Meet the MiTiGate central clinical team

  • Professor Justin Durham

    MiTiGate Chief Investigator, Academic Director Health Innovation Neighbourhood

    School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University

    Justin is a Professor of Orofacial Pain and Academic Director of the Health Innovation Neighbourhood at Newcastle University and an Honorary Consultant Oral Surgeon at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne’s Hospitals’ NHS Foundation Trust in the UK. 

    His primary research interests are in orofacial pain both at the first and second translational research gaps. He has wide experience in a variety of methodologies involved in health services research and has received international awards both for clinical and pedagogical research. He is currently the British Dental Association’s Chief Scientific Advisor.

  • Dr James Allison

    Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Fellow

    School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University

    James is a Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Fellow at Newcastle University and Honorary Clinical Fellow in Oral Surgery at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals.

    His research focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD), and he is co-leading the MRI sub-study looking at changes in the jaw joint during treatment for TMD, which is part of the MiTiGate Trial.

    James is part of the central trial team that handles any initial self-referrals or enquiries.

  • Dr Emma Victoria Beecroft

    Clinical Doctoral Fellow

    School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University

    Emma is a Clinical Doctoral Fellow at Newcastle University and Honorary Oral Surgery Specialty trainee at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals. Emma is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orofacial Pain and is currently working towards both oral surgery specialist training and a PhD focussed on dissecting the mechanisms for orofacial pain.

    Emma is associate PI and clinical lead for the MiTiGate trial and primary author of the NHS England Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) and Royal College of Surgeons’ Faculty of Dental Surgery Management of painful Temporomandibular disorder in adults’ UK national guideline available here: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/dental-faculties/fds/publications-guidelines/clinical-guidelines/. Her work aims to improve the quality, efficiency, and outcome of care for individuals living with TMD.

    Emma is part of the central trial team that handles any initial self-referrals or enquiries.

MiTiGate Co-Applicants

Co-Applicants involved in the development and support of the trial

Dr James Allison | Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Fellow | Newcastle University

Dr Vishal Aggarwal | Clinical Associate Professor in Acute Dental Care & Chronic Pain | University of Leeds

Dr Emma Beecroft | Clinical Doctoral Fellow | Newcastle University

Professor Andrew Blamire | Professor of Magnetic Resonance Physics | Newcastle University

Miss Chrissie Butcher | Senior Trial Manager | Newcastle University

Dr Charlotte Currie | NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow, PPIE co-lead | Newcastle University

Professor Catherine Exley | Professor of Qualitative Health Research | Newcastle University

Professor Anne-Marie Glenny | Professor of Health Sciences Research | The University of Manchester

Professor Helen Hancock | Director of Newcastle Clinical Trials Unit | Newcastle University

Dr Richard Holliday | Senior Lecturer/Honorary Consultant Restorative Dentistry | Newcastle University

Ms Tara Homer | Senior Research Associate in Health Economics | Newcastle University

Dr Alvin Karsandas | Consultant Radiologist | Newcastle Hospitals’ NHS Foundation Trust

Professor Zoe Marshman | Professor and Honorary Consultant in Dental Public Health | The University of Sheffield

Dr Donald Nixdorf | Clinical Professor of Orofacial Pain, Director for Division of TMD & Orofacial Pain | University of Minnesota, USA

Professor Laura Ternent | Professor of Health Economics | Newcastle University

Professor James Wason | NIHR Research Professor in Biostatistics | Newcastle University

Dr Nina Wilson | Senior Research Associate in Biostatistics, Senior statistician | Newcastle University

MiTiGate Central Trial Management Team

Miss Chrissie Butcher | Senior Trial Manager | Newcastle Clinical Trials Unit

Dr Karen Nicholson | Trial Manager | Newcastle Clinical Trials Unit

Mrs Gez Richell | Trial Manager | Newcastle Clinical Trials Unit

Dr Rebecca Summerly-Wafer | Data Manager | Newcastle Clinical Trials Unit

Mrs Leia Taylor | Clinical Trial Administrator | Newcastle Clinical Trials Unit