Meet the research team

Find out about our trial team and the roles they play

The OCTAVE Trial is coordinated by the Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit (CRCTU) based at the University of Birmingham.

Chief Investigator has the overall lead researcher for a research project

Cohort Lead Investigators contribute to the OCTAVE Trial by deputising some of the Chief Investigator’s responsibilities for a specific cohort of the trial.

Trial Management Group (TMG) is a group of professionals from many different fields and organisations. The TMG meets several times a year in order to assist with overall management of the trial and to make important trial related decisions.

Access Committee (AC) established to ensure the appropriate governance of the research samples. Samples will be made available to academic researchers for ethically approved studies, subject to the approval of the Access Committee.

Principal Investigator at each of the hospitals running the OCTAVE Trial takes overall responsibility for ensuring that the trial is conducted correctly.

Chief Investigator: Professor Iain McInnes, Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences at the University of Glasgow

Cohort Lead Investigators:

Cohort Lead Investigators
Adult Rheumatic/Inflammatory Diseases  

Professor Iain McInnes and Professor Stefan Siebert, University of Glasgow

Paediatric Rheumatology & Inflammatory Diseases  

Professor Lucy Wedderburn, University College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), London and Dr Elena Moraitis, GOSH 

Cancer (Solid Tumours) Professor Pam Kearns and Professor Daniel Rea,
University of Birmingham
Cancer (Haematology)  

Professor Gordon Cook, University of Leeds

Childhood Cancers

Dr Jessica Bate, Southampton University Hospitals

Chronic Renal Disease Dr Michelle Willicombe and Dr David Thomas,
Imperial College London
Chronic Liver and Inflammatory Bowel Disease  

 Professor Eleanor Barnes, Oxford University

Stem Cell Transplant  

Dr Paul Miller, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and
Dr Thushan de Silva, University of Sheffield

 Paediatric Solid Organ Transplant  

 Dr Rosa Brugha, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London

Laboratory Lead:Professor Carl Goodyear, University of Glasgow

Other Co-Investigators:

  • Professor Doreen Cantrell, University of Dundee
  • Professor Ronjon Chakraverty, University College London
  • Professor Paul Klenerman, University of Oxford
  • Professor Jack Satsangi, Oxford University Hospitals
  • Professor Gary Middleton, University of Birmingham
  • Professor Paul Moss, University of Birmingham
  • Professor Duncan Porter, University of Glasgow
  • Professor Alex Richter, University of Birmingham
  • Professor John Snowden, University of Sheffield
  • Dr Neil Basu, University of Glasgow
  • Dr Kim Orchard, University of Southampton
  • Miss Amanda Kirkham, University of Birmingham

Principal Investigators:

  • Professor Daniel Rea, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham
  • Professor Stefan Siebert, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow
  • Professor Gordon Crook, St James’s University Hospital, Leeds
  • Dr Michelle Willicombe & Dr David Thomas, Hammersmith Hospital, London
  • Professor Eleanor Barnes, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford
  • Dr Ram Malladi, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge
  • Dr Kim Orchard, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton
  • Dr Robin Sanderson, King’s College Hospital, London
  • Professor John Snowden, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield
  • Dr Mickey Koh, St George’s Hospital, London
  • Dr Erin Hurst, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
  • Dr Rossa Brugha, Great Ormond Street Hospital

Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit (CRCTU) Trial Team:

CRCTU Director of Operations Dr Sarah Bowden
Trial Management Team Leader Ms Sophia Magwaro
Senior Manager Mrs Ana Hughes
Trial Coordinator Dr Ann Pope

Trial Management Group:

  • Professor Eleanor Barnes, Adult Chronic Liver and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort Lead
  • Dr Sarah Bowden, CRCTU Director of Operations
  • Mrs Ana Hughes, CRCTU Senior Manager
  • Professor Carl Goodyear, Laboratory Lead
  • Miss Amanda Kirkham, CRCTU Trial Statistician
  • Ms Sophia Magwaro, CRCTU Trial Management Team Leader
  • Dr Paul Miller, Stem Cell Transplant Cohort Lead
  • Professor Daniel Rea, Adult Cancer (solid Tumours) Cohort Lead
  • Professor Stefan Siebert, Adult Rheumatic/Inflammatory Disease Cohort Lead
  • Dr Thushan de Silva, Stem Cell Transplant Cohort Lead
  • Dr David Thomas, Adult Chronic Renal Disease Cohort Lead
  • Dr Michelle Willicombe, Adult Chronic Renal Disease Cohort Lead
  • Professor Gordon Cook, Adult Cancer (haematology) Cohort Lead
  • Professor Pam Kearns, CRCTU Director and Adult Cancer (solid Tumours) Cohort Co-Lead
  • Professor Lucy Wedderburn, Paediatric Rheumatology & Inflammatory Diseases Lead
  • Dr Rossa Brugha, Paediatric Solid Organ Transplantation Lead
  • Dr Jessica Bate, Paediatric Cancer Lead

Chair: Professor Iain McInnes, Chief Investigator and Rheumatic/Inflammatory Disease Cohort Co-Lead

Secretariat: Mrs Molly Harrison and Dr Ann Pope, CRCTU Trial Coordinators

Access Committee:

Members TBC