Scientific Advisory Council

Mark is a Clinical Academic / researcher at the University of Cambridge and an Honorary Consultant Physician at the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He runs a preclinical team using mouse models to examine how brain responds to hypoglycaemia, how defences against hypoglycaemia becomes abnormal in diabetes and, using brain imaging techniques, what the short and long term effects of episodes of hypoglycaemia on the brain are. He is involved in a number of clinical studies focusing on diabetes technology and innovations (e.g. sensors, automated insulin delivery and new insulin preparations).

Laura is a lay member of the SAC representing parents of children with type 1 diabetes. She has three children, the youngest of whom was diagnosed with type 1 at the age of 3 in 2017. Laura hopes that by being close enough to diagnosis but also far enough from that point she will be able to bring some perspective and an understanding of the important next steps including in the mental health space. Laura is a barrister and part time judge in the family court.

Gavin is one of the children’s diabetes nurses based in Glasgow. With over 20 years of experience, he is dedicated to providing the very best he can for the families he looks after. He is interested in educating families, and understands the pressures involved in looking after a child with type 1 diabetes and how much families rely on research into new treatments and technologies to give them hope for the future. Gavin also has a keen interest in other types of diabetes and is a lead in the local non-type 1 group.

Francesca is a clinical specialist paediatric and adolescent diabetes dietitian based at UCLH, London. She runs a specialist exercise and diabetes management clinic for children and adolescents. She is keen for people with type diabetes or their relatives to inform clinical services as well as being involved in research in a meaningful way. She ia a co-author of the 2018 ISPAD clinical consensus guidelines chapter on Nutritional Management of Diabetes and was a member of the Breakthrough T1D UK Peak Expert panel.

Guy is a lay member of the SAC representing parents of children with type 1 diabetes. He has two sons, the youngest of whom was diagnosed with type 1 at the age of 8 in 2017. Guy hopes that by sharing insights and hearing progressive viewpoints from professionals and citizens, he will be playing a small part in helping the scientific community reach the next level of diabetes management. Guy is a Consulting Director for data management consultancy Amplifi Group.

Megan is a lay member of the SAC. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 11. Megan is particularly interested in the connection between type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune conditions. She has participated in Breakthrough T1D UK’s Insight and Experience panel. Having recently graduated from university with a BA in History and Politics, Megan is currently working in the non-profit sector in the field of women’s health.

Shareen is Professor and Honorary Consultant in Diabetes at the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian, Lead Physician for the Islet Transplant Programme in Scotland and Visiting Professor for the Islet Transplant Programme in Edmonton, Canada. She conducts clinical and laboratory based research. She is interested in the progression of diabetes related complications in people with type 1 diabetes in relation to different treatments and the mechanisms behind insulin and glucagon secretion. She also investigates the mechanisms behind islet-graft loss and aims to reduce islet loss and improve islets’ engraftment in vivo using innovative therapies including cell and gene-therapy based approaches.

Allison is a Professor of Immunology at Hull York Medical School, University of York. Her research team uses a preclinical mouse model of type 1 diabetes to investigate how modulation of immune cells and non-immune cells, in the thymus and pancreas, contribute to type 1 diabetes development. Alongside her collaborators, she is translating the data derived from the preclinical model to humans. Allison, profoundly deaf since childhood, is a strong advocate for inclusivity in science. She has worked collegiately with organizations to develop awareness of the challenges disabled researchers face and promote a culture where their career aspirations are attainable.

Kate is Service Lead for the Diabetes Psychotherapy Service at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. She is a Psychotherapist, and established the Diabetes Psychotherapy Service in 2010, offering emotional support and therapy. She has particular interest in how diabetes affects the psyche and has collaborated on research projects looking into the psychological states underlying recurrent DKA, and on the transition from paediatric to adult services. Kate has spoken several times on behalf of Diabetes UK on diabetes psychology and carries out HCP training. Her great passion is helping people to build better relationships, realise their potential and enjoy life.

Romilla is a retired Diabetes Specialist Nurse whose career spanned around 20 years in the clinical setting managing patients with both type 1 and type 2. She has always been keen to empower people with diabetes to develop self-management skills so that they as individuals with busy lives, are able to manage the daily demands that diabetes presents them with. Coming from a research background, and with the introduction of new technologies, she was always keen to embrace these in order to benefit her patients – ranging from Continuous Glucose Monitoring to Insulin Pump Therapies.

Andrew is a lay member of the SAC, representing those diagnosed under the age of 18 and having lived with type 1 diabetes for a long time. Andrew was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 17 years old in 1999. Only in 2021 did Andrew start to receive a CGM on the NHS, and the impact has been life-changing. Now an AI Content Development Manager for BSI Group, Andrew is particularly interested in ensuring young, and newly diagnosed, people receive excellent healthcare and have access to the right technology to suit their needs.

David was diagnosed with type 1 at the age of 30. As a lay member he is passionate about driving increased awareness across the entire Type 1 community about the range of treatment options available. As an active person with a keen interest in sport, he is also interested in research and technology which can allow individuals with type 1 to follow their passion without being restricted by their condition. David works at GoCardless and he is a product and partnership specialist in the payments industry.

James is a Research Fellow at Cardiff University. He carries out research in the immunology of type 1 diabetes, with the aim of developing novel strategies to prevent the development of type 1 diabetes. He is particularly interested in the role that intestinal bacteria play in modulating immune responses and how that may lead to changes in susceptibility to developing type 1 diabetes. He is the Treasurer of the Autoimmunity affinity group within the British Society for Immunology and an active member/participant in diabetes volunteer support groups and public engagement activities aimed at raising awareness of type 1 diabetes.

Matt is a Chartered and Practitioner Health Psychologist, a Chartered Scientist, a Fellow of both the Royal Societies of Medicine and Public Health, and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. He has been engaged in diabetes research – including pharmacological treatments, transplantation, self-management education, and insulin pumps – since 2006. Matt holds research, advisory and teaching roles across academic and private organizations. Matt’s passion for diabetes research and the mission of Breakthrough T1D UK to improve lives and one day eradicate the need for exogenous insulin comes from living with a spouse and daughter with type 1 diabetes.

Wendy is a GP in North Yorkshire where she is the senior partner of Tadcaster Medical Centre. She is an experienced GP trainer and was a Training Programme Director for Harrogate GP training scheme for 8 years. She is a board member for her local Primary care network of 3 practices. Wendy provides general practice services to a wide range of patients, including those living with type 1 Diabetes and their families. She has 3 adult children, one diagnosed as a young teenager with type 1 Diabetes. Wendy has Coeliac disease so is aware of the autoimmune overlap.