I am a Reader in Metabolic medicine and a consultant physician with specialism in Diabetes and Endocrinology. I treat patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. I have particular research interest in older adults with diabetes, Diabetic Kidney Disease ,epidemiology of type 2 diabetes and new therapies for type 2 diabetes. have been a Chief and Principal Investigator in a number of clinical trials. I have published over 80 peer reviewed articles in major medical journals. I have held many leadership roles in the NHS and also serve on the editorial board of three journals.

In 2010 I completed my degree in Human Biology at the University of Huddersfield and began my PhD at Aston focusing on medicines research. Here, formulation of oral liquid antihypertensives formed the initial stages of my project; here an understanding of drug action on a molecular level in a physiological setting was essential. In vitro and In vivo characterisation of developed formulations utilising cell and rodent based models paved the way for subsequent genomic investigations into intestinal transporter expression profiling using microarray technology and bioinformatics. Following my PhD I worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at Aston on a project focused on in vitro assessment of taste and was carried out in collaboration with market leading pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca, GSK, Pfizer and Bristol Myers Squib as well as UCL. During this time I also elevated my teaching profile and arrived at Aston University as a Lecturer in Pharmacy in 2015. Since my lectureship appointment I have been heavily involved with teaching on the MPharm degree programme and I am pursuing my own line of research in formulation design and development. I have recently been awarded funding internally for a PhD studentship investigating the application of 3D printing technology in tablet production which commenced in January 2018. More recent research tracks have seen innovation in the application of nanoparticle formulations to better target administration in hospital settings.

Duane Mellor is an award winning registered dietitian and science communicator (BDA Media Spokesperson of the Year 2021), who is the Aston Medical School lead for Nutrition and Evidence Based Medicine. Having a background in clinical dietetics supporting people living with diabetes he moved into medical education when joining Aston University. He is also the Associate Dean for Education (Quality Enhancement) in the College of Health and Life Sciences. where he works to support innovative teaching practice alongside engaging students as fellow professionals on the first steps of their careers. After initially working in the areas of clinical trials, Duane’s current research interests focus on improving nutrition and health by working with communities to celebrate their heritage through food and help tackle barriers resulting from societal inequalities. Alongside this Duane has a keen interest in science communication and developing scientifically accurate messages to help individuals make informed decisions about their own food choices and health. After initially working in the areas of clinical trials, Duane’s current research interests focus on improving nutrition and health by working with communities to celebrate their heritage through food and help tackle barriers resulting from societal inequalities. Alongside this Duane has a keen interest in science communication and developing scientifically accurate messages to help individuals make informed decisions about their own food choices and health. Duane is a regular contributor to the Science Media Centre and is a British Dietetic Association spokesperson having contributed to online, print, radio and television stories about food and nutrition. He is a member of the British Dietetic Association Healthier You magazine editorial board which aims to promote healthy food stories to the public as well as being an Associate Editor of the academic Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. He is a member of a number of scientific committees including British Nutrition Foundation.

A/Prof Whyte trained in medicine at King’s College Hospital, qualifying in 1998. During his postgraduate medical training he undertook a PhD at Guy’s & St. Thomas’ Hospital (University of London) examining the metabolic effects of insulin in critical illness. He then completed his specialist training (CCT) in Diabetes & Endocrinology and General Medicine in 2010. Martin combines his NHS Consultant work with that of Associate Professor of Metabolic Medicine at The University of Surrey.

A/Prof Collins has been a qualified nutritionist for over 25 years, completing his undergraduate degree in 1996 before going on to complete an MSc in Nutrition & Metabolism, and a PhD focusing on energy expenditure and body composition. His ongoing interests lie in obesity, exercise nutrition, body composition, and energy metabolism all as can be applied to weight loss/maintenance and metabolic health. Current research includes exercise intensity and energy balance, intermittent fasting, meal timing and composition. Specifically the use of carbohydrate manipulation for metabolic health.

Just to give you a bit of background, I’ve been in general practice for 20 years but have now transitioned to a role where I work as a Mental Health GP at a psychiatrist clinic in Sydney: https://mindsightclinic.com.au/mental-health-gps It’s a new model of care – I do mental health assessments and refer to psychiatrists at my clinic or manage as necessary. As a result I do plenty of Adult ADHD initial assessments. The psychiatrists see them once and prescribe psychostimulants if necessary and then the patients return to me for titration, support, skills coaching and therapy as required. I am undertaking a Masters of Psychotherapy in addition to my FPS training and so I use a lot of psychological strategies to support my ADHD patients with good results.

Professor Nicole Rinehart is a consulting clinical psychologist, Director of the Monash Krongold Clinic, Faculty of Education, Monash University, and international leader in neurodevelopmental conditions. Nicole has been at the forefront of research efforts to improve educational, mental and physical health outcomes for children and adolescents. Nicole founded the AFR award winning AllPlayTM platform est. 2014 taking a strengths-based approach to disability and turning this into tools and strategies that everyone can access to ‘make the world fit for all kids’ www.allplay.org. Nicole currently served on the Board of Directors at AMAZE from 2014-2023 and is an expert advisor to the Victorian Department of Education and Training. She has contributed to the NHMRC Clinical Practice Statement for ADHD and the revision of the Australian Therapeutic Guidelines for Developmental Disabilities. Her research is inspired by the families and children with neurodevelopmental conditions who she has worked with over the last 2 decades at the Melbourne Children’s Clinic.

Amelia is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Reproductive Health at Western Sydney University and completing her PhD in pelvic pain at the University of South Australia. Amelia’s research focuses on investigating the role of pain education and conservative management strategies for pelvic pain.

Jane Chalmers is a Senior Lecturer in Pain Sciences at the University of South Australia. Her research focuses on pelvic pain in women – what it is and how we can treat it. She leads the Pelvic Pain theme under the IIMPACT in Health research concentration at the University of South Australia.

Dr Luna Xu is an epidemiologist, currently working as Scientia Lecturer/Fellow at the School of Population Health, University of New South Wales. Luna is also an Honorary Fellow at The George Institute for Global Health and the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. Luna awarded Bachelor of Nursing degree in China and completed her Master of Clinical Nursing in the United Kingdom. Since 2013, she changed her career trajectory to epidemiology by completing her Masters and PhD in Public Health at the University of Newcastle, Australia. Luna’s research focuses on using large population-based health data to inform cardiovascular disease prevention and management. Luna has published over 70 publications, including in the Lancet, Lancet Neurology, and Advances in Nutrition and Clinical Nutrition. Luna has contributed to 2 book chapters and 6 government reports, including WHO and United Nations. Luna has delivered 46 national and international conference presentations, including invited presentations. Luna serves as an Executive Member of the Australian Association of Gerontology and Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand. She has editorial roles for Nutrients, Frontiers in Public Health, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, and Diabetology. Luna has reviewed competitive national and international grants, such as The National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia), Heart Foundation of Australia and Canadian Poultry Research Council. Luna also have reviewed over 100 articles in leading journals, such as The Lancet Public Health.

Dr Emi Khoo is a gastroenterologist and endoscopist who completed her Medical Degree (MBBS) at University of Queensland and Biomedical Science degree (BMedSc) at University of Melbourne. She then undertook her gastroenterology training at various locations, including Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Gold Coast University Hospital, followed by a fellowship in inflammatory bowel disease at Mater Hospital Brisbane. She is currently pursuing PhD in inflammatory bowel disease through University of Queensland. She is an active clinician and researcher. She is also a lecturer at Griffith University Medical School and an associated lecturer at the University of Queensland Medical School, where she is involved in medical student education and assessments. GROUP MEMBERSHIPS • Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) • Royal Australasian College of Physician (RACP) – Fellow • Conjoint Committee for Recognition in Training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (CCRTGE) • Gastroenterological Society of Queensland (GESQ) • Gastroenterology Society of Australia (GESA) • American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) • European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) • The International Bowel Ultrasound Group (IBUS) • The Gastroenterology Network of Intestinal Ultrasound (GENIUS) AREAS OF PARTICULAR CLINICAL INTEREST • Inflammatory bowel disease • General gastroenterology • Upper endoscopy • Colonoscopy • Video capsule endoscopy • Intestinal ultrasound