Charlotte’s mother Alex is using her infinite grief at the loss of Charlotte in two positive ways: to try and make sure that no other person suffers in the same way as their family, and to keep Charlotte’s legacy alive. Alex works in a large secondary school as an Assessment and Wellbeing Manager.
Alex is the bereavement coordinator within the school. Since starting her role as bereavement coordinator, Alex has supported over 70 students.
Charlotte’s brother Miles is adamant that Charlotte will never become ‘just another statistic’, and is determined to ensure that glioblastoma becomes ‘just another cancer’ rather than the death sentence it currently is.
Miles holds a first-class BA honours degree in Philosophy and History from the University of Southampton, an MPhil degree in History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine from the University of Cambridge and a PGCE in Secondary School History from University of Sussex. He works full time as a History teacher.
Ailbhe Curran has been the charity treasurer for five years and is a qualified accountant. She has worked in a variety of roles over the years in the private sector, public sector and the charity sector. At present she works in a data integrity role for a London based investment bank.
Charlotte’s BAG has truly unique, and very privileged, access to the world’s top neuro specialists, based at King’s College Hospital London. The globally-renowned specialists featured here on our website have all either been involved with Charlotte’s treatment or have agreed to come on board with us because they believe that, together, we can make a difference in the diagnosis, treatment and eventually cure for glioblastoma. We thank them so much for their support.
Ash is a consultant neurosurgeon and professor of neurosurgery, with a particular interest in neuro-oncology and functional neurosurgery. He is the lead for neuro-oncology, the chair for the neuroscience commercial clinical trial unit and the co-chair for the neuroscience research delivery unit at King’s College Hospital, where he was appointed as a consultant in 2006.
Ash is actively involved in research, especially in developing novel treatments for brain tumours and for Parkinson’s disease. He was the European Chief Investigator for a major phase 3 trial of immunotherapy for glioblastomas. He is the UK lead for the Genomics England’s 100,000 Genomes project for brain tumours. Ash has published over 650 peer reviewed papers, abstracts and book chapters and is a reviewer for several journals and grant awarding bodies. He is actively involved in training both undergraduate and postgraduate clinical and research students. He co-chairs the UK training course to teach fluorescent directed surgery for gliomas. He is a regular speaker in national and international neurosurgical scientific meetings, and before joining KCH was a Senior Lecturer in Neurosurgery and Honorary Consultant Neurosurgeon at the Institute of Neurology and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery for 2 years.
Bas performed Charlotte’s spinal biopsy with Chris in August 2013. Following his medical studies at King’s College London, he completed his neurosurgical training rotating between King’s College Hospital, St George’s and the Hurstwood Park Neurosciences Centre, followed by a paediatric neurosurgical fellowship at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. He is currently a Consultant Paediatric and Adult Neurosurgeon at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – one of the busiest in the country and at the forefront of neurosurgical innovation.
Bas’ interests include the management of brain and spine tumours (including pineal, thalamic and brainstem tumours), hydrocephalus, endoscopy and minimally invasive neurosurgery, the management of Chiari malformations and syringomyelia, neural tube defects (including foetoscopic repair of spina bifida/myelomeningocoele) and the tethered cord, the neurosurgical management of paediatric neurovascular conditions (haemorrhages) as well as the treatment of the degenerative spine (slipped discs and trapped nerves).
Ranj qualified Victor Ludorum with the Medical School Gold Medal and Honours. After his general surgical training (FRCS England), his specialist training in neurosurgery was completed on the West Midlands neurosurgical rotation and he was awarded the Norman Dott Gold Medal in Neurosurgery on completion of his training as the highest-ranked neurosurgical trainee in the United Kingdom.
Following this, Ranj spent one year studying both the medical and surgical treatment of brain tumours as well as undertaking research at one of Europe’s leading cancer institutes – The Institute Gustauve Roussy, Paris, France.
In addition to his expertise in all areas of cranial and spinal neurosurgery, he has specialist expertise in the management of Brain and Spinal Tumours. This includes the latest minimally invasive techniques for brain tumour removal, including BrainPath (he was the first surgeon to use the technique outside of the USA) and Visulase. He is one of the few neurosurgeons in the UK trained in both GammaKnife and CyberKnife radiosurgery.
He is currently the Clinical Director of Neuroscience at King’s College London and The London Clinic and the Neurosurgeon to the European School of Oncology and The European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology.
Safa is the Head of Department of Clinical Neuropathology at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Director of the Brain Bank and co-director of Brain for Dementia Research.
Safa has established a comprehensive neuropathology service for various needs such as diagnosis of brain biopsies, brain tumour, and pituitary lesions in addition to full examination of autopsy brains including those for medico-legal purposes. Safa’s role as a national expert on forensic neuropathology will be invaluable to the research work that Charlotte’s BAG is funding.
Anil has spent the past 15 years establishing KCH as a centre of excellence for paediatric liver disease, while at the same time being responsible for fundraising and setting up the Mowatt Laboratories.
Barnaby is a Consultant Clinical Scientist and the Director of the Molecular Neuropathology Laboratory based at King’s College Hospital (KCH). The laboratory is part of Synnovis, which is a public private partnership between KCH and Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital (GSTT) and Synlab. Synlab is an international private pathology provider which is investing in UK pathology and supporting NHS England patient testing. Barnaby’s role is to oversee the molecular diagnostic service while evaluating new technology and introducing it into service. This needs to be done in coordination with the clinical and surgical teams. He needs to ensure all recommendations from NHS England are met and introduced into service following quality assured processes. The lab team has expanded to
13 individuals and is planned to expand further to accommodate the increased demand in testing
Barnaby completed a PhD at Imperial College in 2001 and started his career in Molecular Diagnostics in 2002, becoming HCPC state registered in 2007. Since becoming Director of the Molecular Neuropathology laboratory the team has introduced Whole Genome Methylation array, a 300 gene DNA panel, a 76 gene Fusion panel and a purpose built software system to support integrated reporting of genomics with histological findings. The lab has also implemented whole genome sequencing (WGS) in collaboration with Genomics England for paediatric and adult patients with brain tumours and plans to offer this service for patients with pituitary tumours soon. In early 2024 the laboratory became UKAS accredited for all tests performed under the latest 2022 ISO15189 standard.
Developments are ongoing and with Charlotte’s BAGs support the laboratory wishes to start investigating the use of Oxford Nanopore Technology WGS to look at ultra-rapid brain tumour classification. In theory, tumours could be tested and classified while the patient is still under anaesthetic and the results used to guide surgery which could lead to improve surgical outcomes.
However, we are a long way from this goal but it is a good aspiration to have. The laboratory is also part of an NHS England’s network of excellence, looking to analyse cell free DNA, which is found within the fluid surrounding the brain. This programme of work has only just begun but will hopefully lead to a new era of genomic testing which is less invasive and therefore safer for patients.
Best-selling Brighton-based crime writer Elly Griffiths has become a patron of Charlotte’s BAG.
Elly is a friend of Charlotte’s mother Alex, and also knew Charlotte. She says: “I really admire the work Alex has done with Charlotte’s BAG, and her courage in carrying on after Charlotte’s passing. I’m delighted to add my name to the work the charity is doing, and hope that I can help raise awareness even further.”
Alex says: “Elly is our first official patron, and we’re so pleased she has agreed to join us, especially because she knew Charlotte. Thank you Elly!”
Elly Griffiths is the creator of the characters forensic archaeologist Dr Ruth Galloway and the 1950’s Brighton detective Edgar Stephens and magician Max Mephisto. Her books frequently top the best-seller lists, and she has won numerous awards including the prestigious CWA Dagger in the Library and Edgar award for best novel.
www.ellygriffiths.co.uk
Matthew Wright is one of this country’s best known journalists and broadcasters now hosting Weekend Breakfast on LBC. A regular on TV’s This Morning, Matthew hosted his own show Channel 5’s The Wright Stuff for 18 years during which time he interviewed everyone from reality stars to Prime Ministers as well as eating all manner of nasties in the I’m A Celebrity Jungle. A keen fly-fisher and vintage motorcycle enthusiast, Matthew occasionally gets on stage and sings with legendary space rock band Hawkwind.
Charlotte appeared twice on The Wright Stuff. She and Matthew remained good friends thereafter.