Newcastle Senior Clinical Lecturer and Neurologist

My introduction to Duchenne muscular dystrophy came by chance but immediately felt like the right way to go. It satisfied my two interests: allowing me to help children and work on developing knowledge in a little-understood field. Translational research – taking something from the lab to the patients – was where I wanted to go. This is when the opportunity to work in Newcastle came, and I could not miss it! Newcastle was and is a leading centre for Duchenne research and care. An 18 month placement has quickly become a 10 year career.

Translational research in Duchenne is a long and difficult process. But this is exactly what I want to do – taking this journey with clinicians, physiotherapists, nurses, patients and families. It is a journey where the cure sometimes looks far off, but as our knowledge grows our horizons expand.

I could not do this without Duchenne Research Fund and other patient and family organisations, which have believed in our work and allowed me to continue this crucial role.