Meet the PD-Care team

The study involved a collaboration between two UCL departments: Centre for Ageing Population Studies (CAPS) in the UCL Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health (PCPH) which is part of the Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care and Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences which is part of the Institute of Neurology (ION)

Professor Anette Schrag, Chief Investigator

Professor Schrag is a Professor of Clinical Neuroscience and Consultant Neurologist at University College London (UCL). Research has focussed on Parkinson’s disease, including diagnosis and clinical outcomes, clinical management of patients, including the psychiatric, cognitive and other non-motor aspects of Parkinson’s disease and clinical trials for better treatments of PD.

For further information please see IRIS profile 

Professor Kate Walters, Chief Investigator

Professor Walters is Professor of Primary Care & Epidemiology and the Director of the Centre for Ageing Population Studies at UCL. Her research interests include developing and testing new approaches to improving the healthcare for people with complex health needs, including Parkinson’s Disease, dementia and frailty. 

For further information please see IRIS profile

Dr Kumud Kantilal, Programme Manager

Dr Kantilal is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Ageing Population Studies and Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health, UCL. She is a registered pharmacist and her current research interests include medicines optimisation and developing services to improve health and quality of life in older people with complex health needs, such as Parkinson’s Disease, cancer and multiple long-term conditions.

For further information please see IRIS profile.

Dr. Ruth Plackett, Trial Manager

Dr Ruth Plackett is a Senior Research fellow in the Department of Primary Care and Population Health at UCL. Ruth is a Psychologist by background and recently joined the PD-Care team to support project management. Her research interests are in social media and young people’s mental health, mixed-methods research, and evaluations of digital interventions. 

Tasmin Rookes, Deputy Trial Manager

Tasmin is interested in health psychology and neurocognitive disorders. She has worked on a variety of behaviour change clinical trials, promoting the self-management of long-term conditions, including cancer survivorship, stroke, asthma, and COPD. She has joined the PD-Care team following the completion of her MSc in Clinical Trials, from UCL.

Alice Pritchard, Clinical Trials and Research Administrator

Alice provides administrative support and collaborates with the PD-Care team. She also serves as Research Administrator for the Centre for Aging Population Studies (CAPS) and the e-Health Unit within UCL’s Primary Care and Population Health department. With extensive experience in research administration and coordination, Alice is passionate about advancing impactful research in primary care and population health.

Dr. Sarah Al-Bachari, Research Fellow

Sarah is a neurologist with over 14 years of experience working in research. Her area of interest is Parkinson's disease, particularly research that helps improve self-management among people with Parkinson's. Her main research area focuses on examining what causes Parkinson's disease and the role the blood vessels might play. 

Alice Burnand, Research Assistant

Alice is a PhD Student in the Centre for Ageing and Population Studies (CAPS) at UCL researching delirium-superimposed on dementia.  She has a background in neuroscience and psychology and has worked on numerous projects focusing on improving the quality of life of older people with neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s and Dementia. Alice is particularly interested in public involvement in research, with the aim of bridging gaps in healthcare delivery and improving patient outcomes within the community.

Janice Tsang, Research Assistant

Janice has a background in Health Psychology. Before joining the PD-Care team she completed an MSc in Health Psychology at King’s College London and worked on research projects focussing on stroke, asthma, and chronic pelvic pain. Her research interests include understanding the experiences of individuals with long-term conditions, supporting health behaviour change, and enhancing overall well-being.

Co-Investigators

Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Catherine Atkinson 

King's College London:
Professor Richard Brown   
Professor Jill Manthorpe  

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation  Trust                  
Professor Kallol Ray Chaudhuri

The University of Surrey               
Dr Benjamin Gardner

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Mrs Rachel Leuw
Mrs Beverley Maydon 

Queen Mary University London 
Professor Nathan Davies

University College London 
Dr Patricia Schartau
Dr Gareth Ambler                                                                                                                                                     
Professor Richard Brown 

Professor Elizabeth Murray  
Professor Rachael Hunter 
Dr Daniel Davis

Past Team Members

Research Fellows

• Dr. Jennifer Pigott 
• Dr. Danielle Nimmons 
• Nicky Kime 
• Megan Armstrong 

Live Well Supporters

• Kavita Bains
• Alice Burnand 
• Elizabeth Chesterman 

Research Assistants

• Isolt Reardon
• Elena Profyri 
• Pippa Boering 
• Tomos Lloyd-Roberts 
• Ruth Illingworth 

Co-ordinators / Administrators

• Chanel Francois
• Bhavya Gupta 
• Joy Read

Research Implementation Manager

• Zuhur Balayah