Professor Stephen Franks
Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology at Imperial College, London

Institute of Reproductive & Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 0NN and St Mary's Hospital London W2 1PG Stephen Franks trained in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology. He is Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology at Imperial College Faculty of Medicine (University of London) and Consultant Endocrinologist at St Mary's and Hammersmith Hospitals, London. He has recently completed a term as Chairman of the Society for Endocrinology (UK). He has both clinic and laboratory based programmes of research in the field of normal and disordered follicular development, predominantly in the human ovary. He has a major interest in polycystic ovary syndrome, which is not only the commonest cause of anovulatory infertility, but is also a major risk factor for development of type 2 diabetes. His research includes investigation of the mechanism(s) of anovulation, and of the characteristic metabolic abnormalities; it focuses particularly on the interaction between genetic and environmental factors in the aetiology of the syndrome.

Mr Omar Ali
BSc ( Hons ), Pharm Dip Clin Pharm, MRPHarmS, ACCP

Omar Ali qualified with a hospital pharmacy background and is currently working as a Formulary Advisor to Surrey & Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and is also Prescribing Consultant Pharmacist to Primary Care. Currently involved in Nurse Prescribing & British Heart Foundation Training at a National Level, he is an Executive Board Member of the National Obesity Forum

Professor Adam Balen
Professor of Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Leeds General Infirmary

For many years Adam Balen has had a particular interest in the causes and management of polycystic ovary syndrome - covering the full spectrum from the effects of the syndrome during adolescence and adult life on the menstrual cycle, fertility, body weight and cosmetic aspects together with the fundamental effects that PCOS may have on quality of life and long-term health. Clinical work includes laparoscopic surgery, reproductive endocrinology and ovulation induction and a supra-regional multidisciplinary service for the management of intersex and developmental disorders. The Leeds Reproductive Medicine Unit performs approximately 1100 IVF cycles per year. Awarded personal (honorary) chair, University of Leeds, 2004. Author of 7 books, 105 chapters in other books, 94 papers, approx. 74 reviews and commentaries. Books include: Infertility in Practice (2nd edition 2003), Reproductive Endocrinology for the MRCOG and Beyond (2003), The Multi-Disciplinary approach to Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology

Professor Stephen Atkin
Head of Academic Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, York Hull Medical School

Stephen Atkin graduated from Newcastle University in 1984 with an honours degree in medicine. He was appointed as an MRC training fellow in Liverpool with the late Professor Michael White and subsequently accompanied Professor White to Hull in 1993 as a senior registrar. He was appointed as Senior Lecturer in 1997, followed by Reader in Medicine in 1999. He was appointed as the HYMS professor in Endocrinology and Metabolism in November 2005. Professor Atkin's main focus of research is insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk in metabolic syndrome, particularly polycystic ovarian syndrome and in type 2 diabetes. He currently chairs the Special Interest Group in PCOS.

 

Mrs Samantha Bailey
Specialist Dietitian, Bedford Hospital NHS Trust

Samantha Bailey is a registered dietitian currently working freelance alongside her NHS post at Bedford Hospital. Since qualifying in 2000 she has covered many different areas of dietetics including nutritional support, oncology, cardiology, medicine, surgery, diabetes and gastroenterology. She has experience working within inpatients and outpatients as well as community settings such as GP clinics and nursing homes. Samantha has a special interest in PCOS and has been involved in specific multidisciplinary clinics at Bedford Hospital since 2002. She also runs freelance clinics in Bedford and Northampton. 

Dr David Haslam
MB BS DGM, General Practitioner in Hertfordshire and Clinical Director of the National Obesity Forum

Dr David Haslam is a full time General Practitioner and Senior Partner in Watton-at-Stone, Hertfordshire, specialising in obesity, metabolic syndrome and related conditions. He is setting up an obesity clinic for North Hertfordshire PCT at the Lister Hospital, Stevenage. His current posts include: Clinical Director, National Obesity Forum; Trustee, & former Chair, Foundations Charity; Executive Director, PCOS UK; Chair of AFOR, Alliance For Obesity Resources Campaign; Board of Counterweight Study of obesity management; Primary Care 'Threadleader' for SCOPE (Specialist Certification of Obesity Professionals in Europe) with IASO/IOTF; Editorial Board of British Journal of Cardiology; Editorial Board of Nutrition in Practice; Acting Editor of National Obesity Forum Newsletter Advisory Board of 'WLS' Weight Loss Surgery patient support group.

 

Dr Georgina Jones
Lecturer in Social Science, University of Sheffield

Georgina Jones has worked as a lecturer in social science at the University of Sheffield since September 2001. Previously she worked for 3 years as a postgraduate research assistant in the Nuffield Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and the Health Services Research Unit at the University of Oxford. Here she undertook a D.Phil in the measurement of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in women with endometriosis and developed a new psychometric tool to measure the impact this condition has upon the well-being of women with the condition. Since then her research interests have extended to include quality of life measurement and instrument development and validation for women with other benign (in particular, polycystic ovary syndrome and pelvic floor disorders) and malignant gynaecological conditions. Her undergraduate teaching responsibilities include the MBChB. She is currently Course Director for the MSc in Health and Social Care Research by Distance Learning.

 

Dr Alison Layton
Consultant Dermatologist, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation

Dr Alison Layton was appointed as Consultant Dermatologist at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust in 1995. Since this time she has established a comprehensive general dermatology service. She has a particular interest in androgen mediated disorders including acne and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). She sits on the Executive Council of PCOS UK, the European Expert Panel for Acne and the Global Alliance Steering Group for Acne. She has conducted many clinic trials embracing acne and rosacea as well as other inflammatory dermatoses. She is also involved in basic science research looking at immunological and microbiological aspects of acne. She is one of the reviewers for the prodigy guidelines for rosacea and acne as well as for a number of NICE guidelines related to dermatological conditions. She is currently preparing the acne chapter for the eighth edition of Rooks Textbook of Dermatology and has recently provided a chapter for the Oxford Textbook of Medicine. She has lectured and presented at many international meetings in relation to acne and rosacea and has written a number of book chapters and review articles specifically related to these conditions.

 

Dr Helen Mason
Senior Lecturer in Reproductive Endocrinology, St. George's, University of London

Helen mason has been carrying out research on polycystic ovaries for twenty years. Having completed her PhD on the mechanism of anovulation in these patients her research interests expanded to cover many aspects of the function of the polycystic ovary. Moving from Imperial to St. George's, University of London in 1998 she has established a group of scientists with a primary interest in this condition. She has published over 60 papers in the area and has a number of programmes to educate students about this fascinating condition.

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