Alison is passionate about NMAHPs having the opportunity to engage with research. She has been appointed to provide the necessary leadership to ensure alignment of Corporate and Divisional research and innovation for the non-medical clinical workforce. This is to realise the proposed outcomes of the NMAHP Research Strategy through informed development, investment and evaluation of research, innovation and evidence based practice.

Alison has a remit to increase NMAHP-led research at UHNM and develop a clinical academic career pathway for our non-medical staff. Alison is a registered midwife with experience in leading research, research delivery and ethics processes. Alison has been successful with two NIHR personal funding awards and four subsequent grant applications, three as Chief Investigator and one as a Co-Investigator. Alison has led research which has changed midwifery practice.

Alison has a joint appointment as a Senior Lecturer at University of Keele, and is also an Honorary Lecturer at The University of Manchester. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an experienced Masters and Doctoral Supervisor. Alison has expertise in a range of methodological approaches including: systematic review, meta-synthesis, randomised controlled trials, observational studies, national surveys, mixed methods and qualitative studies.

Alison will always find time to talk to anyone who wants to engage in research in some way, has a research idea or is considering a clinical academic career.

Angela currently works as a Consultant Midwife and holds honorary lectureships at the Universities of Keele and Manchester.  During a midwifery career spanning almost 30 years, Angela has strived to provide and promote evidence-based care, leading several service improvement projects in clinical practice to achieve this.  During one such project, Angela identified a clinical issue around delayed and missed diagnosis of postpartum haemorrhage. 

After securing funding from the National Institute for Health Research, Angela went on to explore this issue, and develop her research knowledge and skills, through a Master of Research degree and PhD.  The research led to a clearer understanding of clinical decision-making during blood loss and made recommendations for how to address the issues.  The findings have been translated back into clinical practice through publications, presentations and the co-creation of the Maternity Simulation Game, which provides a novel, board-game approach to facilitating human factors and non-technical skills training for maternity staff. 

As an experienced clinician, researcher and educator, Angela is ideally placed to support other health professionals embarking on their own clinical academic careers and in developing their own clinically focused research questions that will inform evidence-based care of the future.

Ceri Sedgley, Chief Allied Health Professional

Carol LLoyd-Bennett, Senior Nurse for Workforce and Education

Dr Hazel Smith, Senior Health Researcher

Paul Broad, Legacy Mentor

Dr Anne O'Brien is a part-time Senior Health Researcher in the CeNREE team. An AHP by background, Anne is working with the CeNREE team to attract and engage nurses, midwives and AHPs in research across the Trust. She looks forward to working with all teams to help develop ideas and enhance current research capacity.

Anne completed her NIHR Clinical Doctoral Fellowship in 2023 having completed a mixed methods study. Previously she undertook an MPhil when she was principal investigator of a randomised controlled trial evaluating an exercise intervention. She continues to publish and disseminate her research internationally and she has authored six chapters in textbooks. In April 2026 Anne was awarded the prestigious Droitwich medal from the British Society of Rheumatology for lifetime services to Rheumatology practice.

Anne also works as Reader in Physiotherapy at Keele University where she works with pre-and post-registration students to deliver research projects, including with professional doctoral students. She is also co-lead for research for the UK Rheumatology Physiotherapy Professional Network

Dr Natasha Green, Academic Development Officer

James Geis, AHP Lead Clinical Placement Facilitator

Ivy O'Santos, CeNREE Personal Assistant

Claire Rae is a Speech and Language Therapist at UHNM, and is also an NIHR Developing Research Leader and Care Group Research & Education Co-lead.  Claire has developed her research skills through NIHR awards including a West Midlands CRN Personal Development Award, the Associate PI Scheme, an NIHR Predoctoral Clinical Academic Fellowship (PCAF) including a Masters in Clinical Research, and an NIHR Internship (Practitioner Academic Pathway) and is working on funding applications to continue research into communication skills in the acute stages after traumatic brain injury.

Claire is an Advanced Speech and Language Therapist, leading the SLT service for Hyper-acute Specialised Rehabilitation at UHNM and co-ordinating student placements for the SLT team.  Claire has clinical expertise in neuro rehabilitation, tracheostomy, complex dysphagia and communication and prolonged disorders of consciousness.  

As a Developing Research Leader and Care Group Research & Education Co-lead, Claire is focussing on workstreams to grow research capacity, capability and culture across all AHP professions at UHNM and for the Clinical and Scientific Services Care Group.

Dr Christopher Murray, Academic Development Officer

Caroline Brown, AHP Lead Workforce & Education

Jokotade Adeshina, Lead Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA)