Professorial Chairs:
The professors lead ACHA’s transformative research, education, and training efforts, to drive forward our mission to address key local priorities in healthy ageing research.
Professor Adam Gordon, MBE
Background
(Professor the Care of Older People)
Adam Gordon is inaugural Professor of Care of Older People at the Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing, based between the Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Barts Health NHS Trust and Whipps Cross Hospital. His clinical background is in Geriatric Medicine and he trained in Edinburgh, Sydney and the East Midlands before going on to work as a consultant in Nottingham and Derby for 15 years.
For his last decade in Nottingham he was Professor of Care of Older People in the Centre for Rehabilitation and Ageing Research. He leads a broad research portfolio considering healthcare of older people with frailty, focussed to a large extent on how we deliver healthcare to older people living in care homes, although he also does research in rehabilitation, the application of novel technologies for care of older people, and muscle wasting (sarcopenia). He uses a wide range of methodologies from clinical trials, through to mixed methods implementation studies, and in context evaluations of novel technologies.
He has led numerous developments around education in ageing and geriatric medicine and has been involved in writing and evaluating three iterations of the British Geriatrics Society Recommended Undergraduate Curriculum in Ageing and Geriatric Medicine. He has been active in the policy space, leading the British Geriatrics Society between 2022 and 2024 and writing numerous policy papers and guidelines during this time.
He is an NIHR Senior Investigator and leads the Care Home and Ambulatory Workstream of the NIHR Oxford Healthtech Research Centre. He was awarded the MBE in the Kings Birthday Honours 2024 for services to healthcare of older people.
ACHA
“I am thrilled to join the Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing and to lead efforts in improving rehabilitation and recovery for older people in north east London. I am looking forward to working with the teams across Barts Health NHS Trust and Queen Mary University of London to advance research and create impactful strategies that support the recovery and resilience of older people. We intend to establish a centre in this part of London that delivers some of the best care in the world.”
Professor Liz Sampson
Background
(Professor of Liaison Psychiatry)
I am inaugural Professor of Liaison Psychiatry at the Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing, based between the Centre for Psychiatry and Mental health, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Barts Health NHS Trust and Whipps Cross Hospital.
I qualified at Birmingham University Medical School and then worked in the Midlands and Sydney before completing general adult and old age clinical psychiatry training at St Mary’s, Queen’s Square and UCL. I work clinically with the liaison psychiatry team at the Royal London Hospital.
My research and clinical work focusses on the interface between physical and mental health, particularly around cognitive disorders such as delirium and dementia and the interface between acute hospital, emergency and community care.
I have led major UK NIHR/ESRC research programmes on epidemiology and symptom management (i.e. pain, swallowing, agitation) in people with delirium and dementia, using mixed methods (large data, clinical cohorts, trials, meta-analysis implementation and policy).
Leadership roles include vice-chair of the UK Faculty of Liaison Psychiatry and the executive board of the European Delirium Association.
ACHA
“This is a great opportunity to join the Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing and to lead its research on cognition and mental health. By addressing these critical aspects of ageing, we can make significant strides in improving the quality of life for older adults. I am excited to be working in this team and the diverse research and clinical collaboration networks that ACHA will support.”
Professor Hamish Simpson
Background
(Professor of Orthopaedics and Trauma)
Hamish is an internationally renowned expert in orthopaedics and trauma, brings extensive experience in clinical research, with a focus on musculoskeletal infection, limb reconstruction, paediatric deformity and non-arthroplasty treatments for osteoarthritis.
He has a distinguished career with research interests in osteoporosis, impaired bone healing, novel cutting methodologies and stem cells for musculoskeletal repair.
He is the first orthopaedic surgeon to be awarded the Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE). Hamish has held the George Harrison Low Chair and been Head of the Department of Orthopaedics & Trauma at the University of Edinburgh and Honorary Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon.
He was previously Professor of Orthopaedics at the University of Oxford. He is Immediate Past President of the ORS International Section of Fracture Repair (ORS ISFR) and will take up Presidency of the International Combined Orthopaedic Research Societies in October this year.
ACHA
“I am honoured to join the Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing and contribute to its groundbreaking work in addressing the challenges of multi-morbidity and long-term conditions. I look forward to leading research into maintaining mobility in adults and enhancing return of function after injury in older individuals and collaborating with colleagues in Barts Health NHS Trust, Queen Mary University and the local community to develop innovative solutions that promote healthy ageing of all adults, compress morbidity and enhance the health and wellbeing of older adults.”
Board members:
The ACHA Board is responsible for overseeing the mobilisation of the centre.
Professor Fiona Walter
Background
Professor Fiona Walter is Director of the Wolfson Institute of Population Health, one of six Institutes at Queen Mary University of London’s Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. The Institute has six centres, and she contributes to leadership of the Centre for Cancer Screening, Prevention & Early Diagnosis. Fiona joined Queen Mary in April 2021 as Professor in Primary Care Cancer Research after serving as Reader in Primary Care Cancer Research at the University of Cambridge. She also worked as a GP in the NHS over more than three decades.
Fiona’s research focuses on developing and evaluating new diagnostics and diagnostic approaches to all aspects of prevention, early detection, and diagnosis of cancer in primary care. She co-led the CanTest Collaborative, Cancer Research UK’s first Catalyst award, focussing on the transformative implementation in primary care of tests to support early detection of cancer, and delivering an annual CanTest International School for Cancer Detection Research in Primary Care. Fiona is also co-investigator on the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Cancer Awareness, Screening and Early Diagnosis. Current UK research leadership roles include deputy-Chair for Cancer Research UK’s Early Detection and Diagnosis committee. Fiona contributes to cancer research in Europe and the US and co-leads an NIHR Global Research Group ‘Advancing Early Diagnosis of Cancer across Southern Africa’. Her international work is marked by an honorary academic role at the University of Melbourne, Australia.
Professor Mary Collins
Background
Professor Mary Collins is an immunologist, virologist and a self-confessed ‘lab rat’ with a history of leading pioneering multidisciplinary research and a passion for scientific outreach. In her new role as the Blizard Institute Director, she hopes to build on our success by utilising our unique links with the East end community, expanding our outreach activities, and developing new national and international partnerships.
Professor Collins is joining us from Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), a graduate university located in Onna-son, Okinawa, Japan. She joined the organisation in 2016 as the Dean of Research, then assumed responsibilities of Provost two years later in 2018. During her tenure she oversaw an expansion of a broad research portfolio with numerous multidisciplinary themes including fields such as marine and environment science, quantum computing and cyber security. She participated in the local outreach programme to Okinawans to help them understand the role of the newly established university in improving their health and economic outcomes. In 2020 she led university’s Covid-19 response after the start of the pandemic setting up a clinically-accredited PCR test for Okinawa.
Jenny Rivers
Background
Jenny is an experienced research leader having led large teams, driven research strategy across the NHS, academia and beyond, and managed operations, governance and finance across complex and diverse research portfolios. She joined Barts Health NHS Trust in October 2023 to develop and deliver the Trust’s research strategy. In this role, Jenny oversees the Trust’s research resources and infrastructure, including the Joint Research Management Office with Queen Mary University of London and a portfolio of local and regional National Institute for Health and Care Research funded clinical research infrastructure.
Jenny is passionate about the need to evolve cross-sector leadership models across healthcare and research and brings her experience of working in academic, NHS and commercial environments to support the development of the research workforce and infrastructure to build capacity for research locally, regionally and nationally.
Jenny is an active member of the UK NHS R&D leadership community (UKRD) and leads on a number of national workstreams, including environmental sustainability. As a champion of sustainable clinical research delivery, Jenny is a member of the Academy of Medical Sciences joint international policy project with the US National Academy of Medicine on climate change and health.
Nigel Turner, OBE
Background
Nigel and his family have been patients at Whipps Cross for more than 55 years. After a nearly 40-year career in HR across industry, local government, and the NHS, including chairing the NHS Staff Council and serving on the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Pay Review Body, he joined the Whipps Cross Patients’ Panel in 2015 and chaired it from 2021 to 2025.
He was a Trustee of Redbridge Equalities and Community Council (and its predecessor organisations) for nearly 40 years, serving as Chair from 2016 to 2020. Nigel is also the lay co-Chair of Barts Health NHS Trust’s Experience of Care Strategic Oversight Group. Nigel is also the Chair of the Community Advisory Group, which aims to ensure that ACHA’s work is influenced by the needs and preferences of patients and the public at every level, and he represents the patient and public interest on its Assurance Committee and Board. He was appointed OBE in 2008 for services to the NHS and the community in London.
Dr Claire Dow
Background
Claire is a Consultant Geriatrician at Whipps Cross Hospital. She trained in Newcastle upon Tyne with her post graduate training in East London. She was appointed as a Consultant in Geriatric Medicine to Barts Health NHS Trust in 2007 and worked at the Royal London Hospital and in Tower Hamlets as the Community Geriatrician. She was Divisional Director of Tower Hamlets Community Services from 2015 until 2018 and was the Trust’s representative on the Promoting Independence workstream with Tower Hamlets Together until 2024 (collaboration of health, social care, voluntary service and patient representation in the borough). Claire was the Network Lead for Older People’s Services across Barts Health from 2015 until 2023 which had a “frailty academy” as part of its initial strategy alongside improvements to patient care across the Trust.
Claire moved to Whipps Cross Hospital in June 2024 to take up the role of Divisional Director for Medicine and to work as a Consultant in Geriatric Medicine in the Older Adult’s Assessment Unit and Emergency Department. Claire Dow is the chair of ACHA’s Workforce Advisory Group.
Alastair Finney
Background
Alastair is the redevelopment director for Whipps Cross Hospital. He also leads the Integrated Delivery Framework (IDF) for Waltham Forest, Redbridge and Whipps Cross Hospital. Prior to working for Barts Health, Alastair was a portfolio director in the NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA), with responsibility for providing leadership and support to NHS trusts in north and east London. Alastair also previously worked as deputy director for strategy and provider development at NHS London and before that for the Department of Health in a number of policy and executive roles.
Alastair is chair of the Integrated Delivery Framework Executive and responsible for connecting the ACHA Board to local transformation, and as the Whipps Cross Hospital redevelopment director, he was instrumental in progressing the ACHA application from the initial concept to where it is today.
Dr Amanjit Jhund
Background
Amanjit is a doctor by background and he first joined the NHS 12 years ago. He has worked in hospitals in both Scotland and England, gaining experience in a wide variety of medical specialties. Amanjit is a Harvard trained Epidemiologist, former expert on healthcare systems and services at McKinsey, award winning entrepreneur and former parliamentary candidate at the 2010 and 2015 general elections and the CEO of Whipps Cross Hospital, within Barts Health Trust.
Amanjit is the Chair of the ACHA Board, overseeing the strategic direction of the centre and ensuring that ACHA is managed according to the required standards of accountability, regularity and propriety, achieving high standards of efficiency, effectiveness, and economy.
Lauren Ellis – ACHA Director
Background
I joined the NHS in 2012 and began my career in Commissioning, where I discovered my passion for Healthy Ageing as Transformation Lead for Frailty in south east Essex. I worked prior to this role as a Strategy Manager for the Redevelopment of Whipps Cross which included the development and design of ACHA! As a member of the original applicant team, I’m very passionate about the project and would describe this as my dream job.
Dr Mark Rawle
Background
Mark is a practising consultant doctor at Whipps Cross Hospital, specialising in geriatrics and general (internal) medicine. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians with full FRCP(UK) accreditation. He is research lead for older person’s services in Barts Health and has a special interest in cognitive health, including Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, and polypharmacy. Skilled in epidemiological research within both longitudinal cohorts and electronic health records, his work centres on the effects of prescribed medications in older age. Mark currently holds a fellowship in ageing research at the Medical Research Council Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing (MRC LHA) at UCL.
Mark is an ACHA co-applicant and a key member of the original ACHA Application Team, who designed and developed the Centre in 2021.
Maurice Darding
Background
Maurice is Head of Research Funding at Barts Charity, which provided funding to establish ACHA. Maurice has a PhD in cancer research, and prior to working for Barts Charity he worked in research funding at Cancer Research UK. Before that, Maurice worked as a post-doctoral researcher at University College London.
Maurice worked closely with the applicant team who designed and delivered the Barts Charity bid to establish ACHA. He now acts as a steward for the delivery of the vision and the effective deployment of the Barts Charity Grant as a key member of the Board.
Professor Steph Taylor
Background
As Director of Research in the Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Steph is responsible for directing and coordinating the promotion of research activity and supporting strategic decision making around research in the Institute. Steph also co-leads the Centre for Primary Care.
Steph’s background and specialty training is in both public health and primary care and she leads a group of researchers conducting applied health services research directed at improving the lives of people living with long term conditions, particularly those living with multiple long-term conditions.
Steph is the Academic Lead for the ACHA and a key member of the original application team.
Academic Team
Florence Wedmore – AS I-Care DTC PhD Student
Background
I am a geriatric medicine registrar. My previous experience includes as an Academic Clinical Fellowship at UCL, a Greener NHS leadership fellowship where I spent a year at the BMJ and a Masters in Public Health. For my Masters project I looked at the impact of not speaking English as a first language on diabetes outcomes in primary care. My interest now focuses on how we can develop healthcare services for older people that are higher-quality while also being more environmentally sustainable, linking together my clinical, academic and sustainability experience. My PhD will look at sustainability in care for people with dementia in acute hospitals and aim to identify opportunities for improving quality of care while reducing carbon intensity.
Orouba Almilaji – Senior Data Scientist
Background
Before joining ACHA as a Senior Health Data Scientist, I worked as a Research Fellow and was later promoted to Assistant Professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). My work focused on developing methodological approaches to identify cancer recurrence using linked national datasets, as part of a programme funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). I hold editorial roles as Section Editor for Diagnosis in Cancer Control (SAGE) and Associate Editor for Technology in Cancer Research & Treatment (SAGE).
I also serve on the Scientific Advisory Group for the Falls and Fragility Fracture Audit Programme (FFFAP). Earlier in my career, I worked as a Research Assistant in the School of Population Health & Environmental Sciences at King’s College London and completed a three-year Research Fellowship at Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. I hold a PhD on identifying sub-groups of patients with iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) who are at increased or reduced risk of gastrointestinal cancer.
My academic qualifications also include MSc in Statistics, University College Dublin (UCD), MSc in Computation, The University of Manchester, Postgraduate Diploma in Statistics, BSc (Hons) in Statistics, Aleppo University, Syria.
Sinduja Sivarajan – ACHA PhD Student
Background
Sinduja’s passion for research led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Healthcare Research Methods, with a special focus on skin cancer, where she was awarded a Distinction. She has gained experience across a range of specialties, including oncology, renal medicine, intensive care, and within the Research Institute of Infection and Immunity. She is now excited to bring her diverse background in clinical research to her doctoral studies.
Alongside her clinical research work, she has been actively involved in academia at St George’s Medical School, reflecting her keen interest in education and sharing knowledge with others. She has always enjoyed learning and has thrived in challenging roles.
She is currently undertaking a doctoral programme within the Blizard Institute and is honoured to be joining the Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing. She is passionate about advancing knowledge in healthy ageing and developing innovative approaches to enhance patient care across diverse populations. She is eager to embark on this journey and to contribute meaningfully to advancing research and improving patient outcomes in the field of elderly care.
Hannah Chapman – ACHA PhD Student
Background
I am a first-year PhD student with ACHA. I studied an MSc in Psychological Sciences at UCL, where I became increasingly interested in the research side of things and how data can be used to influence positive change. I have worked on various projects related to dementia research over the past three years, and as my research interests developed, I moved into dementia prevention and health inequalities, which is the focus of my PhD. More specifically, I am interested in the behaviour mechanisms underpinning dementia prevention interventions, and how positive strategies for lifestyle change are impacted by health inequalities.
Yehudit Bauernfreund – NIHR Clinical PhD Fellowship
Background
I have a clinical background and am training in Old Age Psychiatry. I love the opportunity to do research alongside my clinical work as I get to think about and design questions to answer gaps I see in clinical practice. Before joining ACHA I did an Academic Clinical Fellowship and Masters in Dementia & Mental Health Research at UCL. I’ve been fascinated by delirium since my first clinical job – it’s extremely common in hospitals yet there is so much we don’t understand about it. I’m especially interested in understanding how we detect delirium in people with a background of mental illness.
Lara Bruschinski – ACHA Research Assistant
Background
Lara Bruschinski is an interdisciplinary researcher focusing on equity in ageing. Her work explores how demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural factors shape how people experience and perceive ageing, with a particular interest in underserved populations and age-inclusive environments. Lara holds two MSc degrees; one in Health, Ageing & Society, and one in International Public Administration. She is currently a PhD candidate at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and was previously a visiting research scholar with the Academy for Healthy Longevity at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine of the National University of Singapore. Lara is also the European Patient Representative for Frontotemporal Dementia in the European Reference Network for Rare Neurological Diseases (ERN-RND).
Imogen Collier – Postdoctoral Research Associate
Background
I joined the Centre for Preventive Neurology as a PhD student in 2022. I am currently writing up my doctoral thesis, which is a mixed methods exploration of the impact and experience of menopause for people with multiple sclerosis. This has involved conducting a large longitudinal cohort study with the UK MS Register and a qualitative interview study within the NHS.
I am also a postdoctoral research associate in the Centre for Psychiatry and Mental Health working on the Advancing Delirium Emergency Pathways and Treatment (ADEPT) project, a large qualitative study aiming to use a systems-engineering approach to understand how delirium contributes to poor patient outcomes in the emergency department.
Prior to joining QMUL I completed a BSc in Psychology and an MSc in Health Psychology and Clinical Skills. I gained experience as a research assistant at UCL working on the ESRC-NIHR funded Empowering Better End-of-Life Dementia Care (EMBED-Care) Programme and have previously worked in roles supporting older people and people living with dementia in care homes and in the community.
Jasmine Shaw – ACHA PhD Student
Background
After finishing my undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Sheffield, I worked as a Healthcare Assistant in a residential nursing home for a year caring for older adults with a wide range of neurodegenerative conditions and learning and physical disabilities. I then completed a masters program at University College London where I conducted research with the Social Cognition and Functioning in Alzheimer’s Dementia (SOCIAL) study team before joining the Dementia and Neurodegeneration Policy Research Unit at Queen Mary, University of London (DeNPRU-QM) as a Research Assistant. My work has mostly involved using quantitative methods with a collaborative approach, working with multidisciplinary teams and people with lived experience with the aim of improving care for older adults.
Micheal Taylor – Senior Lecturer in Public Health
Background
I am an academic public health doctor with research interests in prevention and mitigations for people living with frailty. Most of my recent research has focussed on developing or evaluating methods for preventing falls through exercise-based or multifactorial interventions. My methodological experience includes quantitative, qualitative and evidence synthesis approaches. I have undertaken service public health work at local authority, NHS England and UK Health Security Agency settings, and am Deputy Editor of the journal Public Health.
Karishma Moochooram – Senior Data Analyst
Background
Before joining the NHS in February 2025 as a Senior Information Analyst, I built over six years of experience in business intelligence and data analytics across healthcare, finance, and technology. I’ve worked internationally in Mauritius, Uganda, and the UK, leading projects in data modelling, dashboard development, and advanced analytics. Skilled in SQL, Power BI, and Python, I’m motivated by using data to uncover insights that make healthcare systems more effective and equitable.
Professor Adam Gordon, MBE
Background
(Professor the Care of Older People)
Adam Gordon is inaugural Professor of Care of Older People at the Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing, based between the Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Barts Health NHS Trust and Whipps Cross Hospital. His clinical background is in Geriatric Medicine and he trained in Edinburgh, Sydney and the East Midlands before going on to work as a consultant in Nottingham and Derby for 15 years.
For his last decade in Nottingham he was Professor of Care of Older People in the Centre for Rehabilitation and Ageing Research. He leads a broad research portfolio considering healthcare of older people with frailty, focussed to a large extent on how we deliver healthcare to older people living in care homes, although he also does research in rehabilitation, the application of novel technologies for care of older people, and muscle wasting (sarcopenia). He uses a wide range of methodologies from clinical trials, through to mixed methods implementation studies, and in context evaluations of novel technologies.
He has led numerous developments around education in ageing and geriatric medicine and has been involved in writing and evaluating three iterations of the British Geriatrics Society Recommended Undergraduate Curriculum in Ageing and Geriatric Medicine. He has been active in the policy space, leading the British Geriatrics Society between 2022 and 2024 and writing numerous policy papers and guidelines during this time.
He is an NIHR Senior Investigator and leads the Care Home and Ambulatory Workstream of the NIHR Oxford Healthtech Research Centre. He was awarded the MBE in the Kings Birthday Honours 2024 for services to healthcare of older people.
ACHA
“I am thrilled to join the Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing and to lead efforts in improving rehabilitation and recovery for older people in north east London. I am looking forward to working with the teams across Barts Health NHS Trust and Queen Mary University of London to advance research and create impactful strategies that support the recovery and resilience of older people. We intend to establish a centre in this part of London that delivers some of the best care in the world.”
Professor Liz Sampson
Background
(Professor of Liaison Psychiatry)
I am inaugural Professor of Liaison Psychiatry at the Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing, based between the Centre for Psychiatry and Mental health, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Barts Health NHS Trust and Whipps Cross Hospital.
I qualified at Birmingham University Medical School and then worked in the Midlands and Sydney before completing general adult and old age clinical psychiatry training at St Mary’s, Queen’s Square and UCL. I work clinically with the liaison psychiatry team at the Royal London Hospital.
My research and clinical work focusses on the interface between physical and mental health, particularly around cognitive disorders such as delirium and dementia and the interface between acute hospital, emergency and community care.
I have led major UK NIHR/ESRC research programmes on epidemiology and symptom management (i.e. pain, swallowing, agitation) in people with delirium and dementia, using mixed methods (large data, clinical cohorts, trials, meta-analysis implementation and policy).
Leadership roles include vice-chair of the UK Faculty of Liaison Psychiatry and the executive board of the European Delirium Association.
ACHA
“This is a great opportunity to join the Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing and to lead its research on cognition and mental health. By addressing these critical aspects of ageing, we can make significant strides in improving the quality of life for older adults. I am excited to be working in this team and the diverse research and clinical collaboration networks that ACHA will support.”
Professor Hamish Simpson
Background
(Professor of Orthopaedics and Trauma)
Hamish is an internationally renowned expert in orthopaedics and trauma, brings extensive experience in clinical research, with a focus on musculoskeletal infection, limb reconstruction, paediatric deformity and non-arthroplasty treatments for osteoarthritis.
He has a distinguished career with research interests in osteoporosis, impaired bone healing, novel cutting methodologies and stem cells for musculoskeletal repair.
He is the first orthopaedic surgeon to be awarded the Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE). Hamish has held the George Harrison Low Chair and been Head of the Department of Orthopaedics & Trauma at the University of Edinburgh and Honorary Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon.
He was previously Professor of Orthopaedics at the University of Oxford. He is Immediate Past President of the ORS International Section of Fracture Repair (ORS ISFR) and will take up Presidency of the International Combined Orthopaedic Research Societies in October this year.
ACHA
“I am honoured to join the Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing and contribute to its groundbreaking work in addressing the challenges of multi-morbidity and long-term conditions. I look forward to leading research into maintaining mobility in adults and enhancing return of function after injury in older individuals and collaborating with colleagues in Barts Health NHS Trust, Queen Mary University and the local community to develop innovative solutions that promote healthy ageing of all adults, compress morbidity and enhance the health and wellbeing of older adults.”
Krystal Warmoth – Senior Research Fellow
Background
I’m an applied health and social psychologist with research experience in both the USA and UK. My research interest is in improving care for older adults, especially in care homes. My expertise spans ageing, frailty, mixed methods research, implementation science, and the intersection between health and social care systems. Before joining ACHA, I led the NIHR-funded STOPPING project on deprescribing in care homes and completed a THIS Institute fellowship about developing strategies to strengthen collaboration between primary care and care homes.
Alexandra Feast – Senior Research Fellow
Background
Applied health and care researcher with programme management expertise. Experienced using a range of mixed- methods research, co-design and implementation science to generate real-world evidence of what works to improve health and care services. Research interests include developing and delivering better care for people with dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders, particularly behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia, pain and delirium, meeting the needs of an aging population with multimorbid and long-term conditions, and reducing inequalities. Passionate about the rapid translation of research findings into policy and clinical practice to expedite sustainable health and care transformation.
Strategic Team
Jenine Petley – ACHA Executive Assistant
Background
Before joining ACHA, I spent 23 years at the University of Nottingham, supporting senior leaders across various Professional Services departments. My final roles there included Coordinator in the People Services Team and Executive Assistant to the Academic Unit Director in the School of Medicine. Prior to that, I worked in the NHS from 2002 to 2007, progressing from Clerical Officer to Executive Assistant within the Corporate Affairs Directorate during a time of major structural change due to the Strategic Health Authorities implantation and restructure.
Simon Dawes – ACHA Business Support Manager
Background
I joined the NHS in 2015 following a long career in music retail. I originally worked on reception in a Sexual Health Clinic before progressing through a range of administrative roles across several London Trusts. In 2017, I moved to Whipps Cross Hospital, initially providing support to the Senior Leadership Team.
In 2019, I joined the Whipps Cross Redevelopment Team on a full-time basis as Programme Support Officer. In this role, I supported the Redevelopment Director and Programme Team through key milestones, including the development of the Strategic and Outline Business Cases, the demolition of legacy buildings, and the opening of the new multi-storey car park.
Following the pause of the Redevelopment Programme in 2025, I began supporting the ACHA team and, in 2026, formally joined the team as Business Support Manager.
Demi Atiba – ACHA Support Officer
Background
I began my NHS career after graduating from Nottingham Trent University with a degree in Product Design. Since then, I have gained experience across Learning and Development at Barnet, Enfield & Haringey (BEH), Recruitment at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT), and my current role at the Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing (ACHA) at Barts Health NHS Trust.
Throughout my NHS career, I have developed skills in project support, stakeholder engagement, governance, event coordination and administration. In my current role, I support research initiatives, coordinate projects and events, liaise with senior stakeholders, and contribute to the effective delivery of ACHA’s strategic objectives.
Tiffany Day – ACHA Engagement Manager
Background
Before joining the NHS family in 2024, I worked in homelessness for 15 years. I oversaw pan-London teams that aided homeless people who had been deemed ineligible for conventional outreach teams. A few of them were prohibited from using services because. Due to their actions, some walked freely between various local authorities and went unnoticed until they were admitted to the hospital or placed under arrest.
We produced the term “throughcare” to describe my evidence-based approach to this work, which included system reform and sector-wide best practices in addition to trauma-informed lobbying and assistance. The creation of commissioned RAMHP mental health outreach teams is one instance of an improvement brought about by our efforts. A Ladder of Engagement and psychological tools to support frontline staff are among the tools and guidelines I developed outlining the strategy before I left the industry. I’m thrilled to have found ACHA since it will allow me to use my abilities in a different setting and enhance the quality of life in my community.
Lauren Ellis – ACHA Director
Background
I joined the NHS in 2012 and began my career in Commissioning, where I discovered my passion for Healthy Ageing as Transformation Lead for Frailty in south east Essex. I worked prior to this role as a Strategy Manager for the Redevelopment of Whipps Cross which included the development and design of ACHA! As a member of the original applicant team, I’m very passionate about the project and would describe this as my dream job.
