PTTU - Key Persons
Dr Leon Gerard D'Cruz joined the Research and Innovation Department at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust in 2020, following a post-doc at CTRIC, Ulster University, Northern Ireland studying the role of senescence and role of biomarkers in post-MI repair in reprogrammed tissue-culture models (using Yamanaka factors) of post-MI scar tissue and genetic polymorphisms responsible for drug-resistance in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Leon has completed previous post-doctoral training at Cardiff University, NIMR-MRC (London) and Maidstone Hospital (Kent). With a strong scientific-research and clinical background, following his PhD at the Cardiology department at St. George's Hospital (2002), he has delivered and setup trials in clinical settings. He has also developed and carried out trials on clinical devices as well as industrial promotion of them while at Ulster University and worked towards the adoption of clinical devices as standard care pathway within NICE. He brings his research insight, statistical and analytical expertise to the PTTU team.
Job Titles:
- SIGHT Business Development and Programme Manager
Phil has a wealth of experience supporting collaboration between business and academia. For over 10 years Phil managed a number of University funding schemes at the University of Southampton, including the EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership, Knowledge Transfer Secondments programme, and the Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnerships scheme. Prior to this he undertook a part-time PhD in ancient history. For a number of years Phil has also been running his own bid writing and collaboration support company. Phil takes the lead in business engagement for the SIGHT programme, liaising with potential SIGHT members, growing the network and providing them with guidance at the start of their business and clinical approval path.
Job Titles:
- Research Facilitator & Trial Manager ( Respiratory )
Elaine is a Research Facilitator who is responsible for the set up and delivery of clinical research studies. Elaine also provides specialist trial management support to the Respiratory Research Team. Before moving to Portsmouth, Elaine worked on delivering various health improvement projects in Guildford and Reading. Elaine is especially interested in medical device studies and holds an MSc in Health Psychology from Aston University.
Johanna has worked in clinical research for over 15 years and has extensive knowledge in the delivery of studies across many clinical areas. A registered nurse of over 25 years, Johanna's clinical background is Critical Care and acute medicine. As a Trust Lead Research Nurse, Johanna is accountable for research service delivery and responsible for leading and supporting multidisciplinary teams to deliver clinical research. This spans across the organisation and to our health care partners. Johanna holds an NHS Leadership Academy award in Healthcare Leadership.
Job Titles:
- Professor
- Research Data Coordinator
Professor Chauhan has been Director of Research and Innovation at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust since 2009. He has driven an exponential growth in research within the trust and developed a reputation within both the commercial sector and academia for the delivery of high quality research and innovation in healthcare technologies.
As a research active consultant in respiratory medicine, Professor Chauhan has offered high numbers of patients the opportunity to participate in research and clinical trials developed by his team in Portsmouth. He has introduced innovations in clinical pathways, developed new models of care and demonstrated a positive impact on disease control, quality of life, healthcare usage and health economic benefits in patients with respiratory conditions. This has been possible by bringing together patients, industry, innovators, commissioners and clinicians to identify and develop innovative solutions for unmet needs of respiratory patients. Many of his projects have received national acclaim, including recently an HSJ award for Value in Healthcare for Technology, Patient Safety Awards for Medicines Optimization and an HSJ Award for Primary Care Innovation. He has also won prestigious regional awards for leadership and Service Improvement and Innovation. He trained in Respiratory Medicine and completed his PhD as an MRC Clinical Training Fellow in Southampton. He is an Executive, and the Commercial Lead for Wessex Clinical Research Network; Programme Lead for the Wessex Academic Health Science Network and Executive Director of Research for Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.
Milan is a graduate from Aston University and has spent the past year supporting research within the department as a Research Administrator. He has recently taken on the position of Research Data Coordinator and supports the data management of PHT led research studies.
Job Titles:
- Research Nurse Lead
- Trust Lead Research Nurse
Sharon McCready is a Trust Lead Research nurse who specializes in leading a multidisciplinary team of research nurses, midwives and allied health professionals, facilitating the delivery of clinical research from study design to bed side delivery.
Sharon has over two decades of experience across a range of health care settings developing clinical experience and accreditation in Paediatrics, Oncology, Respiratory and Paediatric Palliative Care. In 2017 Sharon graduated from the NHS Leadership Academy with an M.Sc. in Clinical Leadership.