MedConnect North group members are based across the region.

Professor Sam Eldabe MB ChB, FRCA, FFPMRCA – MedConnect North Group Lead

I am an NHS consultant based at South Tees NHS Foundation Trust with 18 years’ experience. Throughout my career I have been an active user and researcher into the role of medical devices in improving patient care. My background in anaesthesia has given me a broad exposure to all classes of medical technologies from simple Class I devices to the more complex Class IIB. My work as a chronic pain treatment specialist has afforded me experience in research with various class III active implantable devices.

 Professor Amar Rangan ChM, FRCS (Tr&Orth)

I am a clinical academic and NHS consultant with over 15 years’ extensive clinical and research experience in trauma and orthopaedic surgery at South Tees NHS Foundation Trust. I have broad experience with use of surgical implants and devices for musculoskeletal conditions, including their clinical testing, evaluation and reporting of performance.

 Dr Will Innes DO, MRCP, MBBS, BSc

I am a consultant medical ophthalmologist for the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Having completed the medical ophthalmology training programme, he has dual training in general internal medicine and ophthalmology, with a focus on ophthalmic conditions relevant to systemic disease.

Dr Ashraf Azzabi MB, B.Ch, MD

I graduated in 1992 and have worked in oncology and cancer research for many years now. I am a Consultant medical oncologist based in the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and am actively involved in research. I am also the Clinical Industry Lead for NIHR Clinical Research Network North East and North Cumbria.

The group is managed by Claire Graham, Research Operations Manager for Medical Technology at NIHR Clinical Research Network North East and North Cumbria, supported by Angela Birt, Industry Operations Manager and Administrator Lynn Cowell also at NIHR Clinical Research Network North East and North Cumbria.