecia. He is currently working on an AHRC funded project through the Centre for Hidden Histories, which examines the psychological impact of World War One. He also supervises several PhD projects. Relevant weblinks: Further information about Nigel can be found on the University of Nottingham website.Further information about the Centre for Hidden Histories can be found here. See Nigel's Google Scholar list here.
Professor Diana Harcourt Expand Relevant organisations/institutions Diana is a health psychologist and Director of the Centre for Appearance Research (CAR) at the University of the West of England, Bristol. Diana was previously a member of an NIHR Research for Patient Benefit South West committee, Breast Cancer Now's Scientific Advisory Board, and The Scar Free Foundation's Research Council. Research areas of interest/specialisms Applied psychological research into appearance and body image. Work/academic background Diana completed her PhD at the University of the West of England in Bristol in 2001, after an MSc in Psychological Research Methods at Exeter University. Diana has more than 20 years' experience of psychosocial research into the experiences and support needs of people living with an altered or unusual appearance (i.e. visible difference). Much of her research has been in the field of cancer and the impact of treatment-related changes to appearance on those affected, and their families. This has included research into experiences of hair loss due to chemotherapy, and her broader visible difference research has included people affected by alopecia. Diana’s work has included developing and evaluating supportive interventions including collaboration on the YP Face IT online intervention for young people with visible differences and the PEGASUS intervention to support shared decision making with people considering appearance-altering treatment. Diana is currently leading a 5-year programme of research at CAR aiming to support organisations within the Appearance Collective, including Alopecia UK. Diana has published more than 120 peer reviewed journal papers and two books. Relevant weblinks: Further information about Diana can be found at her website Further information about the Centre for Appearance Research can be found here Further information about the University of the West of England can be found here
Professor Andrew Thompson Expand Profession: Registered Clinical and Health Psychologist Relevant organisations/institutions: Professor of Clinical Psychology, Cardiff University Reader in Clinical Psychology, University of Sheffield (2001–2019) Lead for dermatology pathway IAPT Health and Wellbeing service,Sheffield Health & Social Care NHS Foundation Trust (2007–2019): Relevant advisory/editorial roles: All Party Parliamentary Group on Skin Conditions (Psychological Advisor) Changing Faces (Trustee) The Vitiligo Society (Scientific Board) The Katie Piper Foundation (Advisor – 2013 - 2018) British Journal of Dermatology (Editorial Board) Scars, Burns & Healing (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 gained his doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 1998 and he is registered as both a Clinical and a Health Psychologist. He also holds an additional practitioner qualification in a type of psychological therapy called 'cognitive analytic therapy'. Andrew is the Programme Director of the South Wales Clinical Psychology Programme, based at the University of Cardiff, Wales. He is an active researcher, and has published around 100 publications, several book chapters, and two edited books. He has supervised over 70 postgraduates. Andrew has a background in mental health and health and wellbeing associated with long term conditions, and has worked in a variety of NHS clinical psychology services for almost thirty years. Relevant weblinks: Further information about Andrew’s research can be found here.