Meet the D&M Team

• Kathleen Gillespie
  Kathleen joined the D&M team in 1997 and has led Diabetes and Metabolism since November 2014, when she also became Chief Investigator of the Bart's Oxford (BOX) family study of type 1 diabetes. She is a molecular biologist interested in the mechanisms underlying autoimmunity.‌
• Rachel Aitken
  Rachel started in the D&M research group in 2000 specialising in the genetics of T1D. She is now the AWAF (Alistair Williams Antibody Facility) Quality Manager and Research Technician for the BOX Family Study.
• Kyla Chandler
  Kyla joined D&M in 2000 as a research technician focusing on the genetics of T1D before moving to the antibody laboratory. She has designed and built the laboratory databases and is now the AWAF Technical Manager.
• Maxwell Fyvie
  Maxwell is a MSc Research Student recently graduated from the University of York with a BSc in Biomedical Sciences. His studies in D&M are focused on novel biomarkers for T1D prediction and prevention.
• Sian Grace
  Sian joined D&M as an antibody laboratory technician in 2015. Sian began a PhD in 2019 on improving diagnosis of adult-onset T1D using islet autoantibodies. She is now a Post-doctoral Research Associate building on her PhD.
• Shanice Lewis
  Shanice, who joined the D&M group in 2022, has a clinical research and academic background. Her PhD project, the diversity of type 1 diabetes across Bristol (T1D-DAB) study, aims to analyze how age and ethnicity impact the genetic and autoimmune features of type 1 diabetes. Additionally, she has been examining whether the relatives with type 2 diabetes in the BOX have any autoimmune type 1 diabetes characteristics.
• Anna Long
  Anna joined D&M in 2006 as a research technician specialising in autoantibodies in T1D. She is now a Senior Research Associate and Lecturer funded through DUK as a RD Lawrence Fellow. Her current research focus is the development of autoimmunity before adult onset T1D using BOX and other studies.
• Olivia Pearce
  Olivia started in D&M in 2017 as a laboratory technician specialising in antibody testing. In 2019 Olivia began a technical role supporting Dr Anna Long on her fellowship where she was able to broaden her skillset. She is now the AWAF Laboratory Manager.
• Sarah Stollery
  Sarah graduated with BSc Biological Science at Cardiff University in July 2021 and joined D&M in November 2021 as an antibody research technician. She is also the AWAF leading technician for the AvonCAP study.
• Claire Williams
  Claire joined D&M in Sept 2014 as a research technician in the antibody laboratory and led the day-to-day running of the laboratory 2015-2017. Claire began a Diabetes UK PhD scholarship in Oct 2017 focused on an antibody biomarker (ZnT8A) in T1D and was awarded her PhD in Dec 2021. She is now a Diabetes UK funded post-doctoral Research Associate building upon her PhD work to investigate the relationship between ZnT8A and residual insulin secretion in T1D.
• Ilana Kelland
  Ilana joined the D&M lab team in 2017 and has worked within the University of Bristol as a technician in various fields for almost 10 years. Her current work as a Research Technician involves supporting the running and setting up of research studies within the group. This includes both practical lab work (including genetics and antibody testing) and study administration.
• Lilianna Bakinowska
  Lilianna joined D&M in 2016 as an undergraduate student on a placement. She studied exocrine pancreas biomarkers and genetic links to T1D. After graduating, she worked as a laboratory technician specialising in antibody research. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD and conducting further research on genetics and exocrine markers in the slow progression of T1D.
• Clare Megson
  Clare joined the BOX Study team as a part time Research Nurse in 2016 whilst working at University of Oxford NHS Foundation Trust. She recruits families to the BOX study collecting samples and data. She offers information and support to families where an individual is found to be at increased risk of developing T1D in the future.
• Georgina Mortimer
  Georgina started in D&M in 2014 as a research technician specialising in genetics and began a PhD in 2018 on Down Syndrome and autoimmunity ​(coordinated sample collection and analysis for the FADES Study). Her areas of expertise are genetics, antibodies, sample collection, and processing in cohorts.