Verity - sharing the truth about PCOS

Below you can learn more about the expert speakers we have coming along to the London conference

Professor Stephen Franks
Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology
Imperial College, London

Professor Franks is the Chairman of Verity's medical education arm PCOS UK and has recently completed a term as Chairman of the Society for Endocrinology. 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.

Professor David Haslam

General Practitioner in Hertfordshire
Clinical Director of the National Obesity Forum


Professor 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 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.