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Meet the team

Great innovation is only possible when talented people work together. At the Institute for Medical Innovation, our researchers will advance scientific discovery and frontline care in one connected environment. Located next to University Hospital Southampton, the Centre for Cancer Immunology, and the Somers Cancer Research Building, the IMI will enable teams to work seamlessly across sites and harness the power of NHS data to accelerate breakthroughs. Our researchers are world leaders in their fields, working on interdisciplinary projects to uncover innovative approaches to cancer, dementia, infection, sight loss and respiratory & allergic disease.

  • Professor Paul Elkington, MBE

    Professor of Respiratory Medicine, Director of the IMI

    Paul is a clinical scientist awarded an MBE for developing a life-saving respiratory hood to protect front-line workers during the pandemic.

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  • Professor Nick Evans

    Professor of Bioengineering

    Nick works between Engineering and Medicine. He is supervising a PhD on how we can use bubble acoustics to fight bone infection. 

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  • Professor Diana Eccles

    Dean of Medicine and Professor of Cancer Genetics

    Diana is a world-renowned expert on clinical genetics. Her research focuses on cancer predisposition and management of hereditary breast cancer.

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  • Professor Peter Johnson, CBE

    Professor of Medical Oncology

    Peter holds prestigious titles including National Clinical Director for Cancer and Director of the Southampton Cancer Research UK Centre.

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  • Professor Mark Cragg

    Professor in Experimental Cancer Biology, IMI Principal Investigator, Cancer

    Mark is a world-leading cancer immunologist who researches how the body’s immune cells develop new ways to overcome resistance to immunotherapy.

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  • Professor Roxana Carare

    Professor of Neuroscience, IMI Principal Investigator, Dementia

    Roxana is a world-leading specialist on the causes of dementia and in developing early diagnostic measures for the disease.

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  • Professor Tim Underwood

    Professor of Gastrointestinal Surgery

    Tim is a gastrointestinal surgeon. He is also a researcher and leads a programme of research into oesophageal cancer and tumour ecology.

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  • Dr Tim Fenton

    Associate Professor in Cancer Biology

    Tim’s research interests are focused on understanding the molecular changes that occur as cancers develop and evade destruction by our immune system.

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  • Professor Robert Read

    Chair of Infectious Diseases, IMI Principal Investigator, Infection

    Robert is a researcher and clinician in infectious diseases. He is the author of hundreds of publications on the subject.

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  • Dr Victoria Goss

    Associate Professor of Translational Research

    Victoria leads and supports translational research and clinical trials, focusing on developing and testing new diagnostic methods and treatments, particularly for early cancer detection and respiratory diseases, to improve patient outcomes.

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  • Professor Cheryl Metcalf

    Head of School of Healthcare Enterprise and Innovation, IMI Delivery Lead

    Cheryl has an international reputation in healthcare innovation. She works specifically on the user-led design of innovation in health systems and technology. Her diverse background spans computer science, biomechanics, health sciences and an entrepreneurial spirit.

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  • Mr Rami Salib

    Associate Professor, Clinical and Experiment Sciences

    Rami is a consultant in the ear, nose and throat department. He is a specialist in rhinology and, in particular, endoscopic sinus surgery.

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  • Professor Saul Faust

    Professor of Paediatric Immunology and Infection

    Saul is a clinical researcher who develops local and national clinical trials for paediatric and adult vaccines and antimicrobials.

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  • Professor Hywel Morgan, MBE

    Professor of Bioelectronics, IMI Devices Lead

    Hywel is a renowned innovator in the area of microfluidics, bio-sensors, and lab-on-a-chip technologies, with an MBE for his work during the pandemic.

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  • Professor Gopal Ramchurn

    Professor of Artificial Intelligence

    Gopal is a leading authority in artificial intelligence. He is Chair of Responsible AI UK and Director of the UKRI Trustworthy Autonomous Systems Hub.

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  • Professor Sumeet Mahajan

    Professor of Molecular Biophotonics and Imaging

    Sumeet is a chemist. His research explores new spectroscopy and imaging techniques to better understand disease.

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  • Dr Constantinos Savva

    Clinical Research Fellow and Specialist Registrar in Medical Oncology

    Constantinos’ research aims to develop new immunotherapy treatments, particularly focusing on patients who do not respond well to immunotherapy.

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  • Professor Rob Ewing

    Associate Professor in Computational and Molecular Systems Biology

    Rob is supervising a PhD position involved with investigating how the Zika virus could be used to treat brain tumours in children.

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  • Professor Miriam Santer

    Professor of Primary Care Research

    Miriam Santer is a GP and a Professor of Primary Care Research in the Faculty of Medicine. Her broad research interests and collaborations include a particular focus on supporting self-management for long-term conditions.

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  • Dr Jay Amin

    Associate Professor in Psychiatry of Older Age

    Jay’s research focusses on inflammation in neurodegenerative conditions. He is supervising a PhD position which aims to use data to diagnose dementia.

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  • Dr Adam Dale

    Associate Professor in Infectious Dieases

    Adam is an Associate Professor in Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology working in the Southampton Controlled Human Infection Group (CHIG)

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  • Professor Tom Wilkinson 

    Professor of Respiratory Medicine, IMI Principal Investigator, Respiratory Disease and Allergy

    Tom is the chief investigator and clinical director for the National UNIVERSAL Respiratory Viral Research Programme, respiratory and allergy theme lead for the National Institute for Health and Care Research and national clinical lead for the Royal College of Physicians national COPD audit programme.

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  • Dr Matt Loxham

    Principle Research Fellow

    Matt’s research focuses on the ways particulate matter spreads and its impact on the respiratory system. His work has been used to inform the implementation of traffic calming measures in an effort to reduce allergies and illness from pollution.

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  • Dr Emily Swindle

    Associate Professor in Pharmacology 

    Emily is a research scientist with an interest in understanding the role of mast cells and epithelial cells in innate immunity and respiratory diseases including asthma.

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  • Professor Graham Roberts

    Professor in Paediatric Allergy and Respiratory 

    Graham works clinically within the Southampton University Hospital NHS Trust as a paediatrician specialising in allergy and respiratory medicine. His research focuses on the pathogenesis and natural history of childhood asthma and food allergies, together with the development of new strategies to improve the management of asthma.

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  • Dr Hans Michael Haitchi 

    Associate Professor in Respiratory Medicine

    Hans leads a group that investigates the pathogenesis of asthma and other chronic lung conditions. His research is based in the Faculty of Medicine and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre Respiratory theme, where he is a principal investigator.

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  • Professor Andrew Lotery

    Professor of Ophthalmology, IMI Principal Investigator, Sight Loss

    Andrew is the first University appointed Chair of Ophthalmology. His major research interests lie in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), central serious chorio-retinopathy and inherited retinal diseases.

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  • Dr Jay Self

    Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

    Jay’s research focuses on improving the lives of children with eye disorders. His research focuses on a range of disorders, including nystagmus, albinism, bioinformatics, wet-lab modelling, eye-tracking and clinical trials.

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  • Mr Parwez Hossain

    Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

    Parwez’s key work involves developing advanced management of corneal and ocular surface inflammatory conditions such as microbial keratitis and dry eye disease. He has developed advanced techniques in corneal transplantation. Parwez is a recipient of the prestigious King James IV Professorship.

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  • Dr Helena Lee

    Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

    Helena specialises in neuro-ophthalmology, paediatrics and strabismus. She was awarded £1.4 million from the Medical Research Council for her work exploring the role of oral Levodopa in improving visual development in children with albinism.

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