Meet the Study Team
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Professor Iain Bruce
Consultant Paediatric Otolaryngologist
Dr Bruce has worked as a Consultant Paediatric Otolaryngologist at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH) since 2009 and is the Honorary Professor of Paediatric Otolaryngology, the University of Manchester. He is a member of the Standing Scientific Committee of the European Society for Pediatric Otolaryngology (ESPO). Iain is an active researcher, holding several NIHR grants and regularly contributes by invitation to Paediatric ENT & Cochlear Implant (CI) conferences. His research interests complement his clinical subspecialisations and includes hearing loss, hearing implants, cleft palate, airway obstruction, and Mucopolysaccharidosis. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Cochlear Implants International journal. He was the Lead Investigator for the completed SLUMBRS feasibility study (Does sleep position influence sleep disordered breathing in infants with cleft palate: A feasibility study. NIHR RfPB (PB-PG-0213-30058)) and is leading the SLUMBRS2 trial (Comparing the effectiveness of side-lying sleep positioning to back-lying at reducing oxygen desaturation resulting from Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in infants with cleft palate. NIHR RfPB (NIHR201173)). Was a co-investigator on the completed mOMEnt study (The management of otitis media with effusion (OME) in children with cleft palate: A feasibility study. NIHR HTA (09/167/02)).
Sharon Williams
Senior Clinical Trials Coordinator
For the past 11 years, I have been working successfully for the NHS, my role on this study will be the Study Coordinator. I have experience in setting up Phase 1 to Phase 4 studies, and delivery of projects which include Haematology, Neurology, Gastroenterology, Diabetes, Covid 19, and Renal research studies. I currently manage the ENT and Anaesthesia portfolio.
Dr Hazel Evans
Consultant Respiratory Paediatrician
Dr Evans is a consultant respiratory pediatrician who leads the regional services for children with sleep-disordered breathing. She has published research defining reference values for oxygen saturation levels in young healthy infants.
Tanya Walsh
Professor of Healthcare Evaluation at the School of Dentistry at the University of Manchester
My role on SLUMBRS2 is to work with the team to make sure that the study is designed, conducted and analysed in a way that will enable the team to answer this important research question. I worked on SLUMBRS 1, the initial feasibility study, and I’m delighted to be part of the team working on this larger, follow-on study.
Christy Barlow
Data Manager
I have been a data manager in the Centre for Trials Research at Cardiff University for 4 years, in that time I have worked on a variety of different studies ranging from blood cancer to data linkage. I have a particular interest in population health studies and am enjoying working with Manchester on the SLUMBRS study.
Monica Lakhanpaul
Professor of Child Health
My name is Monica Lakhanpaul. I am a Professor of Child Health with a particular interest in the early years. The first 1000 days for all children is a window of opportunity when the brain is growing at its fastest rate and requires good nutrition and oxygen. Through this study, we hope to provide parents of children with cleft palate clear guidance underpinned by evidence to help them know how to position their babies and give them the best start in life.
James Dempsey
Clinical Trials Assistant
I have worked in the NHS full-time since leaving university in 2019. I have a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry and a Masters in Clinic Biochemistry. I made the move across to the Paediatric ENT Research Portfolio in September 2022 with a real ambition of aiding and providing top-class medical research, which is a particular ambition of mine. As a Clinical Trials Assistant, I am heavily involved in the setup and management of a vast number of studies within ENT, especially SLUMBRS2.