Directors
All directors of the charity work both in regional dermatology departments or Newcastle University, either on the shop floor as doctors, nurses and medical managers, or as laboratory scientists. We also recently added a patient representative. Their shared aim is to support local research into skin health. Their varied jobs give them an understanding of the difficulties experienced by those with skin conditions as well as the strong desire to improve knowledge and treatment of skin problems.
NESRF Council of Directors
Professor Nick Reynolds – Chairman
Professor of Dermatology, Dermatological Sciences, Newcastle University
Nick Reynolds is Professor of Dermatology and honorary consultant dermatologist at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. After general medical posts in London, he received his dermatology training in Bristol, UK; Ann Arbor, Michigan, US and Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. He became Senior Lecturer at Newcastle University and Consultant Dermatologist, Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), Newcastle upon Tyne in1995 and he was appointed to the Chair in 2001.
Nick’s current clinical and research interests are in atopic eczema and psoriasis, with a focus on translational research and systems biology. His clinical studies are aimed at atopic eczema and the mechanism of action of anti-psoriasis therapies.
Nick is currently Chair of the Research Subcommittees for the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD), and the BAD Biologic Interventions Register, and a board member of the European Society for Dermatological Research.
For further information click here.
Dr Simon Meggitt – Honorary Treasurer and Vice Chairman
Consultant Dermatologist, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Simon qualified at Nottingham University in 1992 and began training as a dermatologist in Newcastle in 1996. He has been an NHS Consultant for 9 years. He specialises in the management of adults with severe rashes such as atopic eczema and lupus, and has several important publications in this field
for further information click here.
The education of doctors in training is also an important part of Simon’s job. In the past many newly qualified doctors had little experience of skin disease but Newcastle University Medical School been pioneering in trying to change this.
Professor Mark Birch-Machin
Professor of Molecular Dermatology, Newcastle University
Mark is a scientist and the work of his research group is focused on the effect of sunlight on the skin and the genetics of skin cancer. For further information click here.
Professor Penny Lovat
Professor of Cellular Dermatology and Oncology
Penny is a senior lecturer at Newcastle University where she heads a research group focussed towards discovering novel treatment strategies for melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer. Penny has published her research in numerous highly ranked scientific and medical research journals (for further information click here) and is a member of the British Society for Investigative Dermatology committee. The postgraduate training of young scientists and junior doctors in skin cancer research is also an important part of Penny’s job, and she is a member of the Institute of Cellular Medicine postgraduate committee as well as a postgraduate tutor.
Margaret Gray
Directorate Manager, Directorate of Plastics, Ophthalmology and Dermatology, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Margaret is the manager of a large clinical directorate in the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust trust which includes the clinical dermatology department. She is also an experienced senior nurse and was previously matron for dermatology.
Richard Simpson
Following his accountancy training Richard joined the Finance Department of a Reyrolle Parsons company which subsequently became part Northern Engineering Industries which was incorporated into Rolls-Royce PLC. In 1988.
He was responsible for Cash Collection for a division of Rolls-Royce which included being part of a team whose duties included forecasting, shipping, financial and commercial negotiations with both customers and suppliers In this role he worked on both Power Station Projects and Airlines throughout the world.
Jacqueline Home
Jacqueline has worked as a medical secretary for over 40 years, 30 of which have been in the Dermatology Department in Newcastle upon Tyne. She is part of a communication team to ensure that patients are well informed with regard to their treatment. She has witnessed and admired the transformation of their department to become the world class leader in its field that it is today. and is very proud to be part of it.
Keith Wu
Specialist Registrar, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne
As well as seeing patients in clinic, Keith is particularly interested in research and pursuing a career in Academic Dermatology. He has recently completed a Wellcome Trust funded PhD “Investigating the role of epigenetics in the regulation of inflammatory skin disease” at Newcastle University and has been awarded an National Institute for Health Research Academic Clinical Lectureship to continue my work. Keith is delighted to be part of the NESRF as it helps fund educational meetings, clinical trials and research which ultimately helps improve patient care.
Matina Verykiou
CRUK Clinical Research Fellow