CLRN leadership

Clinical Director: Professor C Rajkumar, Co-Directors: Professor Gordon Ferns and Dr Riyaz Kaba

The Directors provide leadership for all aspects of the Surrey and Sussex CLRN work, developing an operational plan and overseeing its implementation. A key part of their role is to encourage local activity, working with local clinicians to increase their participation in studies contained in the NIHR CRN national portfolio, building upon local clinical strengths and research interests and priorities. Core Team

Senior Manager: Kala Ratnajothy

Kala works closely with the Clinical Directors in the development, implementation and review of the CLRN’s priorities, strategic goals and the infrastructure and organisational plans to achieve national and local strategic goals. The Senior Manager is responsible for identifying barriers to participating in portfolio studies and liaises with key stakeholders to develop the infrastructure and systems to support portfolio studies. She leads on the management, monitoring, control and reporting of the CLRN budget and is the primary contact for the host organisation. Kala has considerable experience in managing research and is responsible for the day to day running of the CLRN.

Simon Clavell-Bate: Head of Finance and Performance

Simon is currently responsible for leading on the development and production of all financial monitoring and performance information for both the Network and member organisations. Simon is also the link for Member Organisation planning, both strategic and operational, as well as for supporting any financial matters.

Deidre Callahan: Interim Industry Co-ordinator

Deidre is responsible for managing and supporting CLRN feasibility and Investigator / site identification, for supporting local site set-up processes and actively performance manage adopted CLRN studies to ensure local recruitment is met on time and target and to a high quality and manages the link between Investigators, Industry, R&D managers, CLRN management team and the NIHR CRN CC Industry team.

Louise Phillips: Speciality Group Facilitator

Louise is responsible for leading on the establishment, co-ordination, support and strategic and practical development of CLRN Local Speciality Groups (up to 22 specialities) and their Clinical Leads, for the purpose of increasing the number of studies and patients recruited into NIHR Portfolio research according to key national objectives, including achieving a balanced Portfolio.

Sheila Parker: Patient and Public Involvement Coordinator

Sheila is responsible for developing, co-ordinating and building capacity for the involvement of patients and the public in the delivery and dissemination of NIHR research. Sheila liaises with service-user and carer groups across Surrey and Sussex as well as research teams, research managers, local speciality groups, NHS departments, local universities, the voluntary sector and other relevant agencies. Sheila also actively promotes research to the general public, and to NHS colleagues within member trusts.

Anne Fletcher: Portfolio Manager

Anne provides support for the research teams in the member organisations and delivery on the horizon scanner in identifying new studies and the delivery to time and target.

Christina Elgie: Interim Lead Research Nurse

Christina is the Lead Research Practitioner providing support and mentoring to CLRN funded research staff working in Sussex, on National Institute for Health Research portfolio projects and to support workforce development and education in training.

Jon Bloomfield: Information Manager

Jon is responsible for the collection, reporting and monitoring key CLRN information on recruitment data. He also manages the Surrey & Sussex website and web portal which promote the work of the CLRN to health professionals, patients and other interested parties and composes & distributes newsletters and e-bulletins.

Sarah Costeloe: Administrator

Sarah provides a range of administrative and office management support for the CLRN core team, managing clerical staff. She is PA to the Senior Manager and Clinical Directors, and secretariat to the Executive, Board and other CLRN groups.

Julie Mackenzie & Janet Ferryman: Admin Assistants

Julie and Janet provide administrative and office support for the CLRN core team.