Knowing me, knowing you

Was there a moment when you knew you wanted to specialise in CF?

As a junior children's doctor, I worked on the CF ward at St James's Hospital in Leeds. There were 8-10 young people with CF on the ward at any one time and often for long admissions. I was inspired by their resilience and my mentor, Dr Jim Littlewood's enthusiastic commitment to improving care and long-term outcomes for everyone living with CF.

How did you get involved in CF genetic therapy clinical trials?

I did a lab-based PhD in gene therapy. This led me to understand just how difficult and complex it can be to get gene therapy to work well within the lungs. I now support and review clinical trial protocols for genetic therapies for trials in America and Europe.

What would you say to someone with CF who asked you about CF genetic therapy clinical trials?

For people who don't have access to CFTR modulator drugs, genetic therapy clinical trials are potentially significant game-changers. Safety is very closely monitored, and we think there is a good chance of developing effective treatment to stabilise and improve their lung health. So please consider giving the time to join one of the trials.

Tell us something your patients or colleagues may not know about you

Before studying medicine, I spent a year working for a barbecue company – I learnt it is worth paying the extra to get some good quality briquettes!

To find out more about CF genetic therapy trials, check out our resources.

This article was originally published in the March 2023 edition of CF Life. You can read the magazine in full here.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition which causes sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system. It affects more than 10,900 people in the UK. One in 25 of us carries the faulty gene that causes it, usually without knowing.

Since 1964, we've supported people with cystic fibrosis to live longer, healthier lives -and we won’t stop until everyone can live without limits imposed by CF.