Women's Health: a life course approach

Neena Modi, Professor of Neonatal Medicine, Imperial College London

Neena is Professor of Neonatal Medicine at Imperial College London, one of the world’s top ten universities, and Consultant at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust. 

Neena is president of the British Medical Association, immediate past-president of the UK Medical Women’s Federation, past-president of the UK Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and president-elect of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine. She has had several previous academic leadership roles that include president of the UK Neonatal Society, president of the Academic Paediatrics Association of Great Britain and Ireland, and Chair of the British Medical Journal Ethics Committee. 

Neena is a trustee of the charities Theirworld and Action Cerebral Palsy, a patron of Keep Our NHS Public and Health Prom, and an elected fellow and member of council of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences. 

Neena leads a multidisciplinary research group focussed on improving the care and life-long health of preterm and sick newborn babies. She is a strong advocate for a publicly funded, publicly delivered National Health Service that is committed to the values of equity, effectiveness, efficiency, quality, and compassion.

Baroness Nicola Blackwood, Chair, Genomics England

Nicola is an established leader in health innovation policy and entrepreneurship having over a decade of experience in the public and private sector. She is now Chair of Genomics England, a Member of the House of Lords Science & Technology Select Committee, Trustee of the Alan Turing Institute and Hon. Professor of Science and Public Policy at UCL. Nicola served as Minister for Innovation in the Department for Health and Social Care (UK) under two Prime Ministers where she led on Lifesciences, NHS Data and Digital Transformation and Global Health Security. She was the first female MP for Oxford and she was elected by MPs of all parties to Chair the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee. Nicola remains the youngest ever select committee chair in British history and the only woman to have held in that position. Nicola’s career reflects an abiding belief that science, innovation and access are mission critical to solving our greatest global challenges.

Candice McKenzie, Founder, Endo Warriors West Lothian

Baroness Nicola Blackwood, Chair, Genomics England

Nicola is an established leader in health innovation policy and entrepreneurship having over a decade of experience in the public and private sector. She is now Chair of Genomics England, a Member of the House of Lords Science & Technology Select Committee, Trustee of the Alan Turing Institute and Hon. Professor of Science and Public Policy at UCL. Nicola served as Minister for Innovation in the Department for Health and Social Care (UK) under two Prime Ministers where she led on Lifesciences, NHS Data and Digital Transformation and Global Health Security. She was the first female MP for Oxford and she was elected by MPs of all parties to Chair the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee. Nicola remains the youngest ever select committee chair in British history and the only woman to have held in that position. Nicola’s career reflects an abiding belief that science, innovation and access are mission critical to solving our greatest global challenges.

Neena Modi, Professor of Neonatal Medicine, Imperial College London

Neena is Professor of Neonatal Medicine at Imperial College London, one of the world’s top ten universities, and Consultant at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust. 

Neena is president of the British Medical Association, immediate past-president of the UK Medical Women’s Federation, past-president of the UK Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and president-elect of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine. She has had several previous academic leadership roles that include president of the UK Neonatal Society, president of the Academic Paediatrics Association of Great Britain and Ireland, and Chair of the British Medical Journal Ethics Committee. 

Neena is a trustee of the charities Theirworld and Action Cerebral Palsy, a patron of Keep Our NHS Public and Health Prom, and an elected fellow and member of council of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences. 

Neena leads a multidisciplinary research group focussed on improving the care and life-long health of preterm and sick newborn babies. She is a strong advocate for a publicly funded, publicly delivered National Health Service that is committed to the values of equity, effectiveness, efficiency, quality, and compassion.

Candice McKenzie, Founder, Endo Warriors West Lothian

Professor Hilary Critchley, Professor of Reproductive Medicine, MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh

Professor Hilary Critchley has held a Personal Chair in Reproductive Medicine at the University of Edinburgh since 1999. She is Head of Deanery of Clinical Sciences at the University of Edinburgh; Co-Deputy Director, MRC Centre for Reproductive Health and Consultant Gynaecologist at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh. Her research focuses on improving the understanding of the complex basic science of the uterine endometrium and thus the clinical management of gynaecological complaints with major impacts on women’s quality of life, including heavy menstrual bleeding. Her expertise in this field has national and international recognition. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Hilary is committed to seeing research in women’s health maintain a critical mass, so it achieves a prominent position in the national/global health funding arena.

Professor Pam Sonnenberg, Institute for Global Health, UCL

Professor Pam Sonnenberg is Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Co-Director of the Centre for Population Research in Sexual Health & HIV in the Institute for Global Health at UCL. Pam is co-Principal Investigator (PI) of Natsal (the National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles). She led the STI work package for Natsal-3, with implications for national policy and practice (e.g. chlamydia screening, HIV testing, sexual health services). She is Co-PI for Natsal-4, the next large, probability bio-behavioural survey of the British population and Co-I on Natsal-COVID, a web-panel survey to understand the effects of COVID-19 on sexual and reproductive health and services. Pam is a Member of the JCVI HPV sub-committee, advising on key decisions relating to HPV vaccine policy. She is also public health lead on SEQUENCE Digital, an NIHR-funded programme of research which aims to improve sexual health for all in a digital NHS.

Professor Suzanne Hagen, Deputy Director, Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit, Glasgow Caledonian University

Professor Suzanne Hagen is a researcher with an international reputation in systematic reviewing, trials and outcome measure development, particularly in relation to the interventions provided by nurses and allied health professionals. Suzanne has a long-standing interest in the conservative management of pelvic floor disorders such as incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Her research experience has been gained over 30 years working in the NHS and academia as a chartered statistician and health services researcher. Suzanne is lead author of the Cochrane systematic review on the evidence for conservative management of prolapse, co-author on the International Consultation on Incontinence adult conservative management chapter (2004-2020) and was Chief Investigator of the POPPY, PREVPROL and OPAL trials of pelvic floor muscle training. Suzanne is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at University of Pennsylvania, where she collaborates on research relating to long term urinary catheter use.

Jenny Thomas, Programme Director, DigitalHealth.London

Jenny is passionate about the opportunities of FemTech in the UK and beyond and how they can improve the lives of all women, including trans-women and non-binary individuals, families and societies. Jenny is a start-up coach, the Director of DigitalHealth.London and from many years of experience working in both women’s health and digital health, is an expert in FemTech. DigitalHealth.London connects NHS staff, digital health companies and academics, and equips them to improve the NHS and social care in London through digital technology. She set up the globally renowned DigitalHealth.London Accelerator programme in 2016 and grew DigitalHealth.London from a start-up itself, to the organisation it is today. Jenny is also an experienced NHS Manager and previously held the role of General Manager for Women’s Services at Guy’s and St Thomas’. She is an alumni of the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme, has a MSc in Healthcare Leadership and an MBA from London Business School.  

What is FemTech - FemTech and the NHS – we’re only just getting started (digitalhealth.net)

Dr Mary Kerr, CEO, NeRRE Therapeutics

Mary Kerr has served as CEO of NeRRe Therapeutics, a privately funded UK Biotech since 2015, and a non-executive independent director at Galapagos NV since 2016. In 2017 Mary co-founded and was CEO of KaNDy Therapeutics until the company was acquired by Bayer in September 2020 for an upfront consideration of $425 million and additional potential development, regulatory and sales milestone payments. Before her career in Biotech, Mary held a range of senior leadership roles at GlaxoSmithKline and heritage companies for more than 20 years, including Senior Vice President and Global Franchise leader for the Immuno-inflammation and Infectious Diseases franchise. Mary was a founding member and on the Corporate Executive team of ViiV Healthcare. Mary gained a BSc and PhD in Pharmacology at the University of Bradford, did post-doctoral research at the Michigan Cancer Foundation in Detroit, and has an MBA from the University of Kingston.

Professor Hilary Critchley, Professor of Reproductive Medicine, MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh

Professor Hilary Critchley has held a Personal Chair in Reproductive Medicine at the University of Edinburgh since 1999. She is Head of Deanery of Clinical Sciences at the University of Edinburgh; Co-Deputy Director, MRC Centre for Reproductive Health and Consultant Gynaecologist at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh. Her research focuses on improving the understanding of the complex basic science of the uterine endometrium and thus the clinical management of gynaecological complaints with major impacts on women’s quality of life, including heavy menstrual bleeding. Her expertise in this field has national and international recognition. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Hilary is committed to seeing research in women’s health maintain a critical mass, so it achieves a prominent position in the national/global health funding arena.

Professor Pam Sonnenberg, Institute for Global Health, UCL

Professor Pam Sonnenberg is Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Co-Director of the Centre for Population Research in Sexual Health & HIV in the Institute for Global Health at UCL. Pam is co-Principal Investigator (PI) of Natsal (the National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles). She led the STI work package for Natsal-3, with implications for national policy and practice (e.g. chlamydia screening, HIV testing, sexual health services). She is Co-PI for Natsal-4, the next large, probability bio-behavioural survey of the British population and Co-I on Natsal-COVID, a web-panel survey to understand the effects of COVID-19 on sexual and reproductive health and services. Pam is a Member of the JCVI HPV sub-committee, advising on key decisions relating to HPV vaccine policy. She is also public health lead on SEQUENCE Digital, an NIHR-funded programme of research which aims to improve sexual health for all in a digital NHS.

Professor Suzanne Hagen, Deputy Director, Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit, Glasgow Caledonian University

Professor Suzanne Hagen is a researcher with an international reputation in systematic reviewing, trials and outcome measure development, particularly in relation to the interventions provided by nurses and allied health professionals. Suzanne has a long-standing interest in the conservative management of pelvic floor disorders such as incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Her research experience has been gained over 30 years working in the NHS and academia as a chartered statistician and health services researcher. Suzanne is lead author of the Cochrane systematic review on the evidence for conservative management of prolapse, co-author on the International Consultation on Incontinence adult conservative management chapter (2004-2020) and was Chief Investigator of the POPPY, PREVPROL and OPAL trials of pelvic floor muscle training. Suzanne is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at University of Pennsylvania, where she collaborates on research relating to long term urinary catheter use.

Jenny Thomas, Programme Director, DigitalHealth.London

Jenny is passionate about the opportunities of FemTech in the UK and beyond and how they can improve the lives of all women, including trans-women and non-binary individuals, families and societies. Jenny is a start-up coach, the Director of DigitalHealth.London and from many years of experience working in both women’s health and digital health, is an expert in FemTech. DigitalHealth.London connects NHS staff, digital health companies and academics, and equips them to improve the NHS and social care in London through digital technology. She set up the globally renowned DigitalHealth.London Accelerator programme in 2016 and grew DigitalHealth.London from a start-up itself, to the organisation it is today. Jenny is also an experienced NHS Manager and previously held the role of General Manager for Women’s Services at Guy’s and St Thomas’. She is an alumni of the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme, has a MSc in Healthcare Leadership and an MBA from London Business School.  

What is FemTech - FemTech and the NHS – we’re only just getting started (digitalhealth.net)

Dr Mary Kerr, CEO, NeRRE Therapeutics

Mary Kerr has served as CEO of NeRRe Therapeutics, a privately funded UK Biotech since 2015, and a non-executive independent director at Galapagos NV since 2016. In 2017 Mary co-founded and was CEO of KaNDy Therapeutics until the company was acquired by Bayer in September 2020 for an upfront consideration of $425 million and additional potential development, regulatory and sales milestone payments. Before her career in Biotech, Mary held a range of senior leadership roles at GlaxoSmithKline and heritage companies for more than 20 years, including Senior Vice President and Global Franchise leader for the Immuno-inflammation and Infectious Diseases franchise. Mary was a founding member and on the Corporate Executive team of ViiV Healthcare. Mary gained a BSc and PhD in Pharmacology at the University of Bradford, did post-doctoral research at the Michigan Cancer Foundation in Detroit, and has an MBA from the University of Kingston.

A. Metin Gülmezoglu, Executive Director, Concept Foundation

Metin Gülmezoglu is an obstetrician gynaecologist who worked in Turkey, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. He is currently the Executive Director of Concept Foundation, a nonprofit nongovernmental organization working on improving access to sexual and reproductive health medicines and technologies in low- and middle-income countries worldwide based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Prior to joining Concept Foundation, Metin was working at the World Health Organization, as the Coordinator for Maternal and Perinatal Health and Abortion since 2013 until mid-2019. Metin has been a sexual and reproductive health researcher within the global health environment since mid-1990s. 

Metin’s research since the 1990’s focuses on major causes of maternal death. He has coordinated large, multicenter, multicountry randomized controlled trials during his time at WHO. Metin was the WHO lead for a highly successful public private partnership between WHO, Merck for Mothers and Ferring Pharmaceuticals evaluating the effectiveness of heat stable carbetocin for postpartum haemorrhage prevention. 

Metin published more than 300 articles and book chapters and gave numerous presentations in global, regional and national conferences and meetings. Metin is an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK and honorary member of The Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine in the U.S.A.

Professor Dame Lesley Regan, Secretary General, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Professor Dame Lesley Regan is a Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Imperial College London and Consultant at St Mary’s Hospital in London. She is also Secretary General of FIGO, a member of the NHS Assembly and Chair of the Charity Wellbeing of Women. 

She was the 30th President of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2016-2019) and only the second woman to be elected to this position and the first in 64 years. During her tenure as PRCOG she co-chaired the National Women’s Health Task Force with Jackie Doyle-Price MP (then Health Minister) and authored “Better for Women”, a hard hitting RCOG report which promotes a life-course approach to the delivery of women’s health services. 

Having graduated from the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London in 1980, Professor Regan pursued her training at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, where she first became enthused by clinical and laboratory research, completing her MD on miscarriage.  She went on to set up the world’s largest recurrent miscarriage clinic at St Mary’s Hospital in London.

In 2015 she received a Doctorate of Science from University College London for her contribution to women's health.  In 2020 she was awarded a DBE for her services to women’s health in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

Dr Christine Ekechi, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Dr Christine Ekechi, a Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London, is also a women's health educator and advocate. Her interest is in the gender and racial disparities continually present within the health system today. 

Dr Ekechi is the Co-Chair of the Race Equality Taskforce at the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists and also their spokesperson for racial equality. In addition, Dr Ekechi is the RCOG Clinical Champion for The Women’s Network. Dr Ekechi sits as a Member on the Maternity Working Group for the NHS Race and Health Observatory. Dr Ekechi sits on the board as a Trustee for gynaecology cancer charity, The Eve Appeal and is their Medical Ambassador. Dr Ekechi is equally focussed on maternity safety and serves as a member of the Multi-Professional Advisory Panel for Baby Lifeline – a UK charity focused on the supportive care of pregnant women and newborn babies.

Dr Ekechi holds a Masters in Reproductive Health Research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and her previous public health experience includes working with the UN, UNICEF, and national governments in the UK, Nigeria, Senegal, Malawi and Kenya. Using this extensive experience, Dr Ekechi is particularly interested in the social drivers that underpin inequity in individual health outcomes, health knowledge and education, and healthcare delivery. 

Dr Ekechi curates and delivers women's health education seminars for corporate companies, charities and interested groups, empowering all women to better manage their health. Dr Ekechi uses her various platforms to discuss all subjects in women’s health whilst also calling for greater awareness from women, clinicians and other agencies in improving women’s health outcomes. 

Dr Ekechi practices in various prominent clinics in London, including Queen Charlotte’s NHS Hospital and at The Portland Hospital, the largest private women’s and children’s hospital in the UK.

Dr Ekechi is the lead for early pregnancy ultrasound training at the renowned early pregnancy unit at Queen Charlotte's Hospital and regularly teaches and writes in this field.

Dr Christine Ekechi is the Founder and Director of Early Pregnancy Plus, an innovative holistic early pregnancy care service in central London. 

Dr Lilian Hunt, EDIS, Wellcome Trust

Dr Lilian Hunt received their PhD in Genetics from UCL whilst at The Francis Crick Institute. It was here that they helped bring together Wellcome, The Francis Crick Institute and GSK as founders of EDIS (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Science and Health) in 2016, and have developed and led the coalition since. Lilian has previously represented EDIS on the National Institute for Health Research’s INVOLVE Diversity and Inclusion working group, with a focus on inclusive patient and public involvement in health research. They champion inclusive research design and practice within Wellcome and EDIS member organisations and sit as an Advisory Board Member for The Health Foundation’s ‘Developing the long-term research agenda for COVID-19’ programme. Lilian runs the EDIS programme of work including managing the coalition, supporting its members, developing its strategy and delivering events and projects. They sit within Wellcome’s Culture, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (CEDI) team where they led on the development of Goal 3 of Wellcome’s new CEDI strategy: Inclusive research design and practice. Lilian draws on their research experience, lived experience as a queer person in science and EDI knowledge to drive an evidence-based approach to inclusion for research culture, design and content to drive equitable health outcomes.