Professor Christopher Chapple, D4D Urology Lead

Christopher Chapple is a Professor of Urology at Sheffield Hallam University and a Consultant Urological Surgeon at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield. He has over 25 years experience in the urology field and leads D4D’s work in this area. He has published research and clinical findings extensively and published four internationally renowned books. Christopher brings both surgical and research expertise to D4D. His long-standing interest is in clinical pharmacology and surgical management of functional urological conditions, and his research is focused in these areas. He is regularly called on to speak about the management of urological conditions at international conferences.

Dr Elizabeth Lindley, D4D Renal theme lead

Dr Elizabeth Lindley is the clinical lead for D4D's Renal Technology theme. She is a clinical scientist at St James's Hospital in Leeds and has worked in the field of renal medicine for 20 years. Elizabeth's expertise is wide ranging and includes a combination of technology assessment, clinical audit, clinical research and practice development. Throughout her time working in the field she published numerous research papers and has been - and continues to be - a member of a number of professional bodies, including the ERA/EDTA European Renal Best Practice Advisory Board.

Professor Mark Hawley, D4D Assistive Technology Lead

Mark Hawley is Professor of Health Services Research at the University of Sheffield and Honorary Consultant Clinical Scientist at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Over the last 20 years he has worked as a clinician and researcher - providing, researching, developing and evaluating assistive technology (AT). Mark leads a number of future product development projects funded by the NIHR and leads the AT theme at D4D. He is a founder non-executive director of Medipex Ltd, the NHS Innovation Hub for Yorkshire & the Humber.

Dr Louise Moody

Dr Louise Moody is based in the Industrial Design Department at Coventry University. Her research centres on determining user needs and translating these into the design of new products; the aim being to ensure that products are fit for purpose whilst also satisfying patient and clinician expectations and requirements. Her expertise in user-centred design for health technology has grown out of a background in occupational psychology and ergonomics. Louise has been working with D4D since its inception in 2008.

Marcus Drake

Marcus Drake is a Consultant Surgeon at the Bristol Urological Institute, Bristol, UK and specialises in Female and Reconstructive Urology, Neurourology and Urodynamics. He is a Visiting Professor in Health and Applied Sciences at the University of the West of England and Chairman of the Urogenital Specialty Group in the UK’s Comprehensive Clinical Research Network. He is also co-chairman of the Neural Control Committee for the fourth International Consultation on Incontinence and Editor of the BJU International Website and Map of Medicine Urology. He undertook his medical training at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford and was awarded his Doctorate by the University of Oxford.

Professor Stephen Smye

Stephen Smye is Director of Research & Development at Leeds Teaching Hospitals and of the NIHR Comprehensive Clinical Research Network. He aims to encourage high quality translational research and innovation, including supporting good working relationships between physical scientists and clinicians at a local and national level. Stephen played a leading role in the creation of D4D and is actively engaged in a number of high profile research projects.

Adele Long

Adele is Executive Director of the Bristol Urological Institute and Director of the BioMed Healthcare Technology Co-operative, a DoH supported initiative to stimulate innovation to improve health and quality of life for people relating to their bladder function. She has extensive experience in the fields of intellectual property management and research and business development in the medical and life sciences sectors. She was a founder of the NHS Innovation Hub company in Yorkshire and has worked in industry, higher education, the NHS and the charitable sectors.

Zoe Clarke

Zoe Clarke is an Assistive Technology Clinical Specialist with the Barnsley Assistive Technology (AT) Team, part of Barnsley NHS Foundation Trust. An engineer by background, Zoe works with patients to assess appropriate AT to meet their needs and how these may need to be altered to ensure the patient can use them easily and effectively. She is also involved in research into new technologies and their suitability for patients. This part of her work sees her working alongside academics at the University of Sheffield.

Professor Pam Enderby

Pam Enderby is a Professor of Community Rehabilitation at the University of Sheffield, an Honorary Consultant for STHFT and a Fellow of the College of Speech Therapists. Pam brings a wide breadth of knowledge and experience across the continence and assistive technology themes. 

Professor Pam Shaw

Pam Shaw is a Professor of Neurology, an Honorary Consultant Neurologist at STHFT and Director of the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITRraN).  Professor Shaw has authored more than 267 publications of original research, reviews and book chapters and has edited several books on Motor Neurone Disease (MND). She is a member of multiple national and international committees and sits on the editorial board of several journals. She has been a research advisory panel member for the Wellcome Trust, MNDA, MRC and the Muscular Dystrophy Association and reviews for multiple grant awarding bodies. Along with Chris McDermott, Pam brings cutting edge research experience and front line clinical experience across the themes in neurological disease. 

Chris McDermott

Chris McDermott is a Consultant Neurologist at STHFT and Co-Director of the Sheffield Care and Research Centre for Motor Neuron Disorders, Chair Neurology Specialty Training Committee for South Yorkshire and Neurology Training Programme Director – South Yorkshire.  He is the Yorkshire-wide Disease Lead for Motor Neurone Disease on the Dementias & Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network (DeNDRoN) Portfolio Management Groups. 

Tom Downes

Tom Downes is a Consultant Geriatrician at STHFT. He leads a frontline service delivering a rapid multidisciplinary assessment, treatment and discharges and frail patients, especially those with complex combinations of medical, social and mental health problems. He brings a dual-faceted benefit to D4D in prioritising real clinical need and providing a strong foundation in change management and quality improvement principles, of particular relevance to introducing new technologies and services across the three D4D themes.

Dr Martin Wilkie

Dr Wilkie is the Lead Renal Physician at the Sheffield Kidney Institute at STHFT, which has one of the largest Home Haemodialysis (HHD) units in the country.  Dr Wilkie’s special interest is in Community Based Dialysis Therapies.  

Simon Dixon

Simon Dixon of the School of Health and Related Research, the University of Sheffield, brings health economics expertise to D4D.  Simon Dixon has worked with the D4D HTC on various projects and brings sound economic process to, and evaluation of, the technologies in development within the D4D portfolio. He has also been developing a questionnaire and social tariff for dignity in health care and the general population to facilitate evaluation of the dignity impact of new devices.  

Professor John Clarkson

John Clarkson is a Professor of Engineering Design and Director of the Cambridge Engineering Design Centre at the University of Cambridge.  He has extensive experience in the field of product development. His team have collaborated on various inclusive design device development and evaluation projects with D4D, from an electronic Urodiary to aid implementation of NICE guidelines, to applying inclusive design methodologies to continence management products.

Professor Paul Abrams

Paul Abrams in a leading expert in the field of lower urinary tract dysfunction. He is currently Professor of Urology, University of Bristol and Consultant Urological Surgeon, Southmead Hospital, Bristol and Director of the Bristol Urological Institute.

Sandip Mitra

Sandip Mitra is a Consultant Nephrologist at the Central Manchester Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust where he leads the largest Haemodialysis at Home programme in Europe. He leads transformational change and Innovation in dialysis delivery systems aimed at improving patient experience and outcomes. He is also a Senior Lecturer at University of Manchester and recognised as a key opinion leader and clinical advisor to global industry leaders in dialysis. 

Bipin Bhakta

Bipin Bhakta is Charterhouse Professor in Rehabilitation Medicine and Head of Academic Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Division of Musculoskeletal and Rheumatics Diseases, University of Leeds. He is an NHS Consultant Physician and clinical lead for Specialist Rehabilitation Medicine Services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. He is lead for the regional specialist rehabilition centre for people with disability arising from neurological conditions. His research focuses on how disabled adults and children with neurological injury (e.g. stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy) and other causes of disability such as musculoskeletal diseases (re)-acquire functional skills. Bipin is also is a member of the NICE Medical Devices Assessment Committee. 

Professor Robert Pickard

Robert Pickard is a consultant urologist at Freeman Hospital, Newcastle.  His research interests focus on improving treatment of common urological problems associated with impaired continence (urinary tract infection, bladder dysfunction and urethral strictures) and he leads a team developing novel devices to measure urinary tract function, designing decision support material for urological conditions and evidence synthesis to guide treatment.