Meet our Principal Investigator: Mr Nigel Simpson

Mr Nigel Simpson is the Principal Investigator for BaBi Leeds. Nigel is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Leeds. Nigel is also the NIHR Clinical Research Network National Specialty Lead for Reproductive Health.

He has a particular clinical and research interest in the causes and prevention of preterm birth and leads the Reproductive Health and Childbirth Research Team at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. His work on the Reproduction and Perinatal Health Research Group at the University of Leeds focuses on unravelling the cellular mechanisms regulating normal and abnormal pregnancy, and the health and well-being of the newborn infant.

Jane Gavin: BaBi Leeds Midwife

Jane Gavin is a Research Midwife within the Reproductive Health and Childbirth Research Team at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. She trained and qualified as a nurse at Manchester Royal Infirmary before moving to train as a Midwife in 1988 in Leeds. Jane obtained her degree post qualifying and worked in many departments at LTHT. Her main practice was in community for over 20 years.

Jane moved into research in February 2019, working on many studies and faced the many research challenges of COVID. Jane is enjoying her role in BaBi Leeds, training the midwives, promoting the study and collecting reviewing the recruitment . BaBi Leeds will provide the evidence that will inform future projects, affect practice and ultimately have a positive impact on families in Leeds.

Emily Scriven: Reproductive Health and Childbirth Research Team Leader

Emily's background specialty is Paediatric Oncology, working in the Children’s Research Team for 15 years prior to joining the COVID Research Delivery Team; which is how she was initially introduced to the Reproductive Health and Childbirth Team, working on Covid in pregnancy studies. Emily brought with her a wealth of research knowledge and experience, having many transferable skills.

Emily is very passionate about research as she has seen treatments improve patient outcomes; it gives her a sense of fulfilment to know she has contributed towards this. Emily is extremely excited to be involved in BaBi Leeds from a local co-ordination and a national project management point of view, collaborating to help prioritise and guide the valuable information we hold to improve the health and wellbeing of families within Leeds.

Karen Elson: BaBi Leeds Research Midwife

Karen is a Research Midwife within the Reproductive Health and Childbirth Research Team at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. Karen’s background is in research. She has a PhD in Cell Biology and worked on various laboratory-based research projects for 15 years before training to become a midwife. Karen completed her midwifery training at Leeds and has worked in all areas of maternity, recently joining the Research Team in 2022. She also continues to work some clinical shifts on delivery suite at St James’ Hospital. Karen is passionate about driving research forward, and excited about the knowledge and information BaBi will bring to help improve the health and wellbeing of families in Leeds.

Jessica Towning: Reproductive Health and Childbirth Research Team Senior Clinical Trials Assistant

Jess is the Senior Clinical Trials Assistant in the Reproductive Health and Childbirth Research Team at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. She has worked in the Trust since 2006 and started her career as PA to the Head of Nursing in the Infection, Prevention and Control Team. Jess started her journey working in Research in 2016 and has enjoyed watching the team evolve over the years particularly through the pandemic which showed how important Research is.

Jess is working closely with the Research Midwives to help promote the BaBi Leeds study, her role is to provide support for the clinical Midwives and help with BaBi training so a high standard of recruitment can be achieved, and to build on workshop management within Leeds. Jess is very excited to see what the study brings to Leeds and to use the findings to help the health and well-being of the families within the community.