Meet our core team

Professor Alice Turner

Co-Director Midlands PSRC

Alice Turner

Alice is the co-director of the Midlands PSRC, based at the University of Birmingham. Alice is the Associate Medical Director for Quality and Safety at UHBFT, where she contributes to a range of safety work (leadership and expertise section and care bundles case study). Her research background (e.g. clinical trials, epidemiology) makes her an advocate for use of data to drive change, while her leadership experience in safety has equipped her with an understanding of why practice does not correspond to evidence.

Professor Richard Lilford

Co-Director Midlands PSRC

Professor Richard Lilford

Richard is the Co-Director of the Midlands PSRC, based at the University of Birmingham.
Richard has extensive experience in Patient Safety research. From 2001-2010, he led the successful UK Department of Health’s Patient Safety Research Programme (PSRP) which funded major studies such as the PINCER trial to reduce medication errors in primary care, use of simulation to reduce neo-natal birth injury, and studies of how the social and physical environment can threaten patient safety in the operating theatre and delivery room.

Jo Sartori

Senior Programme manager

Jo

Jo is an experienced programme manager with a specialty in research development and international stakeholder relations and engagement.

Sopna Choudhury

Programme manager

Sopna Choudhury

Sopna is a programme manager with extensive experience of working with different stakeholders in the NHS, health care settings, non-government and voluntary organisations, industry and Universities, as well as patient and community groups.

Professor Russell Mannion

Collaborator

russell-mannion2-230x230

Russell is an internationally-recognised social science expert in quality and safety who has carried out ground breaking work in speaking-up and board governance. He is experienced in translating evidence into practical recommendations for change. Russell also leads the University of Birmingham’s contribution to the Healthcare Improvement Studies (THIS) Institute, which aims to strengthen the evidence base for improving health care and create a world-leading asset for the NHS and for science.

Dr Soha Sobhy

Training and Professional Development Lead

Soha Sobhy

Soha has taken on the role of training and professional development lead for the Midlands PSRC in early 2025.

 

Dr Magdalena Skrybant

Patient and Public Involvement Lead

Dr Magdalena Skrybant

Magdalena is Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Lead for NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West Midlands (ARC WM) and our Midlands PSRC. Magdalena’s role ensures that there is meaningful involvement with patients and the public in applied health research.

Professor Yemisi Takwoingi

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead

Professor Yemisi Takwoingi

Yemisi is a biostatistician and Professor of Test Evaluation and Evidence Synthesis in the Institute of Applied Health Research at the University of Birmingham. She is also Deputy Director of the Institute. Yemisi is passionate about ‘People and Culture’ and leads on this for the Institute. She leads the new NIHR Race Equity and Diversity in Careers Incubator to support the careers of racially minoritised health and care researchers, a priority area for the NIHR and many funders in the UK.

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