Danielle has been a consultant at East and North Herts since 2003 during which time she has developed a specialist interest in upper GI cancer diagnosis and management and a research interest in prevention and early diagnosis of oesophageal cancers including involvement in ASPECT, BOSS, SPIT/RISKQ, DELTA and BEST studies. Danielle’s team established an early diagnosis service using Cytosponge triage for oesophageal cancer during the pandemic and have now performed more than 1000 Cytosponge procedures, and are the largest contributing site to NHS England pilot study. Danielle is the current chair of the BSG oesophageal Section and have been a member of the supporting women in gastroenterology committee. Danielle enjoys travelling, watching sport and spending time with family and Labradors.

Rebecca Fitzgerald is Professor of Cancer Prevention at the University of Cambridge and Director, Early Cancer Institute. Rebecca still practices medicine as an Honorary Consultant in Gastroenterology at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge. She studied Medicine at Cambridge University and gained her MD in 1997 following a period of research at Stanford University, California, with Professor George Triadafilopoulos. Her postdoctoral training took place at the Department of Adult and Paediatric Gastroenterology, St Barts and The Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry with Professor Michael Farthing, funded by an MRC Clinician Scientist award. She returned to Cambridge in 2001.

Paul is an upper GI surgeon in Glasgow with an interest in oesophageal cancer and Barretts oesophagus. He was involved from the initial steps in the introduction of the cytosponge programme in Scotland and leads for Greater Glasgow and Clyde for Barretts oesophagus.

Massimiliano di Pietro is Senior Clinical Investigator Scientist and Consultant Gastroenterologist at Cambridge University Hospitals. His clinical expertise includes reflux disease and diagnosis/treatment of early gastric and oesophageal cancer. His research focuses on Barrett’s oesophagus with particular interest in biomarkers for risk stratification, imaging tools for dysplasia detection and quality standards in endoscopy.

Newly appointed as the Principal Research Nurse and Clinical Coordinator for the BEST4 Clinical Trial Early Cancer Institute Cambridge. Previous to this the Principal Research Nurse for Early Detection (ED) of Cancer at the University of Cambridge tasked with setting up a bioresource for access to collaborators across 5 ED sites. Irene’s role over the years has allowed her to work on various Cytosponge related studies. During this time she has designed the Cytosponge training and is the designated Expert Trainer for the Cytosponge diagnostic device used in patients with symptoms of reflux and heartburn and with a clinical diagnosis of Barrett’s Oesophagus in the early detection of Cancer. During the pandemic Irene has worked closely with NHSE, NHS Scotland and various clinical studies to facilitate a gradual transition of the use of the Cytosponge into clinical practice. Irene has been a nurse for 29 years where research nursing has been the core of her career. Irene’s academic qualifications are a BSc in Biomedical Science and MSc in Research Management and Health care. Irene was also a Finalist for the RCN Awards 2021 Excellence in Cancer Research Nursing where she was Highly Commended for work and training related to the Cytosponge.

Marcel is co-founder and CEO of Cyted, a company working on transformative technology for the early detection of cancer. He holds a PhD in Machine Learning in Healthcare from the University of Cambridge. Marcel was named on the Forbes 30 under 30 list, won the Alexander Fleming Prize from the Gates Foundation for his contribution to global public health and the Prix Galien Award for the best medical technology with Cyted’s core product, a novel test for the early detection of cancer in the oesophagus.

Dr Gordon’s areas of specialist interest include endoscopy, reflux disease, heartburn, hiatus hernia, colonoscopy and irritable bowel syndrome. He introduced HALO RadioFrequency Ablation and Cryotherapy for the treatment of Barrett’s oesophagus to Dorset. He performs endoscopic therapy for pre-malignant and cancer lesions of the oesophagus and stomach on a weekly basis. In addition he has a specialist interest in upper GI physiology (the investigation of reflux/heartburn/oesophageal disorders), including STETTA therapy for reflux, and wireless pH testing.

Dr. Haidry is a Consultant Gastroenterologist and interventional endoscopist at Cleveland Clinic London (CCL) and University College Hospital, London (UCLH). He is the clinical lead of endoscopy at CCL. His main interests are therapeutic and innovative endoscopic procedures in the diagnosis and treatments of pre-malignant and malignant disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract, with a particular interest in Barrett’s neoplasia, Squamous neoplasia and early oesophageal cancer. He has a clinical research portfolio developing metabolic, bariatric endoscopic and anti-reflux procedures such as Duodenal mucosal resurfacing (DMR), Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) and Trans-oral incisionless fundoplication (TIF). He has also is actively involved in artificial intelligence platforms for oesophageal cancer detection.
He has an academic position of Associate Professor at UCL where he supervises his team of research fellows to generate research into various innovative and novel endoscopic techniques. He is very well published with over 100 original articles and has co-authored national and international guidelines.

Dr Peter Holloway is a GP in Suffolk, and holds GP cancer lead roles from PCN upwards. He is the Primary Care Lead for the East of England Cancer Alliances and CRUK GP for the EoE.As well as involvement with DELTA, his particular interest is primary care presentation of cancer symptoms and subsequent routes to diagnosis.

Maria O’Donovan is a co-inventor of Cytosponge and co-founder of Cyted LTD. She is the Lead Pathologist for Cytosponge at Cyted . She is also a Consultant Histopathologist / Cytopathologist at Cambridge University NHS Trust, where she leads the Diagnostic Cytology and Upper GI cancer pathology services.

Graeme is a proud husband, father and grandfather. He was born and raised in Gateshead, went to school and played football with Paul Gascoigne, difference in football and academic skills for us both. Graeme lives in South Cumbria and with his wife and 3 golden doodles and they are working their way through the 214 Wainwrights Hills in the Lakes. Graeme has had numerous roles in his career; ceramic tiler, firefighter, carer and registered Nurse for the last 30 years, within his Nursing career he has worked in Surgical wards, Care Homes and Regional Care Home Management before starting his current role 15 months ago. 

Arin Saha is a Consultant Upper GI Surgeon at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust. Appointed in January 2015, he is part of an award-winning team of general surgeons that have achieved national recognition for excellence in outcomes after emergency surgery and have led the way in elective recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. He is Clinical Lead for the Cytosponge project at Huddersfield and alongside the clinical team (comprising ACPs and Physician Associates), they caught up with the backlog for Barrett’s surveillance within 9 months of implementing Cytosponge at the Trust

Amanda Joined Lancashire and South Cumbria’s Cancer Alliance in July 2019 as Associate Director for Innovation and Transformation.  Amanda started her career on the NHS Graduate Finance Training Scheme 16 years ago were she gained a CIMA qualification. She has held a number of  senior operational manager over the years within Secondary Care covering multiple different clinical divisions across Lancashire, South Cumbria and Greater Manchester. Her experience and knowledge include policy development, strategy, programme management and operational delivery.

In her previous roles Amanda has a proven track record of delivering sustainable operational services, national targets and standards and has led and strategically developed services by identifying and building support for innovative solutions.  Including  working closely with clinicians and empowering them to lead service improvements and change management programmes and have extensive experience of controlling budgets and managing complex cross-organisational projects from conception to completion within set deadlines.

As Head of Growth at Cyted, Charlene leads business development & commercial activities focused on the UK. As Fellow at the NHS Innovation Accelerator, she focuses on building partnerships with NHS organisations and other healthcare providers across the UK, including ICSs, AHSNs and Cancer Alliances. Over the past 2 years, Charlene has developed proposals and brought together teams that have secured ~£3.8m in non-dilutive funding to support implementation and adoption across the NHS through Projects CYTOPRIME1 and CYTOPRIME2.

Craig Vickery is a consultant upper GI surgeon at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust in Bury St Edmunds. He is lead for UGI cancer, with an interest in quality of life. He participated in the BEST3 trial. When COVID 19 impacted our 2WW diagnostic pathways and Barrett’s surveillance programme, he was keen to adopt Cytosponge locally. He is currently trialling a pathway that includes Cytosponge for the investigation of patients with reflux symptoms.