ISTM

Since joining UHNS 5 years ago, I have been establishing links with various departments within UHNS, Keele and beyond, raising the profile of metabolic research through creating novel ideas for research. Examples include:

• The rising prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), and limitations of current screening tools.
• Co-morbidity, involving DM
• Cardiovascular risk, with the help of the North Staffordshire Diabetes Register ,
• Metabolic syndrome as a precursor for DM, in collaboration with University of Southampton,
• Patients’ views, in collaboration with Dr R Worthington and the North Staffordshire Diabetes UK patient group, to explore the ethical dimensions of screening for diabetes.
• Appropriateness of investigations in DM, through collaboration in a NIHR Healthcare Scientist Research Fellowship (Owen Driskell), to evaluate the appropriateness of investigation-requesting in diabetes.
• Epigenetics: Pre-programming for future development of diabetes is to be explored, in collaboration with Prof W Farrell, Prof AA Fryer and Dr K Ismail, in cohorts of patients with gestaional diabetes.

My PhD thesis was entitled “Calcitonin and Related Peptides in Mammalian Neuroendocrine Tumours”. The research was conducted partly in the Hammersmith Hospital (London) and partly in the Royal Victoria Hospital (Belfast).

ISTM Research theme: 1. Clinical & Diagnostic Science

o    The rising prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM)

o    Co-morbidity

o    Cardiovascular risk

o    Metabolic syndrome as a precursor for DM