Essential Tremor Priority Setting Partnership: Steering Group
Leadership team
Prof. Nicola Ray
Professor at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Prof Ray uses neuroimaging to study brain changes underlying symptoms in neurodegenerative conditions, particularly movement disorders.
Dr Antonella Macerollo
Consultant neurologist at The Walton Centre (Liverpool), Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at University of Liverpool and Visiting Researcher at Manchester Metropolitan University
Dr Macerollo specialises in advanced therapies (deep brain stimulation and MRI guided focused ultrasound) for Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and dystonic syndromes.
Dr Sarah L Martin
Research Fellow at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Dr Martin research uses neuroimaging to investigate movement disorders. She will be coordinating the PSP for essential tremor.
Dr Jonathan Gower
James Lind Alliance Advisor
Jonathan has over 25 years of experience in biomedical research and research management across Research Council, University, and NHS settings. Jonathan is passionate about improving access to impactful research for patients, carers, and the public.
People living with Essential Tremor
David Kellet
David has lived with essential tremor for many years. The tremor made it difficult to use a knife and fork or carry a drink, causing embarrassment for David when eating in public. After receiving the treatment called MR guided focused ultrasound, he regained these functions and has improved his daily life.
Jackie Farrell
Jackie was diagnosed with Essential Tremor in her 20’s. Jackie ran her own theatre dance school but retired due to her essential tremor progressing. Since then, Jackie raises awareness and support for people with essential tremor, both in the UK and abroad. Jackie is on the advisory panel for the National Tremor Foundation.
Emerald Davis
Emerald lives with essential tremor. She trained and worked as a nurse and midwife for 15 years before retraining as a psychotherapist at the age of 50, specialising in attachment therapy. Now retired, she is a member of a writers’ group, where she enjoys writing autobiographical pieces and poetry. She loves spending time with her two children and four grandchildren.
Jeremy Hall
Jeremy has lived with essential tremor since he was 30. His father also lived with essential tremor from the age of 50. Jeremy ran a craft business until he retired. His tremor has improved since he received the MR guided focused ultrasound treatment.
Ingida Melaku
TBC
Maureen Greenough
TBC
George Ollerenshaw
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Susan Starkie
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Health Professionals
Mr Jibril Farah
Consultant Neurosurgeon at The Walton Centre, Liverpool.
In 2023, he was appointed to the NHS England Clinical Reference Group for Neurosurgery and Spinal Services. He is currently the director of the functional and stereotactic fellowship program at The Walton Centre.
Prof. Patricia Limousin
Consultant Neurologist at University College London.
Prof. Limousin has expertise in the diagnosis and management of movement disorders, in particular, Parkinson’s disease, dystonia and tremor. She was a member of the team in Grenoble that, 30 years ago, pioneered high frequency deep brain stimulation in movement disorders.
Dr Jay Panicker
Clinical Director for Neurology at The Walton Centre and a Consultant Neurologist.
He started as a Consultant Neurologist with a specialist interest in movement disorders in 2013 and has a specialist interest in deep brain stimulation and normal pressure hydrocephalus. Dr Panicker is currently the lead for risk and clinical governance in neurology.
Dr Tom Gilbertson
Senior Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Neurologist at Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, University of Dundee.
Dr Gilbertson’s clinical interests are in movement disorders. He runs a clinic which assesses tremor patients for Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy.
Prof. Nicola Pavese
Professor of Clinical Neuroscience and Director of the Clinical Ageing Research Unit at Newcastle University.
Professor Pavese serves as a Consultant Neurologist at The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. With over three decades of experience in movement disorders, his clinical work primarily revolves around patients with Essential Tremor, Parkinson’s disease, and Dystonia.
Dr Sangeeta Scotton
Consultant Neurologist at Royal Wolverhampton hospital.
Dr Scotton runs specialist Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders clinics. Dr Scotton has an active teaching role at the University of Birmingham and is a senior clinical lecturer at university of keele, as well as research role as principal investigator in the NIHR Clinical Trials Unit.
Dr Amit Batla
Movement disorders specialist and Honorary Consultant Neurologist at National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London
Dr Batla is also a clinical associate professor at the Department of Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, Faculty of Brain science, at UCL.
Dr Tabish Saifee
Movement disorders consultant neurologist at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
Dr Saifee is a Clinical Director at London North West University Healthcare. His interests and PhD are on tremor, funded by NIHR at UCL. He is PI for a number of clinical trials in movement disorders. He has sat on a number of national advisory panels for movement disorders. He contributed to the movement disorders chapter in the Queen Square Textbook of Neurology and has published widely in tremor and movement disorders.
Prof. Monty Silverdale
Consultant Neurologist at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust and a Professor of Neuroscience at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Dr Silverdale jointly runs the Greater Manchester Advanced Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders service and serves as the lead Neurologist on the Greater Manchester Deep Brain Stimulation Programme. Recently, he was appointed Chair of the World Parkinson and Movement Disorders Evidence-Based Medicine Committee.
Dr Matteo Ciocca
Consultant Neurologist at Imperial College NHS Trust
Dr Ciocca has expertise in Movement Disorders and Functional Neurosurgery. His work primarily focuses on the care of patients with essential tremor, particularly those receiving advanced treatments such as deep brain stimulation and MR-guided focused ultrasound.
Dr Sarah Hough
Geriatrician at Chester Hospital.
Dr Hough has extensive experience as a geriatrician across North West hospitals.
Dr Laura Best
Consultant Neurologist
Dr Best has a specialist interest in Movement Disorders and advanced therapies in Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor. She works as part of the regional movement disorder team and is the regional lead for Deep Brain Stimulation in Northern Ireland
Dr Kiri West
Consultant geriatrician at Aintree Hospital, Liverpool Hospitals Group.
Dr West has a special interest in movement disorders, and is the site lead for Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders. She has a particular interest in medical education and is the local Royal College of Physicians College Tutor.
Dr Sion Jones
Consultant Geriatrician
Dr Hones is a specialist interest in movement Disorders based in Bangor, North West Wales since 2013.Dr Jones completed specialist training as part of North Wales Geriatric medicine rotation. Joint chair of North Wales Parkinson’s Excellence network. Recent Chair of the North Wales Disease Specific Advisory Group
Dr Clare Nwosu
General Practitioner in Liverpool
Susan Hourihan
Consultant Occupational Therapist at the National hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London.
Dr Uazman Alam
Reader and honorary consultant physician at the University of Liverpool.
Dr Sarah Nosib
TBC
Dr Michael Starkie
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Charity Partners: National Tremor Foundation
Prof. Leslie J Findley
Cofounder of the National Tremor Foundation
Professor Leslie Findley is the cofounder of the National Tremor Foundation, a UK organisation which provides help, support, and advice to people living with tremor.
Duncan Crossland
NTF Marketing Adviser
Duncan has over two decades of experience working in small and large charities. He has successfully delivered impactful marketing campaigns and high-performing websites. From personal experience with having essential tremor within his own family, he can empathise with the challenges it presents to individuals and those around them.
Jasbir Singh
General Manager for the National Tremor Foundation.
Kitty Reilly
Works for the National Tremor Foundation