External Advisory Board
The CEA Advisory Board includes members of key external collaborators/partners, including nominated representatives from the GIA/UN, ILC, representatives from funders, local government, public, private and third sector stakeholders and industry. The Board has a robust and creative leadership structure that will provide strategic guidance on Partnerships, Funding and CEA activities.
External Advisory Board Members
Dr. Claudia Mahler
Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of all Human Rights by Older Persons, United Nations Human Rights Council
Biography
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.
Dr Sanjay Thakrar
Head of Research, The Dunhill Medical Trust
Biography
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 Sinclair
Director International Longevity Centre (ILC)
Biography
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 Battisti
Consultant Medical Oncologist, The Royal Marsden London
Biography
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.
Silvia Neira
Vice President of The Global Initiative on Ageing (GIA)
Biography
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.
Professor Amelia Hadfield
Dean International, Head of Department of Politics, Founding Director of Centre for Britain and Europe (CBE)
Biography
Amelia joined the University of Surrey in January 2019 as Head of the Department of Politics, and Chair in European and International Affairs. Previously she worked as Director of the Centre for European Studies (CEFEUS), a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence at Canterbury Christ Church Uni (2013-2018), after positions in Brussels at the Vrije Universiteit Brussels and the Institute for European Studies, where she directed the Euromaster degree, as well as the Educational Development (EDU). Amelia is a long-standing Jean Monnet Chair in European Foreign Affairs, allowing her to successfully obtain Erasmus+ funding for the University of Surrey’s Centre for Britain and Europe (based in the Department of Politics), establishing it in 2020 as a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence. Amelia’s researching, teaching, consulting & postgrad supervising covers a wide range of areas on EU foreign and security policy, as well as new forms of EU-UK relations. These include Common Foreign and Security Policy, Common Security and Defence Policy, EU-US and EU-Canada relations, EU-Russia relations, EU Neighbourhood Policy, EU Development policy (with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa), as well as Arctic & northern governance issues. Additional areas of interest include foreign policy analysis, international and diplomatic history, the role of sovereignty in political history, International Relations theory, international political economy, public policy analysis, the Commonwealth and EU education policy. Amelia is regularly called upon as a guest speaker, external supervisor, research partner, consultant and media pundit on areas of EU foreign affairs, and of late, EU-UK relations. In January 2021, Amelia was appointed Dean International of the University of Surrey, leading the International Engagement Office in supporting the strategic goals of the university on partnership with other universities and networks world-wide, enhanced cutting-edge research cooperation, as well as staff/student mobility.
Professor Andrew King
Head of Department of Sociology, Professor of Sociology
Biography
I am Head of Department and Professor of Sociology here at Surrey. I am Co-Director of the Centre for Research on Ageing and Generations (CRAG), the Centre of Excellence on Ageing (CEA) and I also Co-Chair SGS (the Sex, Gender and Sexualities Research Group at Surrey). From 1st Aug 2024 I will be leading the University of Surrey Economic and Social Research Council Impact Acceleration Account.
I have been recognised for my excellence in both research and teaching. In 2018 I received the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Research Excellence and I received the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence in 2014. I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
I am currently Deputy Editor of the journal, Ageing and Society and a Co-Editor of Sociology, the journal of the British Sociological Association.
During 2023/4 I was a Visiting Professor in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Trinity College Dublin.
Professor Paul Townsend
Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Biography
Professor Paul Townsend is Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean for the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. An internationally renowned scientist in the field of cell stress and survival mechanisms, Paul has a passion for teaching and mentoring both undergraduate and postgraduate students. He brings with him a wealth of industry and enterprise experience, having co-founded several companies and provided strategic advice to others in the sector. He is adjunct professor at A*STAR, Singapore, as well as Honorary Research Professor at the University of Athens.
Paul is a University of York graduate (1993) and obtained his PhD from the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now CRUK) in 1997. He has researched cell survival mechanisms in a number of chronic diseases. He has undertaken research in Germany and the USA as well as the UK and became an academic independent group leader at the University of Southampton (2004-2013). He joined the University of Manchester in 2013 as the Associate Dean for Business Engagement Research professor in the Manchester Cancer Research Centre/ CRUK Manchester Institute.
Previously, he helped establish a graduate entry to Medicine UG programme and a number of Masters’ courses, in addition to successful research funding to large scale infrastructure of £12.8M Stoller from the MRC as Co-I, and £28.5M BRC from NIHR as Co-I. He presents frequently at UK and international conferences as well as contributing to UKRI committees, international agencies such as WeHi and Peter Mac in Australia, NIH in the US, Hong Kong, Pasteur Institute in France, HRB in Ireland and co-chairs the Clinical and Sciences Committee of the FCT in Portugal.
He has research strengths in drug discovery, validation, cell stress and survival mechanisms, senescence, DNA damage, and the use of AI and multiple ‘omics in cancer, bone cell and cardiac biology, and apoptosis regulation. Recently, he has explored senescence and licensed the technology he invented along with using advanced mass spectrometry in identifying novel biomarkers and regulators of cellular homeostasis. Paul is also the cofounder of Karus Therapeutics now based in Oxford, raised >$120M, Pentagon Therapeutics and PRECignature whilst also advising a number of other companies as a consultant and Non-Executive Director.
Overall, Paul’s academic-enterprising health and wellness research, linking to social and engineering sciences, knowledge exchange and partnership generation acumen and experience is internationally recognised; he conducts teaching and research to a consistently high level, generating significant levels of funding and outputs, is passionate about his UG/PG teaching and mentorship and interacts exceptionally with all stakeholders including industry - generating IP, guiding colleagues and students in their research, teaching and enterprise activities, as well as working intimately with the NHS, NIHR, NHS England and the community via many outreach activities.