Meet the team
Our team comprises experienced clinicians and researchers across different specialties, disciplines, and sectors involved in women's health and female technology.
Hub leadership
Dr Bassel H. Al Wattar leads the FemTech Research Hub and the Women's Health Evidence Synthesis and Methodology Research Unit (EVIE) in ARU's Faculty of Health, Medicine and Social Care. He is an academic clinician with extensive experience in evidence synthesis, randomised controlled trials, and adaptive trial methodology applied to women's reproductive health.
Dr Wattar directs several nationally funded research programmes, including AFFINITY (NIHR EME-funded Bayesian multi-arm adaptive trial evaluating IVF add-ons), and convenes the EVE Clinical Network of seven NHS Trusts. He has published widely on fertility, menstrual health, and women's health technology evaluation, and contributes to national clinical guidelines and HFEA consultations.
"My ambition for the FemTech Research Hub is to make ARU the first call for any FemTech business that needs credible evidence to win regulatory approval, NHS procurement, and investor confidence."
Dr Bassel H. Al Wattar, Hub LeadApplied clinical experts
- Dr Bassel H. Al Wattar: gynaecology, reproductive medicine, endocrine gynaecology, menopause, assisted conception
- Dr Lisa Ball: gynaecology, endometriosis, minimal access surgery
- Dr Fadi Al Fhaily: onco-gynaecology, obstetrics, AI in healthcare, minimal access surgery
- Dr Vikram Talaulikar: menopause, endocrine gynaecology, contraception, sexual and reproductive health
- Dr Oudai Ali: gynaecology, endometriosis, minimal access surgery
Mechanistic researchers
- Prof Steve Conlan: molecular biology and nanotechnology
- Prof Mohammad Najlah: pharmaceutical sciences and nanotechnology
- Prof Barbara Pierscionek: biochemistry, biomechanics, cell biology
Evidence synthesis and literature reviews
- Dr Ewelina Rogozinska: systematic review, complex meta-analyses
- Ngawai Moss: Patient and Public Involvement, research co-production
Qualitative research
Dr Pamela Knight: technological and service innovation for health and well-being
Applied clinical trials
- Dr Bassel H. Al Wattar: Medical Director, Anglia Ruskin Clinical Trials Unit (ARCTU)
- Karen Hayden: data management and randomisation systems
- Dr Jufen Zhang: applied clinical statistics and trial design
Artificial intelligence
Prof Silvia Cirstea: computational modelling and AI
Entrepreneurship and regulatory advice
- Jo Living: entrepreneur support and investment readiness
- Sherif Elkhadem: regulatory approval and product development
- Ben Hooson: Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and community engagement