Meet the team

Dr Nagesh Kalakonda, Clinical Director for Research and Innovation
MB, BS, MRCP, FRCPath, PhD
nagesh.kalakonda@liverpool.ac.uk

Nagesh is responsible for the strategic direction of research for The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and links in with all of our partners to set our vision, aims and objectives.

Dr Gillian Heap, Director of Research and Innovation

gillian.heap@nhs.net

Gillian has over 20 years experience of working in research management within the NHS, industry, contract research organisations and academia. Gillian has operational oversight of clinical and academic research within the organisation.

Dr Maria Maguire, Research Manager
BSc (hons), MPhil, PhD
maria.maguire2@nhs.net

Maria began her career as a Biochemist holding Post-Doctoral positions researching into the molecular mechanisms of cancer before becoming Quality Assurance Manager for the Liverpool Cancer Research UK Centre in 2009. She was appointed Research Manager at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in July 2012.

“The Centre is committed to securing a national reputation for excellence in cancer research. Central to this goal is improving outcomes for our patients. We want to make real changes for the population of Cheshire & Merseyside." Maria Maguire

Emma Whitby, R&I Lead Nurse
RGN BSc
emma.whitby1@nhs.net

Emma qualified in 1996 as a registered general nurse specialising in the field of oncology and working in a number of cancer centres across the UK, before joining the cancer research team in 2004 to work as a research practitioner.

Emma's role as R&I Lead Nurse is to provide managerial, operational and professional leadership to the clinical research delivery staff, providing strategic and operational management of clinical research activity.

"Research is fundamental to the Centre’s commitment to providing the best cancer care to the people that we serve. We will continue to expand our research portfolio to translate into improved treatments and better prognosis for our patients." Emma Whitby

Michelle Moffitt, Research Delivery Manager
RGN BSc
michelle.moffitt@nhs.net

Michelle began working at the Centre in 2006 as a staff nurse before joining the research team as an Advanced Research Practitioner in 2009. Since January 2018 Michelle has worked in the role as Research Delivery Manager providing management and leadership to the dedicated research staff including research nurses and clinical trial coordination staff. The team provides specialised infrastructure to deliver high quality clinical research to patients of Cheshire & Merseyside.

“I feel very privileged to be working with such a dedicated and driven team committed to improving patient outcomes.” Michelle Moffitt

The Research Management and Governance Team assure robust, rapid set up of studies and are available for help, advice and enquiries on all aspects of study management:

David Price, Governance & Quality Manager
david.price9@nhs.net

David is responsible for any research governance issues that may arise, overseeing sponsorship for Clatterbridge Cancer Centre sponsored studies and the implementation of a robust and effective research audit system.

Lorraine Broadfoot, Research Partnerships Manager
lorraine.broadfoot@nhs.net

Lorraine is responsible for the management of commercial study set up which incorporates, collation of regulatory documents, localised headed documents, and liaison with support departments including finance on the costs for studies and authorisation of capacity and capability for the site.

Nick Garbutt, Research Partnerships Facilitator
nicholas.garbutt@nhs.net

Nick works alongside the Research Partnerships Manager with a main focus on non-commercial study set up for trust approval.

Doug Elkin, Research Co-ordinator
douglas.elkin@nhs.net

Doug works alongside the Research Governance and Quality Manager to deliver research governance with a main focus on Haemato-oncology trials, ECMC studies and those led by CCC-clinicians and for which CCC acts as Sponsor.

Jane Knight, Trials Facilitator
jane.knight1@nhs.net

Jane's role in RM&G is to manage the data and information in our Edge database for reporting purposes and completion of the Trust’s Performance in Initiating Research (PII) & Performance in Delivering Research (PID) reports. She is also responsible for document control, GCP training records and research passports. I also have an active role in initial study set-up.

Gabby Lawrence, Research and Innovation Administrator
gabrielle.lawrence@nhs.net

Gabby provides administrative and secretarial support to the R&I Directorate and Research Management and Governance Team. She is also responsible for the implementation of protocol amendments and supports study set-up.

We have a team of expert Research Practitioners at the Centre in Wirral and across our peripheral clinics. The practitioners are divided into specialist teams for effective delivery.

Brain, Sarcoma and Melanoma Portfolio

Barbara King, Advanced Research Practitioner
0151 556 5102

Rebecca Grogan, Research Practitioner

0151 556 5198

Breast Portfolio

Jo Francis, Advanced Research Practitioner
0151 706 4199

Gynaecological Portfolio

Lynne Newton, Advanced Research Practitioner
0151 556 5418

Haemato-oncology Portfolio

Jane Tinsley, Advanced Research Practitioner
0151 706 4886

Head and Neck and GI Cancer Portfolio

Pembe Yesildag, Advanced Research Practitioner
0151 556 5442

HPB Portfolio

Julie Morrish, Advanced Research Practitioner
0151 556 5460

Grace McGrath, Research Practitioner
0151 556 5510

Lung Portfolio

Alison Hassall, Advanced Research Practitioner
0151 556 5423

Urology Portfolio

Linda Lyons, Advanced Research Practitioner
0151 556 5340

Chelcie Faulker, Research Practitioner
0151 556 5460

ECMC Portfolio

Jennie Derham, Advanced Research Practitioner
0151 556 5443

Nurse-led Research

Lynda Appleton, Academic Nurse Researcher
0151 556 5438

Clinical Delivery Team

Jenny Miller, Research Practitioner
0151 556 5471

Sarah Illingworth, Research Nurse
0151 556 5835

Joshua Williams, Clinical Trials Support
0151 556 5561

Data Management Team

We have a dedicated team of Clinical Trial Assistants to provide data management support for our portfolio of studies. The Clinical Trial Assistants are split into specialist teams for effective delivery.

Sue Green, Senior Clinical Trials Assistant
sue.green6@nhs.net

Erin Bennett, Senior Clinical Trials Assistant
erin.bennett1@nhs.net

Brain Portfolio

Susan Howard, Clinical Trials Assistant
susan.howard13@nhs.net

Breast Portfolio

Sarah Bennett, Clinical Trials Assistant
sarah.bennett7@nhs.net

Gynaecological Portfolio

Sarah Bennett, Clinical Trials Assistant
sarah.bennett7@nhs.net

Head and Neck Portfolio

Susan Howard, Clinical Trials Assistant
susan.howard13@nhs.net

HPB Portfolio

Nicola Dean, Clinical Trials Assistant
nicola.dean4@nhs.net

Lower GI Portfolio

Susan Howard, Clinical Trials Assistant
susan.howard13@nhs.net

Lung Portfolio

Masuma Begum, Clinical Trials Assistant
masuma.begum7@nhs.net

Melanoma Portfolio

Hollie Wilson, Clinical Trials Assistant
hollie.wilson@nhs.net

Sarcoma

Susan Howard, Clinical Trials Assistant
susan.howard13@nhs.net

Upper GI Portfolio

Susan Howard, Clinical Trials Assistant
susan.howard13@nhs.net

Urology Portfolio

Kathleen Gill, Clinical Trials Assistant
kathleen.gill1@nhs.net

Caroline Dunn, Clinical Trials Assistant
caroline.dunn@nhs.net

Matthew Stott, Clinical Trials Assistant
matthew.stott2@nhs.net

Bethan Edwards, Clinical Trials Assistant
bethan.edwards4@nhs.net

Research Officers

Our Research Officers are responsible for the management of non-interventional, qualitative research studies.

Charlotte Baugh
charlotte.baugh1@nhs.net

Hannah Doughty
hannah.doughty@nhs.net

Project Support Managers

The team provides comprehensive project management support for Research Management and the Clinical Academic Group. Their aim is to raise the profile of research at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

Jessica Hulse, Research
jessica.hulse@nhs.net
0151 556 5431

Mary Jordan, Academic Research
mary.jordan3@nhs.net
0151 556 5197

We have a dedicated Clinical Trials Laboratory with full technical capability for the processing of biological samples for research studies. The Clinical Trials Laboratory also houses the CCC Biobank.

For any Biobank or Laboratory queries, please contact a member of the team:

Victoria Chekoldina, Biobank Administrator
victoria.chekoldina@nhs.net

Rebecca Hopcroft, Clinical Trials Laboratory Technician
rebecca.cass3@nhs.net

Helen Wynne, Clinical Trials Laboratory Technician
helen.newsome@nhs.net

Avril Hughes, Clinical Trials Laboratory Technician
avril.hughes@nhs.net

Mariam Omidi, Clinical Trials Laboratory Technician
mariam.omidi@nhs.net