Professor Wendy Tindale, Clinical Director

Professor Wendy Tindale is Consultant Clinical Scientist and Scientific Director at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. She holds a Chair at the University of Sheffield and is Clinical Director of Devices for Dignity. She leads one of the largest NHS medical technology centres in the UK and has experience in front line patient care and healthcare innovation. She has contributed to national and international committees, including Royal College and Government advisory bodies.

Christopher Harris, Commercial Director

Chris Harris is responsible for the commercial direction of D4D. His role includes bringing together different parties from the NHS, industry and academia to create mutually beneficial relationships with a view to developing devices that provide solutions to unmet clinical needs. Chris qualified as a nurse in 1980 and practiced for ten years before a commercial career in the medical device sector. He holds a Certificate in Company Direction and is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors. Chris also acts as an advisor to several healthcare related projects involved in the development of technologies to enhance quality of life.

Dr Avril McCarthy, Scientific & Technology Advisor 

Dr Avril McCarthy is a Lead Clinical Scientist working for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She has extensive experience in medical device development, regulatory issues and working collaboratively at the patient interface. She has worked in both clinical and research environments and has an in-depth understanding of the medical device development cycle.

Dr Nicola Heron, Programme Manager

Prior to joining D4D in 2009, Nicola worked in the pharmaceutical industry as a medicinal chemist and project manager in the oncology and inflammation disease fields and has published over 40 research papers and patents. Her decision to join D4D was inspired by the collaborative nature of the initiative and the major effect that new medical devices and in many cases, relatively simple devices, can have on quality of life for patients.