Staff profiles

Biography

I have research expertise in the design, development and conduct of clinical trials.

My background in the NHS and my active research and academic roles, mean I am familiar with the landscape and strategic imperatives within which the NIHR and NHS operate.

I offer academic and strategic leadership of Newcastle Clinical Trials Unit (NCTU) and NIHR Research Support Service Hub delivered by Newcastle University and Partners .

Director, Newcastle Clinical Trials Unit (NCTU)

I hold responsibility for the academic, financial, administrative and business management of NCTU.

NCTU is focused on excellence in the design, development and conduct of clinical trials to improve patient outcomes .The Unit provides the infrastructure to support clinical trials and studies to be conducted to the standards required by regulators and in accordance with best practice and guidance.

https://www.ncl.ac.uk/nctu/

Email: nctu-enquiries@newcastle.ac.uk

Director, NIHR Research Support Service Hub delivered by Newcastle University and Partners

The Research Support Service provides advice and input into application for national peer-reviewed funding for translational, clinical and applied health, public health, and social care research. It can also support applications for fellowships and other personal awards.

Research Support Service Hub delivered by Newcastle University and Partners | NIHR

Email: nihr-rss@newcastle.ac.uk

• Articles

  • Holliday R, Wilson N, Ryan V, Butcher C, Homer T, Watts P, Kareithi D, Blaylock P, Ternent L, Finch R, Bissett S, Todd A, Hancock H, Ellwood F, Conway D, Jakubovics N, Kist R, Holmes R, Bauld L, Preshaw P. Protocol for a pragmatic, 3-arm, randomised controlled trial comparing the impact of enhanced smoking cessation interventions to very brief advice for adult smokers in dental care settings. Trials 2025, 26, 261.
  • Mossop H, Walmsley Z, Wilson N, Agbeleye O, Bardgett M, Bevin-Nicholls A, Breckons M, Cole M, Craig D, Dimairo M, Hancock H, Law M, Lopes A, Noor NM, Oparah C, Pallmann P, Phillipson J, Robertson DS, Teare MD, Thomson KH, Yap C, Wason JMS. Practical guidance for conducting high-quality and rapid interim analyses in adaptive clinical trials. BMC Medicine 2025, 23, 528.
  • Akowuah EF, Maier RH, Hancock HC, Wagnild J, Vale L, Fernandez-Garcia C, Kharati E, Ogundimu E, Mathias A, Walmsley Z, Howe N, Graham R, Ainsworth K, Zacharias J. Minimally invasive thoracoscopically-guided right minithoracotomy versus conventional sternotomy for mitral valve repair: the UK Mini Mitral multicentre RCT. Health Technology Assessment 2025, 29(55), 1-121.
  • Witham MD, McDonald C, Wilson N, Rennie KJ, Bardgett M, Bradley P, Clegg AP, Connolly S, Hancock H, Hiu S, Nicholson K, Robertson L, Simms L, Steel AJ, Steves CJ, Storey B, Wason J, von Zglinicki T, Sayer AA. Metformin and physical performance in older people with probable sarcopenia and physical prefrailty or frailty in England (MET-PREVENT): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet Healthy Longevity 2025, 6(3), 100695.
  • Witham MD, McDonald C, Wilson N, Rennie KJ, Bardgett M, Bradley P, Clegg AP, Connolly S, Hancock H, Hiu S, Nicholson K, Robertson L, Simms L, Steel AJ, Steves CJ, Storey B, Wason J, von Zglinicki T, Sayer AA. Metformin and physical performance in older people with probable sarcopenia and physical prefrailty or frailty in England (MET-PREVENT): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet Healthy Longevity 2025, 6(3), 100695.
  • Mossop H, Al Ashmori S, Sotire T, Clark E, Watson G, Witham M, Vale L, McGregor N, Phillipson J, Wason JM, Yarnall AJ, Hancock H, Kenny RA, Frith J. Control, Fludrocortisone or Midodrine for the treatment of Orthostatic Hypotension: CONFORM-OH pilot RCT and economic evaluation. Health Technology Assessment 2025, 29(54), 1-21.
  • Mossop H, Al-Ashmori S, Sotire T, Clark E, Watson G, Witham MD, Vale L, McGregor N, Phillipson J, Wason JMS, Yarnall AJ, Parry S, Hancock H, Kenny RA, Frith J. Control, Fludrocortisone or Midodrine for the treatment of Orthostatic Hypotension (CONFORM-OH): results from an internal pilot randomised controlled trial. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 2025, 11(1), 118.
  • Austin D, Maier RH, Akhter N, Sayari M, Ogundimu E, Maddox JM, Vahabi S, Humphreys AC, Graham J, Oxenham H, Haney S, Cresti N, Verrill M, Osborne W, Wright KL, Goranova R, Bailey JR, Kalakonda N, Macheta M, Kilner MF, Young ME, Morley NJ, Neelakantan P, Gilbert G, Thomas BK, Graham RJ, Fujisawa T, Mills NL, Hildreth V, Prichard J, Kasim AS, Hancock HC, Plummer C. Preventing Cardiac Damage in Patients Treated for Breast Cancer and Lymphoma: The PROACT Clinical Trial. JACC: CardioOncology 2024, 6(5), 684–696.
  • Fisher AJ, Carby M, Thompson R, Parmar J, Alaloul M, Santhanakrishnan K, Hancock H, Wason J, Grayling M, Hasenfuss J, Lally J, Gennery A, Exley C, Lordan J, Bradley P, Flinn A, Bardgett M, White M, Goudie N, Phillipson J, Kershaw A, Smith H, Russell S, Vale L, Chadwick T, Bryant A, Bevin-Nicholls A, Frisby L, Johnson R. Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP) in the Treatment of Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (CLAD): a prospective, multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial studying the addition of ECP to standard care in the treatment of bilateral lung transplant patients with CLAD (E-CLAD UK). BMJ Open Respiratory Research 2024, 11(1), e001995.
  • Wyatt NJ, Watson H, Anderson CA, Kennedy NA, Raine T, Ahmad T, Allerton D, Bardgett M, Clark E, Clewes D, Martin CC, Doona M, Doyle JA, Frith K, Hancock H, Hart A, Hildreth V, Irving PM, Iqbal S, Kennedy C, King A, Lawrence S, Lees CW, Lees R, Letchford L, Liddle T, Lindsay JO, Maier RH, Mansfield JC, Marchesi JR, McGregor N, McIntyre RE, Ostermayer J, Osunnuyi T, Powell N, Prescott NJ, Satsangi J, Sharma S, Shrestha T, Speight A, Strickland M, Wason JMS, Whelan K, Wood R, Young GR, Zhang X, Parkes M, Stewart CJ, Jostins-Dean L, Lamb CA. Defining predictors of responsiveness to advanced therapies in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis: Protocol for the IBD-RESPONSE and nested CD-metaRESPONSE prospective, multicentre, observational cohort study in precision medicine. BMJ Open 2024, 14(4).
  • Gravestock P, Clark E, Morton M, Sharma S, Fisher H, Walker J, Wood R, Hancock H, Waugh N, Cooper A, Maier R, Marshall J, Chandler R, Bahl A, Crabb S, Jain S, Pedley I, Jones R, Staffurth J, Heer R. Using the AR-V7 biomarker to determine treatment in metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer, a feasibility randomised control trial, conclusions from the VARIANT trial. NIHR Open Research 2023, 2, 49.
  • Akowuah E, Mathias A, Bardgett M, Harrison S, Kasim AS, Loughran K, Ogundimu E, Trevis J, Wagnild J, Witharana P, Hancock HC, Maier RH. Prehabilitation in elective patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a randomised control trial (THE PrEPS TRIAL) - a study protocol. BMJ Open 2023, 13(1), e065992.
  • Akowuah EF, Maier RH, Hancock HC, Kharatikoopaei E, Vale L, Fernandez-Garcia C, Ogundimu E, Wagnild J, Mathias A, Walmsley Z, Howe N, Kasim A, Graham R, Murphy GJ, Zacharias J. Minithoracotomy vs Conventional Sternotomy for Mitral Valve Repair: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2023, 329(22), 1957-1966.
  • Harrison SL, Loughran KJ, Trevis J, Witharana P, Maier R, Hancock H, Bardgett M, Mathias A, Akowuah EF. Experiences of patients enrolled and staff involved in the prehabilitation of elective patients undergoing cardiac surgery trial: a nested qualitative study. Anaesthesia 2023, 78(10), 1215-1224.
  • Bawamia B, Spray L, Wangsaputra VK, Bennaceur K, Vahabi S, Stellos K, Kharatikoopaei E, Ogundimu E, Gale CP, Keavney B, Maier R, Hancock H, Richardson GD, Austin D, Spyridopoulos I. Activation of telomerase by TA-65 enhances immunity and reduces inflammation post myocardial infarction Randomized Pilot Trial. GeroScience 2023, 45, 2689-2705.
  • Akowuah EF, Wagnild JM, Bardgett M, Prichard JG, Mathias A, Harrison SL, Ogundimu EO, Hancock HC, Maier RH, Wilkinson C, Kasim A, Witharana P, Trevis J, Neave C, Sarginson L, Honeyman B, Walker Y, Lewis S, Holden A, Ainsworth K, Wanless F, Hauxwell T, Metson L. A randomised controlled trial of prehabilitation in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Anaesthesia 2023, 78(9), 1120-1128.
  • Wason JMS, Dimairo M, Biggs K, Bowden S, Brown J, Flight L, Hall J, Jaki T, Lowe R, Pallmann P, Pilling MA, Snowdon C, Sydes MR, Villar SS, Weir CJ, Wilson N, Yap C, Hancock H, Maier R. Practical guidance for planning resources required to support publicly-funded adaptive clinical trials. BMC Medicine 2022, 20(1), 254.
  • Rennie KJ, Witham M, Bradley P, Clegg A, Connolly S, Hancock HC, Hiu S, Marsay L, McDonald C, Robertson L, Simms L, Steel AJ, Steves CJ, Storey B, Wason J, Wilson N, von Zglinicki T, Sayer AAP. MET-PREVENT: metformin to improve physical performance in older people with sarcopenia and physical prefrailty/frailty - protocol for a double-blind, randomised controlled proof-of-concept trial. BMJ Open 2022, 12(7), e061823.
  • Hancock HC, Maier RH, Kasim A, Mason J, Murphy G, Goodwin A, Owens WA, Akowuah E. Mini-sternotomy versus conventional sternotomy for aortic valve replacement: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2021, 11(1), e041398.
  • Maier RH, Kasim AS, Zacharias J, Vale L, Graham R, Walker A, Laskawski G, Deshpande R, Goodwin A, Kendall S, Murphy GJ, Zamvar V, Pessotto R, Lloyd C, Dalrymple-Hay M, Casula R, Vohra HA, Ciulli F, Caputo M, Stoica S, Baghai M, Niranjan G, Punjabi PP, Wendler O, Marsay L, Fernandez-Garcia C, Modi P, Kirmani BH, Pullan MD, Muir AD, Pousios D, Hancock HC, Akowuah E. Minimally invasive versus conventional sternotomy for Mitral valve repair: Protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial (UK Mini Mitral). BMJ Open 2021, 11(4), e047676.
  • Bayliss CD, Maier RH, Kasim A, Hancock H, Akowuah E. Does Blood Transfusion Have an Effect on Outcomes After Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery?. Heart, Lung and Circulation 2021, 30(6), 909-916.
  • Wilson N, Biggs K, Bowden S, Brown J, Dimairo M, Flight L, Hall J, Hockaday A, Jaki T, Lowe R, Murphy C, Pallmann P, Pilling MA, Snowdon C, Sydes MR, Villar SS, Weir CJ, Welburn J, Yap C, Maier R, Hancock H, Wason JMS. Costs and staffing resource requirements for adaptive clinical trials: quantitative and qualitative results from the Costing Adaptive Trials project. BMC Medicine 2021, 19(1), 251.
  • Maier R, Bawamia B, Bennaceur K, Dunn S, Marsay L, Amoah R, Kasim A, Filby A, Austin D, Hancock H, Spyridopoulos I. Telomerase activation to reverse immunosenescence in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome: Protocol for a randomized pilot trial. JMIR Research Protocols 2020, 9(9), e19456.
  • Clark E, Morton M, Sharma S, Fisher H, Howel D, Walker J, Wood R, Hancock H, Maier R, Marshall J, Bahl A, Crabb S, Jain S, Pedley I, Jones R, Staffurth J, Heer R. Prostate cancer androgen receptor splice variant 7 biomarker study - A multicentre randomised feasibility trial of biomarker-guided personalised treatment in patients with advanced prostate cancer (the VARIANT trial) study protocol. BMJ Open 2019, 9(12), e034708.
  • Stocker R, Close H, Hancock H, Hungin APS. Should heart failure be regarded as a terminal illness requiring palliative care? A study of heart failure patients’, carers’ and clinicians’ understanding of heart failure prognosis and its management. BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care 2017, 7(4), 464-469.
  • Cox J, Hancock H, Maier R, Spratt J, Lee CM, Bhatti A, Mason J. Multidetector CT improving surgical outcomes in breast cancer (MISO-BC): A randomised controlled trial. Breast 2017, 32, 217-224.
  • Akowuah E, Goodwin AT, Owens WA, Hancock HC, Maier R, Kasim A, Mellor A, Khan K, Murphy G, Mason J. Manubrium-limited ministernotomy versus conventional sternotomy for aortic valve replacement (MAVRIC): Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials 2017, 18(1), 46.
  • Rees CJ, Rajasekhar PT, Wilson A, Close H, Rutter MD, Saunders BP, East JE, Maier R, Moorghen M, Muhammad U, Hancock H, Jayaprakash A, MacDonald C, Ramadas A, Dhar A, Mason JM. Narrow band imaging optical diagnosis of small colorectal polyps in routine clinical practice: The Detect Inspect Characterise Resect and Discard 2 (DISCARD 2) study. Gut 2016, 66(5), 887-895.
  • Akowuah E, Hancock H, Maier R, Kasim A, Zacharias J, Deshpande R, Birdi I, Vale L, Livesey S, Stewart M, Murphy G. Minimally invasive thoracoscopically-guided right minithoracotomy versus conventional sternotomy for mitral valve repair: a multicentre randomised controlled trial (UK Mini Mitral). NIHR Research Project 2016.
  • Fuat A, Hancock HC. Co-ordinated care is kay to accurate diagnosis and effective management of HF. British Journal of Cardiac Nursing 2014, 9(7).
  • Dhar A, Close H, Hancock H, Maier R, Wilson D, Mason JM, Vishwanath YKS, Rees C, Dwarakanath D. Biodegradable stent or ballon dilatation for benign oesophageal stricture: Pilot randomised controlled trial. World Journal of Gastroenterology 2014, 20(48), 18199-18206.
  • Hancock HC, Close H, Fuat A, Murphy JJ, Hungin APS, Mason JM. Barriers to accurate diagnosis and effective management of heart failure have not changed in the past 10 years: A qualitative study and national survey. BMJ Open 2014, 4(3), e003866.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Spyridopoulos I, Bawamia B, Spray L, Wangsaputra V, Stellos K, Bennaceur K, Kharatikoopaei E, Ogundimu E, Gale CP, Keavney B, Maier R, Hancock H, Richardson G, Austin D. Activation of mitochondrial telomerase reverses relative lymphopenia post myocardial infarction: results from the randomised, double-blinded TACTIC phase IIa pilot trial. In: ESC Congress 2022. 2022, Barcelona, Spain: Oxford University Press.
  • Akowuah E, Goodwin AT, Owens WA, Hancock HC, Maier R, Kasim A, Mellor A, Khan K, Murphy G, Mason J. Manubrium-limited ministernotomy versus conventional sternotomy for aortic valve replacement: A randomised controlled trial (MAVRIC). In: Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery Annual Meeting & Cardiothoracic Forum. 2017, Belfast, Ireland: SCTS.
  • Cox J, Hancock H, Spratt J, Close H, May C, Mohammed U, Mason J. Multidectector CT improving surgical; outcomes in patients with breast cancer: A randomised controlled trial. In: UK Radiological Congress. 2015, Liverpool, UK.
  • Cox J, Hancock H, Spratt J, Close H, Lee CM, Mohammed U, Mason J. Multidetector CT Improving Surgical Outcomes in Breast Cancer (MISO BC). In: British Society of Breast Radiology Annual Scientific Meeting 2014. 2014, Brighton, UK: BioMed Central Ltd.

• Letter

  • Hancock HC, Maier R, Kasim AS, Mason JM, Murphy GJ, Goodwin A, Owens WA, Kirmani B, Akowuah EF. Mini-sternotomy versus conventional sternotomy for aortic valve replacement: results from the MAVRIC randomised controlled trial. Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) 2019, 73(19), 2487-2492.

• Reviews

  • Wagnild JM, Akowuah E, Maier RH, Hancock HC, Kasim A. Impact of prehabilitation on objectively measured physical activity levels in elective surgery patients: A systematic review. BMJ Open 2021, 11(9), e049202.
  • Siriwardena AK, Mason JM, Mullamitha S, Hancock HC, Jegatheeswaran S. Management of colorectal cancer presenting with synchronous liver metastases. Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology 2014, 11(8), 446-459.