External Advisory Board

Dr. Claudia Mahler (Austria) assumed her role as Independent Expert in May 2020. She is a senior researcher and Teamleader in the field of economic, social and cultural rights for the German Institute for Human Rights since 2010. 

She was also a visiting professor at the Alice Salomon Hochschule in 2020-2021.

From 2001 to 2009, Ms. Mahler conducted research at the Human Rights Centre of the University of Potsdam where her main fields were in human rights education, minority rights and the law of asylum. In 2000, she was appointed as Vice President of the Human Rights Commission for Tyrol and Vorarlberg and 

She has also worked as a lecturer in the field of human rights law and as a consultant to OHCHR in Geneva. From 1997-2001, she held the position of an assistant at the Leopold-Franzens-University Innsbruck, Austria in the field of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedures. Ms. Mahler received her doctoral degree in 2000.

Sanjay is the primary point of contact for organisations seeking funding for research from the Dunhill Medical Trust. He has over 10 years’ experience in the delivery and management of research funding, and previously worked at the Myrovlytis Trust, the British Heart Foundation and Marie Curie. From this he has gained extensive experience of grants management, including the monitoring and reporting of research outputs, outcomes and impact. He has also led on initiatives related to patient, carer and public involvement in research.

Before embarking on a career in grants management, Sanjay graduated from the University of Cambridge with a degree in Natural Sciences, then worked as a Research Assistant at the Medical Research Council’s National Institute for Medical Research, before completing a joint MSc/PhD programme at the University of Edinburgh. When not working, Sanjay enjoys travelling, as well as spending time with friends and family at home in London.

David has worked in policy and research on ageing and demographic change for 20 years.

David has a particular interest in older consumers, active ageing, financial services, adult vaccination, and the role of technology in an ageing society. He has a strong knowledge of UK and global ageing society issues, from healthcare to pensions and housing to transport.

David has presented on longevity and demographic change across the world (from Seoul to Singapore and Sydney to Stormont). And he has published reports on a range of topics including transport, technology, health and consumption.

David is an International Advisor for the Sau Po Centre on Ageing at Hong Kong University and a member of the External Advisory board for the University of Surrey Centre of Excellence on Ageing.

David has worked as an expert for the pan-European Age Platform for 15 years and is the former Vice-Chair of the Government’s Consumer Expert Group for Digital Switchover. For ten years he chaired a London based charity (Open Age) which enables older people to sustain their physical and mental fitness, maintain active lifestyles and develop new and stimulating interests.

Prior to joining the ILC, David worked as Head of Policy at Help the Aged where he led a team of 8 policy advisors. David has also worked for environmental and disability organisations in policy and public affairs functions. His other experience includes working as a VSO volunteer in Romania, in Parliament for a Member of Parliament, and with backbench committees.

David is married, and has a 17 year old daughter. He runs (slowly) and cycles (a little quicker), is a retired football referee and once scored a penalty against Peter Shilton.

Twitter handle @sinclairda

Nicolò is also Clinical Lead of the Senior Adult Oncology Programme.

He gained his medical degree at the University of Milan, Italy in 2009 and he completed his specialist training at the University of Milan and National Cancer Institute of Milan, Italy in 2015. He obtained a research degree (MD[Res]) within the Breast Cancer Research Division of the Institute of Cancer Research of London, UK in 2022 with a thesis focusing on of the management of common malignancies in older adults under the supervision of Dr Alistair Ring and Professor Stephen Johnston. Dr Battisti completed the European Society for Medical Oncology Leaders Generation Programme in 2022.

He has an Italian Board Certification in Medical Oncology and is on the UK General Medical Council Specialist Register (Medical Oncology). He is also Member of the Royal College of Physicians.

He spent the last year of his specialist training working with Dr Martine Extermann and Dr Lodovico Balducci at the Senior Adult Oncology Program of the Moffitt Cancer Center of Tampa, Florida, USA. In 2016, Dr Battisti joined the Breast Unit of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, where he currently works with Dr Alistair Ring and Professor Stephen Johnston. 

Dr Battisti’s main clinical and research interests are breast oncology and geriatric oncology. His main areas of investigation are comorbidities, comprehensive geriatric assessment, quality of life and prediction of anticancer treatment toxicity in older patients with cancer. He authored several publications and book chapters in the fields of geriatric, breast and thoracic oncology. 

Dr Battisti is President of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) and has served as Co-Chair and subsequently Chair of the Young Interest Group of SIOG. He also serves as Treasurer of the European Cancer Organisation and Co-Chair of its Inequalities Focused Topic Network. Dr Battisti also serves as Executive Committee Member of the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists (EUSOMA).

He is a member of the Elderly Task Force of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) and member of the Cancer and Aging Research Group (CARG) Advocacy Committee and Clinical Implementation Core. He is a member of the Clinical Steering Group of the National Audit of Breast Cancer in Older Patients (NABCOP) in the UK.

Dr Battisti was presented the Arti Hurria Award at the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium for his research on the use of chemotherapy in older patients with early breast cancer enrolled on the Bridging The Age Gap study and in 2021 he was presented the Dario Cova Award from the Italian Group of Geriatric Oncology for his contribution to the field of geriatric oncology.

Supported by the UN, and Member of the board of directors & executive director of CIFAL Málaga-UNITAR (United Nations International Training and Research). Associated Fellow of UNITAR. Tenured professor in the natural medicine industry with numerous published articles. Entrepreneur in the field of alternative medicine, partner in a private VC and investment management. Advisor and collaborator of various NGOs related to education, health and diversity.

Naturopathic physician with Bachelor in health sciences, specialized in natural medicines, public health and education, at the University of Westminster, London and at the University of Geneva.

Former Professor and coordinator of the Alternative Medicine Polyclinic of the University of Westminster in London.