Editor Profiles

Editor in Chief 

Philip J Steer, BSc MD FRCOG

Special interests: Obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine

Phil Steer is currently Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK and consultant obstetrician at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in West London. His research interests are in the (patho)physiology of pregnancy and labour, and so far 17 of his research fellows have been awarded higher degrees. His clinical interests are in high risk pregnancy, maternal heart disease, and recurrent mid-trimester loss. He has been President of the British Association of Perinatal Medicine, and has recently been convenor of meetings for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (he organised the scientific programme of the 2007 British International Congress of O&G). He is a member of the Society of Authors and has published 101 original papers, 52 reviews and editorials and 51 book chapters; and co-edited three major books (High Risk Pregnancy- Management Options is now in its third edition).

For Philip Steer's disclosure of interests click here.

Deputy Editor in Chief
 

Mike Marsh, MD MRCOG

Special interests: Obstetrics (diabetes, neurology, psychiatric disease, maternal medicine), menopause, osteoporosis, gynaecological neuroendocrinology

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at King's College Hospital, London, UK. Honorary Senior Lecturer, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine, London, UK. Honorary Senior Lecturer, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK

Clinical and research interests in high risk pregnancy, psychiatric disease in pregnancy, neurological disease in pregnancy, diabetes in pregnancy, gynaecological endocrinology, osteoporosis and the menopause. Other responsibilities and publications in the field of medical ethics, and undergraduate and postgraduate education, training and examination.

Recent books: HRT and Cardiovascular Disease 1996, An Atlas of Osteoporosis 2000, Protocols in Labour 2002, Current issues in HRT 2002, Psychiatric disease and pregnancy 2006.

For Mike Marsh's disclosure of interests click here.

BJOG Editorial Office

Emily Jesper, BSc (Managing Editor)

Emily Jesper graduated from University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), UK with a first class degree in Biological Science (BSc Hons), in 2002. After graduating she began her career at Thomson Scientific (previously Derwent Information) as a Biological Patent Analyst, writing and editing for the Derwent World Drug Alerts database and The Database of all Pharmaceutical Inventions (DOLPHIN). In 2005 she joined the Novartis Foundation (a scientific and educational charity promoting excellence in science) as Assistant Editor of their symposium series. In November 2006 she began in her current role as BJOG Managing Editor.

Contact to give your feedback regarding the print or online journal and the BJOG Podcasts and Videos:ejesper@rcog.org.uk

Dave Atha (Editorial Assistant, Editorial Office)

Dave Atha worked as the U.S. Office Editorial Manager for the Journal of Human Molecular Genetics before moving on to work for BJOG in January 2007.

Scientific Editors

Hesham Al-Inany, MD PhD

Special interests: Reproductive medicine, evidence based medicine

Hesham Al-Inany is an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Cairo University, Egypt and an IVF Consultant at the Egyptian IVF-ET Center. He graduated from the faculty of Medicine, Cairo University in 1990. Hesham Al-Inany obtained his Doctorate degree from Cairo University in 1998 and his PhD from Amsterdam University, Netherlands in 2006. He is an Editor for the Cochrane Menstrual Disorder Subfertility and Gynecologic Obstetrics Investigation journal, in addition to BJOG. He is an author on 56 papers in international journals and 43 papers in national and regional journals. Hesham Al-Inany was one of the founders of the Arab Federation of Evidence Based Medicine.

For Hesham Al-Inany's disclosure of interests click here.

Adam Balen, MB BS MD FRCOG

Special interests: Reproductive medicine, endocrinology and paediatric/adolescent gynaecology

Adam Balen is Professor of Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, UK. For many years Adam Balen has had a particular interest in the causes and management of polycystic ovary syndrome – covering the full spectrum from the effects of the syndrome during adolescence and adult life on the menstrual cycle, fertility, body weight and cosmetic aspects together with the fundamental effects that PCOS may have on quality of life and long term health. Adam Balen was awarded personal (honorary) chair, University of Leeds, 2004.

Clinical work includes laparoscopic surgery, reproductive endocrinology and ovulation induction and a supra-regional multidisciplinary service for the management of intersex and developmental disorders. The Leeds Reproductive Medicine Unit performs approximately 1100 IVF cycles per year.

Author of 7 books, 105 chapters in other books, around 100 papers and 66 reviews and commentaries. Books include: Infertility in Practice (2nd edition 2003), Reproductive Endocrinology for the MRCOG and Beyond (2003), The Multi-Disciplinary approach to Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology (2004) and The Practical Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (2005).

For Adam Balen's disclosure of interests click here.
 

Vincenzo Berghella, MD

Special interests: Prediction and prevention of preterm birth, cervical ultrasound, clinical obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine

Vincenzo Berghella is Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA. His research interests are prediction and prevention of preterm birth, cervical ultrasound, cerclage and evidence-based clinical obstetrics and maternal-fetal medicine.

Vincenzo Berghella received specialty Board Certification in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1997 and subspecialty Board Certification in Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) in 1999. He became Director of the Division of MFM and Director of the MFM Fellowship Program in 2000, and still holds these positions.

He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts, abstracts and chapters, co-edited several books and obtained grant funding from the NIH and several other institutions. Vincenzo Berghella is the editor of two 2007 medical textbooks, entitled 'Obstetric Evidence Based Guidelines' and 'Maternal Fetal Evidence Based Guidelines'.

Vincenzo Berghella is also a member of several Committees of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), including the PROLOG (Obstetrics) Committee, and the Practice Bulletin (Obstetrics) Committee. Vincenzo Berghella is an Oral Examiner for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG). He has held several positions, including Judge and Scientific Forum on Prematurity Leader for the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), for which he is now member of the Board of Directors. He is also called on to collaborate with the Italian Senate for Women's Health-related issues. Vincenzo Berghella is an Editor for the Journal of Maternal Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, and now very proudly BJOG.

For Vincenzo Berghella's disclosure of interests click here.

Amar Bhide, MD MRCOG

Special interests: Obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine

Amar Bhide is currently Consultant in Obstetrics and feto-maternal Medicine at the St. George's Hospital in South London, UK. He is a lead clinician for the Day Assessment Unit and honorary Senior Lecturer at St. George's University of London, UK. His research interests are in placenta previa, prolonged pregnancy and pre-eclampsia. His clinical interests are in invasive prenatal diagnosis and therapy, high risk pregnancy and medical problems in pregnancy. He had his basic training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in India, and his sub-speciality training in the United Kingdom. He has published 31 peer-reviewed articles and 17 book chapters. He has co-edited three books.

For Amar Bhide's disclosure of interests click here.

Patrick Chien, MBChB MD MRCOG

Special Interests: General obstetrics and gynaecology, case reports, minimal access surgery and systematic reviews

Currently working as a Consultant/ Honorary Senior Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland, UK. Patrick Chien's special interests are in minimal access surgery dealing in menstrual dysfunction and chronic pelvic pain.

He is the RCOG College Tutor for Ninewells Hospital and also a co-opted member of the Scottish Committee of the RCOG. He also examines for the MRCOG examination and acts as an external examiner for the 3rd MBChB examination for the University of Aberdeen. Patrick Chien is involved in the development of standards setting for undergraduate medical examinations and is currently the Honorary Secretary of the Northern Obstetrical Society in Scotland.

He is the course convener and member of the teaching faculty for the Laparoscopic Surgical Course for Gynaecologists and RCOG Basic Surgical Skills Course at the Cushieri Skills Unit, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.

His MD thesis was on maternal and fetal amino acid metabolism and protein turnover during normal pregnancy studied using stable isotopically labelled amino acids. His main research work is on systematic reviews on randomised controlled trials as well as diagnostic tests. He is also interested in the assessment of reliability and validity of diagnostic tests. He has also conducted and collaborated on several primary randomised controlled trials and observational studies.

For Patrick Chien's disclosure of interests click here.

                                        
Justin Clark MRCOG
Special interests: General gynaecology, minimal access surgery

Justin Clark is a Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Birmingham Women’s Hospital. His clinical and research interests lie in the management of general gynaecological conditions, especially the diagnosis and treatment of menstrual disorders, fibroids, pelvic pain and endometriosis. He is a minimal access surgeon and has been at the forefront in pioneering outpatient interventions for the diagnosis and treatment of menstrual disorders utilising hysteroscopy and ultrasound. His strong research background and clinical experience enabled him to publish a novel book in 2005 about the modern management of common gynaecological problems utilising ambulatory, minimally invasive approaches.

He maintains close links with the University of Birmingham, both in research and teaching, where he is an Honorary Senior Lecturer and Clinical Subdean. He teaches postgraduates regularly and has published a successful MRCOG part II OSCE preparation book.
He holds over £1 million in research funding. He lectures nationally and internationally and has published over 70 research papers, two books and guidelines for evidence-based gynaecological practice.

For Justin Clark's disclosure of interests click here.

Emma Crosbie MRCOG PhD

Special Interests:gynaecological oncology

Emma Crosbie is an NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Gynaecological Oncology at Manchester University. She graduated from Edinburgh University Medical School in 1997 before moving to the North West. Her postdoctoral research focussed on immunological aspects of human papillomavirus infection in lower genital tract neoplasia, including the use of vaccines to treat premalignant disease of the vulva. She has presented her work at numerous national and international meetings and published original research, reviews and commentaries in peer reviewed journals. Her current interests include premalignant disease of the lower genital tract and the link between obesity and endometrial cancer.

For Emma Crosbie's disclosure of interests click here.

 Ellis G R Downes, MRCOG

Special interests: General gynaecology, minimal access surgery, urogynaecology, endometrial ablation and new surgical techniques

Ellis Downes is a Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician with a special interest in endoscopic surgery and urogynaecology at Chase Farm Hospital, Enfield, North London, UK. He is a visiting Professor at Middlesex University, an honorary Senior Lecturer at University College Hospital and has published widely.

He is a Board member of both the British and International Societies of Gynaecological Endoscopy and a member of the International Continence Society. His research interests include new hysteroscopic and ablative surgical techniques, surgical management of prolapse and the National and International variations of hysterectomy rates for menorrhagia. Outside medicine, apart from his family, his passion is flying light aeroplanes.

For Ellis Downes' disclosure of interests click here.

Donald Dudley, MD

Special interests: Immunology of normal and abnormal pregnancy, pathophysiology of preterm birth, recurrent pregnancy loss, patient navigation

Donald Dudley completed a B.A. degree in microbiology at the University of Texas in 1976 and then his medical degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 1984. Dr. Dudley completed residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Iowa in 1988 followed by a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Utah from 1988-1991. He joined the faculty at the University of Utah, where he remained until 1999. While in Utah, he became known as an expert investigator in the immunologic aspects of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, preeclampsia, and recurrent pregnancy loss. Donald Dudley was actively involved in the NICHD-sponsored Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network, serving as alternate P.I. for the University of Utah (1996-1999), and for UTHSCSA (1999-2001). Dr. Dudley is the PI for the San Antonio Center for the Study of Stillbirth, the UTHSCSA component of the NICHD-sponsored Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network. He is now the co-principal investigator for the San Antonio academic site for the National Children's Study. Dr. Dudley is also the principal investigator for the San Antonio site in the Patient Navigation Research Project funded by the National Cancer Institute, with a primary goal to improve breast and cervical cancer outcomes in a disadvantaged population.

For Donald Dudley's disclosure of interests click here.

Tarek El-Toukhy, MD MRCOG

Special interests: Reproductive medicine

Tarek El-Toukhy is currently a Consultant and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Reproductive medicine and Surgery at Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, UK and is based clinically at the Assisted Conception Unit at Guy's Hospital in London. He is also an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Cairo University, Egypt. His research interests are in the fields of reproductive medicine and minimal access surgery. His clinical interests are in the fields of in-vitro fertilisation techniques, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis and endoscopic surgery. He is a member of the meetings subcommittee of the British Fertility Society. He has published over 60 original articles, reviews and opinion papers. He peer-reviews for a number of journals including the BMJ.

For Tarek El-Toukhy's disclosure of interests click here.

Vanessa Harry, MRCOG (Trainee Editor)

Special interests: Gynaecological oncology, gynaecological imaging, colposcopy

Vanessa Harry was a senior specialist registrar in gynaecological oncology at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, UK, before her recent move to St Bartholomew's Hospital in London. Her undergraduate degree and basic training was completed at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad, before moving to Aberdeen in 2001. During postgraduate training, she developed an interest in gynaecological malignancies and has completed a clinical research fellowship in gynaecological oncology. Her principal research interest is in the field of oncological imaging, particularly the use of novel functional imaging techniques in gynaecological cancers. This work has been presented at national, regional and international level and aims to encourage significant collaboration between the disciplines of gynaecological oncology and radiology. Current clinical interests include gynae-oncological surgery, colposcopy and pre-invasive vulval and vaginal disease.

For Vanessa Harry's disclosure of interests click here.

Julia Hussein, MBBCh MRCOG MSc(PHDC)

Special Interests: Public health in the developing world, maternal, reproductive and neonatal health programmes

Julia Hussein is Senior Clinical Research Fellow with the Initiative for Maternal Mortality Programme Assessment at the University of Aberdeen. A "public health obstetrician", she graduated from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland in 1986, and continued post graduate training in Wales, obtaining membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1991. She subsequently took up a clinical post in Afghanistan, returned to the UK to complete a Masters in Public Health in Developing Countries and then continued working in Asia and sub Saharan Africa implementing and managing maternal health programmes with the United Nations, government and non-government organisations. In 2001, Julia Hussein joined the University of Aberdeen to carry out research in measurement and evaluation of maternal mortality reduction programmes in developing countries. Her main interests are in participatory learning techniques, measurement of clinical quality of care, and programme design. She has recently started a new enterprise providing training, research and evaluation services in developing countries, aiming to build capacity and generate resources to improve measurement techniques for maternal health programmes.

For Julia Hussein's disclosure of interests click here.

Khalid S. Khan, MD MRCOG
Special interests: General obstetrics and gynaecology, systematic reviews (meta-analyses), medical education, patient-oriented health research

Khalid Khan is Professor of Women's Health and Clinical Epidemiology at Barts and the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London. His expertise is in clinical obstetrics-gynaecology, patient-oriented health research and medical education. He has published over 250 peer reviewed journal articles and authored 20 books and chapters. His research contribution is in systematic reviews (meta-analyses), multicentre primary prospective evaluations of treatments and tests, health technology assessment, and evaluation of educational methods. His research has contributed to shape practice and policy in many areas including ambulatory diagnosis of postmenopausal bleeding, peer support for brestfeeding, chronic pelvic pain, menorrhagia, testing for spontaneous preterm labour, testing for small for gestational age fetus, screening for group-B streptococcus infection during labour and screening for pre-eclampsia amongst other clinical areas. He has led methodological research in systematic reviews and evaluations of tests without gold standard. He has supervised research training under World Health Organisation (WHO) and Medical Research Council (UK MRC) research training fellowships and has 8 students who have completed higher academic degrees. His educational research explores how best to teach and learn evidence-based medicine (EBM). One of his books on EBM has won BMA Medical Book competition Award in Basis of Medicine category. Having obtained Masters degree in Medical Education and Fellowship of the UK Higher Education Academy, he has made significant contribution to teaching and training both within clinical and academic environments. He has run Teaching the Teachers courses and has developed e-learning courses in core EBM funded by the European Union. He has held key roles including Founding Director of WHO Collaborating Centre for Research Synthesis in Reproductive Health at University of Birmingham, Chair of Pan Birmingham Cancer Research Network Committee, Founding Chair of the Reproductive Health and Childbirth speciality group of the Birmingham and Black Country Comprehensive Local Research Network (BBC CLRN) where he had also been Member of the BBC CLRN Board and its Priority Areas committee, Director of Research and Development (R&D) at Birmingham Women's Hospital where he had also been Postgraduate Clinical Tutor and Clinical Sub-dean for undergraduate education, and Chair of Advanced Training Committee of West Midlands School of Obstetrics-Gynaecology where he had also been Regional Preceptor for Advanced Trainig Skills Module in Medical Education and Director of Masterclass for senior trainees. He was awarded the Spinoza Chair (Visiting Scholarship) at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He is also Editor of Evidence-based Medicine and BMC Medical Education Journals. He is a Member of Academic Committee of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) where he has previously been member of the Guideline and Audit Committee and Study Groups on Multiple pregnancy and Preterm Labour. He is currently a member of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment Clinical Evaluation and Trials Board.

For Khalid Khan's disclosure of interests please click here.

Pierre Martin-Hirsch, MBChB MRCOG

Special interests: Gynaecological oncology, general gynaecology, meta-analysis of dichotomous outcomes, diagnostic test methodologies and meta-analysis

Pierre Martin-Hirsch is currently a Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust. He is the lead clinician for the region's reproductive and childbirth research network. He has over forty original papers and book chapters. His current interests are evidenced based practice in cervical screening, epigenetics of gynaecological cancers and spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool. He was one of the editors of the Gynaecological Oncology Cochrane Group. He has contributed to NHS/European cervical screening guidelines.

For Pierre Martin-Hirsch's disclosure of interests click here.

Shanthi Muttukrishna, PhD

Special interests: Reproductive endocrinology, serum screening markers, patho-physiology of placenta-related pregnancy complications.

Shanthi Muttukrishna is a non-clinical Senior Lecturer in Reproductive Sciences at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Cork, Ireland. She is a Reproductive Scientist with a background in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology. Her laboratory experience includes developing immunoassays for hormones and cytokines, cell cultures and gene expression analysis. Her research interests are in ovarian physiology and reproductive aging, early placental development and patho-physiology of placental complications in pregnancy (early pregnancy loss, pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction) and biochemical screening for the assessment of ovarian reserve and prediction of placenta related disorders in pregnancy. Her particular interest is; the role of TGF beta proteins in human reproductive physiology and pregnancy. Her research has been funded by Medical charities; Wellcome trust, Tommy's Campaign and National Science foundation, (USA).

For Shanthi Muttukrishna's disclosure of interests click here.

Jenny Myers, PhD MRCOG (Trainee editor)

Special interests: Basic science, translational research, obstetrics and maternal medicine

Jenny Myers graduated from Nottingham University, UK in 1997 and undertook a senior house rotation in Obstetrics & Gynaecology in Derby and Nottingham before moving to Manchester to work as a Clinical Research Fellow. Her PhD entitled "Circulating Factors in Pre-eclampsia" included research focusing on vascular biology and plasma proteomics. Jenny Myers is currently a Clinical Lecturer and combines clinical work as a Specialist Registrar at St Mary's Hospital with her research. The findings of her work to date have been presented at both national and international meetings and published in a variety of scientific journals. In addition, Jenny has received a number of awards including Young Investigator Awards from the International Society for Hypertension in Pregnancy. Her current research interests include the development of proteomic technologies in the identification of predictive biomarkers in pre-eclampsia and she is the Clinical Lead for the international MAPS study in Manchester. She is also Secretary of the North West RCOG Trainees Committee.

For Jenny Myers' disclosure of interests click here.

Raj Naik

Special Interests: Gynaecological Oncology, Minimal Access Surgery, Colposcopy and Cervical Screening

Raj Naik is a Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist and Clinical Lead of the Northern Gynaecological Oncology Centre in Gateshead. He has over 50 peer reviewed publications/reviews/chapters in the field of gynaecological oncology and co-authored the 10th and 11th Editions of Bonney’s Gynaecological Surgery. His current research and clinical interests include the surgical management of ovarian and cervical cancer, use of surgical training simulators, cervical screening and cervical vaccination programmes.

For Raj Naik's disclosure of interests click here.

Anthony Odibo, MD, MSCE, FRCOG, FACOG

Special interests: Prenatal diagnosis and screening, health economics, perinatal epidemiology, fetal therapy

Anthony Odibo is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA. He had his medical degree from Nigeria and postgraduate training in the UK and USA. His clinical areas of expertise include maternal fetal medicine, prenatal diagnosis, minimally invasive fetal interventions, ultrasound and genetics.

In addition to his clinical training, Dr Odibo is also a perinatal epidemiologist with a Masters degree in clinical epidemiology from University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Dr Odibo is widely published and a regular reviewer and member of the editorial board of many reputable journals. He enjoys golfing, playing ping-pong and reading.

For Anthony Odibo's disclosure of interests click here.

Aris Papageorghiou, MRCOG

Special interests: Obstetrics maternal fetal medicine, ultrasound diagnosis, screening, pre-eclampsia, fetal growth restriction and fetal therapy

Aris Papageorghiou is currently Consultant in Fetal medicine and Obstetrics at St George's, University of London, UK. He has completed subspecialty training in Maternal and Fetal Medicine at St George's Hospital. He has previously worked as a research fellow at the Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, and has maintained his research interests in obstetric ultrasound, screening for pre-eclampsia and fetal diagnosis and treatment.

For Aris Papageorghiou's disclosure of interests click here.

Federico Prefumo, MD PhD

Special interests: Obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine, placental function, screening in pregnancy, fetal therapy

Federico Prefumo is currently working as a Consultant Obstetrician at the University Hospital in Brescia, Italy. He obtained his medical degree at the University of Genoa, Italy, where he also completed specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He undertook his PhD thesis on uterine Doppler and trophoblast biology in the first trimester of pregnancy at St George's, University of London.

His clinical and research interests include Doppler and biochemical screening of pregnancy complications (pre-eclampsia, fetal growth restriction), ultrasonographic and biochemical screening of aneuploidies, maternal cardiovascular function in pregnancy and management of complicated twin pregnancies.

For Federico Prefumo's disclosure of interests click here.

Dimitrios Siassakos, MSc MRCOG (Trainee Editor)

Special Interests: High-risk pregnancy starting from recurrent miscarriage and continuing into antenatal care, advanced labour care, managing obstetric emergencies, and beyond (medicolegal implications, interprofessional team training, economic evaluation).

Dimitrios Siassakos is a Specialist Registrar in the Severn Deanery, currently conducting out-of-programme research. He is an Honorary Clinical Lecturer in Medical Education, and a member of the RCOG Consent Group. He has an MSc in Health Systems Management from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He is studying towards an MSc in Medical Education and an MD in Obstetric Teamwork, both with the University of Bristol.

Dimitrios directs two training courses and regularly coordinates workshops. He has conducted many medium-scale research projects, and has won several national and international awards as leader of multiprofessional teams. He has authored 2 RCOG guidelines, 18 manuscripts, and 9 book chapters.

His aim is to improve the management of high-risk obstetric situations, in collaboration with other disciplines, professions, and women themselves.

For Dimitrios Siassakos' disclosure of interests click here.

John M Thorp, MD

Special Interests: Obstetrics, epidemiology

John Thorp is the Interim Director of the University of North Carolina Center for Women's Health Research. He is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Division Director for Women's Primary Healthcare. He is also a Professor of Maternal and Child Health in the School of Public Health and a Senior Fellow at both the Sheps Center for Health Services Research and the Carolina Population Center. He serves as the Medical Director for the Horizons Perinatal Substance Abuse Program, and is a Principal Investigator for the Maternal Fetal Medicine Units Network grant. He is a consultant to the NC sites in the National Children's Study.

Research endeavours by John Thorp have included more than 50 grants on which he has served a principal role. These grants range in topics, to include hormone replacement, treatment for vaginitis, substance abuse among pregnant women, smoking cessation in pregnancy, preterm labour and delivery, oral contraceptive development, the study of cervicofetal fibronectin, the use of antibiotic prophylaxis, perinatal HIV infection and others.

John Thorp is widely published in the obstetric and medical literature and is considered an expert on obstetrical practice in general. He has particular research interests in substance abuse issues surrounding women's health, the epidemiology of preterm birth and pelvic floor disorders. Methodologically, John Thorp has considerable expertise in the development and management of clinical trials.

For John Thorp's disclosure of interests click here.

Douglas Tincello, BSc MD FRCOG

Special interests: Urogynaecology, clinical trials, general gynaecology, qualitative studies

Doug Tincello is Senior Lecturer and Urogynaecologist in the University of Leicester. His research interests include clinical trials, surgery for incontinence and prolapse, physiology of the bladder, and qualitative research examining ethnic influences on health and quality of life issues. Doug is chairman of the Research subcommittee of the British Society of Urogynaecology, a member of the Wellbeing of Women Research Advisory Committee and a member of the Medical Research Council College of Experts. His research is funded by the Medical Research Council, The Moulton Charitable Trust and Wellbeing of Women.

For Douglas Tincello's disclosure of interests click here.

Austin Ugwumadu, PhD FRCOG

Special interests: Sub-clinical perinatal infections, intrapartum care, critical care obstetrics, and general gynaecology

Currently Consultant/Senior Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at St George's Hospital, and St George's, University of London. Recent research interests and publications focused on the interface between sub-clinical perinatal infections, fetal inflammation and pre-term delivery/late miscarriage, intrapartum fetal monitoring, and critical care obstetrics. Other responsibilities include lead consultant for Critical Care Obstetrics and obstetrics risk management at St George's Hospital, London. An active member of the British Maternal Fetal Medicine Society (BMFMS), the European Society of Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ESIDOG), and Preterm Birth International Collaborative (PREBIC).

For Austin Ugwumadu's disclosure of interests click here.

Michael Varner, MD

Special interests: Maternal-fetal medicine, clinical trials and research administration

Michael Varner currently serves as Professor and Vice-Chair for Research for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Utah, USA. He undertook his medical school training at the University of Minnesota and his postgraduate training at the University of Iowa. He has been on faculty at the University of Utah since 1987 and currently serves as the Principal Investigator for two National Institutes of Health multi-center clinical trials networks, is a co-investigator on two others and a mentor/collaborator on six other NIH-funded projects. His major interest lies in clinical trials and research administration.

For Michael Varner's disclosure of interests click here.