Clinical Director
David G Smithard is the Medical Director of the new Trust, Eastern and Coastal Kent Community Health Trust. He has previously worked in the field of stroke medicine for 17 years now.
"My main research interest is in stroke particularly around dysphagia following stroke. Presently I hold grants from the MRC, BUPA and NIHR.
Kent is an area that is underdeveloped from a research point of view. We do not have a local medical school (not for the want of trying) and many clinicians feel too harassed to undertake research.
My aim, with my Co Director, is to ensure that research which is being undertaken is adequately supported. Once this has been done, work will need to be undertaken to identify potential sites for research to provide support to encourage and develop research expertise.
The CLRN will work with all its constituent organisations to be able to do the above, but also HEIs and industry to identify fruitful and mutually beneficial links. One area of particular weakness is the absence of Trials support, it should be feasible with local oragnisations/HEIs and Trusts to develop this and deliver in a cost effective manner."
Co. Director, Dr John Schofield
Qualified St. George's Medical School London 1981 M.B. B.S., MRCPath 1990, F.R.C.Path 1997.
Appointed as Consultant Pathologist, Maidstone Hospital in 1994 after training at Royal Marsden Hospital and Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital.
Lead for Research and Development, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, 2004 to 2011
Co-Director, Kent and Medway Comprehensive Local Research Network, 2011 - present
Long-standing interest in tumour pathology including both diagnostic and research aspects. Particular interests in lymphoma pathology, gastrointestinal pathology, breast pathology, and head and neck pathology . Actively involved in a range of research projects within MTW and wider NHS, with over 70 published peer reviewed articles and six chapters in textbooks. Member of the editorial panel of a number of medical journals.
Core Team Members
Core team for the CLRN is based at Gillingham Business Park.
Heather Gillham, Senior Manager
Heather is a Chartered Chemist and worked as an analytical chemist and Project Manager within new drug development departments in the Pharmaceutical Industry.After 22 years with Wellcome, GlaxoWellcome and GSK, Heather joined the NHS in 2003. Starting as the R&D Manager for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, Heather progressed to managing a local research governance consortium, before transferring to the Research Network in 2008.
“It is very rewarding to see the growth in clinical research in the NHS in Kent and Medway. It is really important to open opportunities for our patients and our clinicians to get involved with research. It is good to be able to contribute to the progress of healthcare and the development of new treatment options addressing unmet medical needs”
Ruth Hulbert, Lead Nurse
Ruth is a qualified nurse and Midwife. After several years working in a variety of specialties within the NHS, she joined the pharmaceutical industry as a Research Nurse, initially for Wellcome then GSK and Pfizer. After 11 years, Ruth returned to the NHS as a Clinical Trials Practitioner for the then newly formed Kent & Medway Cancer Research Network. Based in East Kent, Ruth was involved in the set up of the Oncology Solid Tumour team, where she remained as Team Leader for 5 years. In 2008, Ruth joined the CLRN as Lead RM&G Manager and in 2010, was seconded to the role of Lead Nurse to manage the development of the CLRN delivery team in Kent & Medway.
"There has never been a more exciting and challenging time to be working in research. I feel privileged to be part of something which can impact so positively on healthcare and on the lives of individual patients.”
Other members of the team include:
Ian Akers, Portfolio Manager.
Hazel Crawford, RM&G Manager.
James Porreca, Industry Manager.
James Pearson, Information Manager.
Executive Group
The Executive Groups assists the Clinical Director with the management of the CLRN. The members of the Kent and Medway CLRN Executive Group are:
Dr Saad Rassam, Secondary Care
Dr Edmund Lamb, Specialty Groups
Dr Helen Miles, Mental Health
Executive Group Meetings
15 February 2011
29 March 2011
10 May 2011
29 June 2011
20 July 2011
21 September 2011
2 November 2011
14 December 2011
18 January 2012: Speciality Group Review
