CO-CONNECT - Key Persons
Alex lives in Herfordshire. He is an international project manager, specialising in aerospace and marine engineering. Away from work Alex enjoys adventure travel as diverse as scuba diving in both cold and warm water, and hiking to Everest Base Camp.
Supporting CO-CONNECT has given Alex insight into positive utilisation of patient data for public benefit. As a clinically extremely vulnerable patient Alex is inspired by the work of CO-CONNECT to support COVID-19 research across the UK.
Antony lives in Sussex with his partner and their dogs. He has lived with chronic pain for 30 years and has a number of other health conditions. He enjoys being involved with healthcare research because of the difference it can make.
Antony works with the Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) team to support the research team with PPI input across all work packages.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Usher Institute
Job Titles:
- Data Analyst Within HIC Services
Chris Hall is a Data Analyst within HIC Services. He joined the University of Dundee in December of 2006 having previously worked within the NHS. Chris oversees several members of the team working on the CO-CONNECT project.
Clancy is a Drama Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor based in Birmingham. She has worked in health for over 20 years and has a keen interest in bringing her areas of expertise into diverse fields associated with health and well-being.
Her interest in being involved in PPI stems from working with The Expert Patients Programme. Clancy believes being involved with progressive initiatives and treatments enables us all to be part of the solutions.
Professor Jefferson is the Academic Lead and Director of the Health Informatics Centre at the University of Dundee and a Professor in Health Data Science.
Gabriella is the project's Communications and Engagement Officer, after joining CO-CONNECT in May 2022. She is based at the Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh.
Jillian works with the Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) team to support the research team with PPI input across all work packages.
Karen lives in Northern Ireland and holds an interest in health and the arts. Upon early retirement due to ill health, she retrained as a Community Facilitator, delivering health awareness sessions in areas of deprivation. This was followed by lay membership of the RCGPNI's Patient Group, which she subsequently chaired.
Excited by the potential of the CO-CONNECT project, Karen is inspired by the collaborative approach, which harnesses existing knowledge and expertise to facilitate life-saving opportunities.
Kausar is based in Leeds and is married with 3 adult children. Previously a nursery officer, she has been a full time carer for her 2 disabled adult brothers for 26 years. She is a "Good Life Leader" for Leeds City Council, has helped develop training for adult social care staff, works with the College of Social Work, has published in Learning Disabilities Practise and contributed to an Ethnicity and Learning Disabilities book.
Kausar and her family have experienced COVID-19 and also lost a close family member to COVID-19. She became involved with CO-CONNECT because she has many questions about COVID-19 and feels research is the best way to get honest and up to date information.
Koula lives in Brighton with her husband and mum, and has two grown up children who are at University. She combines working as a gardener with caring for her mum who has Alzheimer's disease. Seeing how the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown impacted her mum's health made Koula want to help researchers and clinicians learn more about COVID-19.
Being involved with the project has given Koula the chance to see the huge amount of work that goes on behind the scenes in health care research.
Job Titles:
- Head of the Digital Research Service at the University of Nottingham
Dr. Quinlan is the Head of the Digital Research Service at the University of Nottingham and Co-Director of the UKCRC Tissue Directory and Coordination Centre
Professor Susan Hopkins is the Senior Medical Advisor at Public Health England and the lead for the SIREN study.
Tracy coordinates patient and public involvement (PPI) and works with the PPI Leads, patient and public members to make sure they are meaningfully involved throughout the project.