I am a Senior Lecturer in Epilepsy at the University of Manchester and a Consultant Clinical Psychologist in Neuropsychology at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. My interests and experience includes pregnancy pharmacovigilance and child neurodevelopment, with a particular focus on improving evidence, care and outcomes for people who require medicines during pregnancy and for children and adults affected by fetal exposure to medicines.

Over the past 20 years, I have led and contributed to national and international research examining the longer-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of children exposed to antiseizure medications and other higher-risk medicines in utero. My research spans prospective longitudinal cohort studies, systematic reviews, data linkage, consensus methods and international collaborative programmes, including the UK Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register, the EU ConcePTION project and the NIHR-funded EpiSafe programme. I am particularly interested understanding the health and developmental outcomes of children and adults exposed in utero to antiseizure medications and have significant experience with exposure to sodium valproate in utero. 

I have provided expert advice to UK and European medicines regulators, NHS England, parliamentary groups, patient safety initiatives and third-sector organisations on the risks and benefits of antiseizure medications in pregnancy, fetal valproate spectrum disorder, and the development of care pathways for those affected by teratogenic exposures.

I am passionate in my translation of research into clinical practice and service design, most notable in the development of the NHS Fetal Exposure to Medicines Service, the first service of its kind. In this role, we designed new multidisciplinary clinical pathways for the diagnosis of fetal valproate spectrum disorder and other fetal exposure conditions. 

My broader academic work includes postgraduate teaching, doctoral supervision, and the leadership of international collaborations. I am Co-Theme Lead for Reproduction and Hormones at the UK's Epilepsy Research Institute and the Co-Chair of the International League Against Epilepsy Women and Pregnancy Task Force.

• Epilepsy across the reproductive life course, with a focus on antiseizure medication use in pregnancy.   
• Neurodevelopmental, cognitive and behavioural outcomes after in utero exposure to medicines.
• Pregnancy pharmacovigilance methods, including cohorts, data linkage, reviews and consensus approaches.     
• Hormonal influences on epilepsy (in collaboration with Dr Emily Pegg - https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/emily-pegg/).
• Translation of evidence into clinical care, regulation and patient-centred pathways for families affected by fetal exposure to medicines.

September 2013- July 2014. Post-Graduate Diploma in Paediatric Clinical Neuropsychology.

University College London, UK. Awarded with Distinction.

October 2009- September 2012. Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. The University of Manchester, UK. 

September 2006- August 2009. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The University of Liverpool, UK.

September 2001- July 2004. BSc Psychology 2:1 Hons University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.

Introduction into Developmental Neuropsychology I and II - Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, University of Manchester

MRES Psychology and MRES Cognitive Neuroscience

• Member, International League Against Epilepsy Women and Pregnancy Task Force, contributing to international guidance on antiseizure medication use, pregnancy and reproductive health.
•  Co-Theme Lead, Reproduction and Hormones Theme, Epilepsy Research Institute, supporting research capacity and collaboration across epilepsy, reproduction and menopause.
•  Member, Epilepsy Research UK Scientific Advisory Board, reviewing research applications and contributing to funding recommendations.

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