Chairman of CTEU
Professor John Pepper MA, MChir, FRCS, FESC
Professor Pepper is the Chair of the CTEU Steering Committee and Interim Director of the CTEU. Professor Pepper is a Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at the Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust and Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London.
Assistant directors
Ms Jean Booth BSc, MSc, RGN
Jean Booth is a senior clinical scientist and has worked at the unit since 1996. She has experience in physiology, cardio-respiratory nursing and managing clinical research projects. Current projects include BCIS-1 and DANCE.
Dr Belinda Lees, BSc, PhD
Belinda Lees is a senior research co-ordinator who joined the unit in 1998. She is a scientist with many years' experience in performing clinical research and co-ordinating multi-centre clinical trials. Current projects include the ART trial, the RIME trial, PulMiCC Pilot study and the Cystic Fibrosis programme. Belinda has helped to organise the Practical Issues in Clinical Research Course.
Trial managers
Ms Daphne Babalis, MSci
Daphne Babalis is a clinical research co-ordinator and has been working at the CTEU since 2006. Previously, Daphne was working in the pharmaceutical industry and has an MSci in Chemistry. Current projects include EQUIP-ACS, NEON and SERCA gene therapy trial.
Ms Claire Foley, BSc
Claire Foley is a clinical research co-ordinator and has worked at the CTEU since 2006. Claire has previously worked in neuro-rehabilitation and R&D and has a BSc in psychology. Current projects include the MRC-ILA-HEART, B-PHIT 1 and AIMS-Marfan study.
Mrs Liz Cruddas, Dip App. Sc. (Nursing), RGN, ENB 249
Liz Cruddas is a clinical research nurse who joined the CTEU in 2007. Liz has many years’ experience working in cardiovascular clinical trials, whilst also fulfilling the role of cardiac specialist nurse in hypertension. Most recently Liz has been working part-time as a cardiac specialist nurse in cardiac rehabilitation within the Trust. Liz is responsible for the recruitment and management of patients enrolled into local CTEU studies at the Royal Brompton Hospital. Current projects include RELY and STABILITY, and coordination of the CARDia study.
Dr Thiagarajah Sasikaran, BSc, PhD
Thiagarajah Sasikaran is a clinical research co-ordinator who joined CTEU in June 2010 on secondment from our partner organisation Imperial Clinical Trials Unit (ICTU). Sasi has many years’ experience in all aspects of international clinical trials. Current projects include CVLPRI-t and assisting with the set up of the NEON and the AIMS study.
Data management team
Ms Fiona Nugara, BSc
Fiona Nugara joined the CTEU in 1997 as a data entry administrator after completing her BSc in marine biology/zoology. Fiona is now Head of Data Management and is responsible for all aspects of data management and administration.
Ms Monica Yanez-Lopez, MSc
Monica Yanez-Lopez joined CTEU in 2009 as a data co-ordinator and is now a Data Manager. Monica obtained her MSc in health psychology from University of Westminster and previously worked in paediatric palliative care and neurodevelopment.
Ms Eva Matesanz
Eva Matesanz joined the CTEU in 2007 as a data entry clerk and is now a Data Co-ordinator. Eva qualified in clinical coding in Madrid and has previously worked at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Eva assists with the randomisation of patients, entry of study data and identifying and resolving edit queries. Eva has successfully completed the AMSPAR course.
Mr Wajid Aslam
Wajid Aslam joined CTEU in 2008 from the Trust bank staff as an administrative assistant and is now a Data Co-ordinator. Wajid is helping to manage adverse event adjudication for CTEU studies as well as performing data entry.
Mr Joe Fryer, BSc
Joe Fryer joined CTEU in 2010 as an in-house Database Developer. Joe has a BSc in Business Studies and Operational Research. Previously Joe worked for various companies in database support and development roles. Joe is currently developing a bespoke database for the CF pilot study.
Business manager
Mr Sim Panesar , LL.B, LL.M
Sim joined CTEU in 2011 as Acting Business Manager. Sim has previously worked as a Legal Assistant. Sim has a degree in Law with Business and an Masters in Law from Brunel University.
Office manager
Ms Helen Whyte
Helen Whyte joined CTEU in 2008 as a PA/administrator to the Director and is now the CTEU Office Manager. Helen has worked in the Trust for many years having previously worked in the Department of Nuclear Medicine.
Trust statistician
Mr Winston Banya BSc, MSc
Winston Banya joined the Trust in 2008 and is now based within CTEU. Winston is a medical statistician with many years’ experience of clinical trials. He worked previously at the MRC Laboratories in the Gambia (West Africa) and at Imperial College. Winston is study statistician for many of the trials conducted by CTEU including AIMS, ILA-Heart, BCIS, EQUIP and B-PHIT.
Visiting researchers
Dr Guliz Erlem MD
Guliz Erlem has recently joined the Clinical Trials and Evaluation Unit. She is a cardiologist from Turkey. She is working on a Turkish Atrial Fibrillation Registry and is co-ordinating a meta-analysis on beta blockers in heart failure. She is particularly interested in clinical trials and adult congenital heart disease.
