ABOUT NEUROBLASTOMA UK

Neuroblastoma UK is a national charity dedicated to finding a cure for neuroblastoma.

40 years ago, in 1982, a group of bereaved parents came together and formed The Neuroblastoma Society. Following the loss of their sons, Matthew Oldridge and Hamish Cooper, they wanted to help other children and families experiencing neuroblastoma.

In 2015, to reflect our growth and collaboration with clinicians, research groups and other charities and cancer groups, we changed our name to Neuroblastoma UK.

We fund vital research into improving both diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Our Trustees

Featured
Dr Meredith Irwin
Dr Meredith Irwin

Dr Meredith Irwin is a Professor of Paediatrics and Clinician-scientist focused on translational neuroblastoma research at the Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids) and University of Toronto.

Alan Carr
Alan Carr

Award winning comedian, broadcaster and writer.

Angellica Bell
Angellica Bell

TV and radio presenter Angellica Bell joined Neuroblastoma UK as our Patron in 2022.

Scott Mills
Scott Mills

DJ and broadcaster Scott Mills joined Neuroblastoma UK as Patron in 2021. He first became involved with our charity after a friend’s daughter was diagnosed with neuroblastoma.

Charlotte Moore
Charlotte Moore

Team GB Paralympian Charlotte Moore joined Neuroblastoma UK as our Patron in 2022, during our 40th anniversary.

Professor Heinrich Kovar
Professor Heinrich Kovar

Prof Heinrich Kovar has been Head of the Molecular Biology of Solid tumours group at St Anna’s Cancer Research Institute, Vienna since 1988 and was scientific director of the Institute from 2001 to 2017.

Dr Julia Glade Bender
Dr Julia Glade Bender

Dr Julia Glade Bender is Vice Chairman for Clinical Research in the Department of Pediatrics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK Kids), New York.

Dr Kelly Goldsmith
Dr Kelly Goldsmith

Dr Kelly Goldsmith is Professor of Paediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta and Curing Kids Cancer Endowed Chair of Paediatric Oncology.

Dr Frank Westermann
Dr Frank Westermann

Dr Frank Westermann is the Division Head at Hopp Children Cancer Centre at the National Centre for Tumour Diseases in Heidelberg, Germany. He is also the Division Head for Neuroblastoma Genomics and the Head of the Reference Laboratory of the German Neuroblastoma Trial.

Professor Kaat Durinck
Professor Kaat Durinck

Prof Kaat Durinck , is an Assistant professor at the Paediatric Precision Oncology Lab at Ghent University, Belgium.

Professor Heike Laman
Professor Heike Laman

Prof Heike Laman graduated from the University of Miami with her Bachelor of Science and her PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from Columbia University in New York.

Zara Aitchison
Zara Aitchison

Zara started volunteering for Neuroblastoma UK in 2017 and became a Trustee in 2019. Her background is in business and finance, predominately in the Reinsurance Markets.

Malcolm Dean, Treasurer
Malcolm Dean, Treasurer

Malcolm worked as a qualified corporate treasurer for a number of UK & US corporations including Del Monte and retired from full-time work some years ago.

Ruby Dickens
Ruby Dickens

Ruby joined Neuroblastoma UK in 2018. Her career spans marketing in various charities, including Shelter and CRUK and she is chair of the IoF Payroll Giving Special Interest Group.

Tori Eadington
Tori Eadington

Tori returned to our Trustee board as Charity Secretary in September 2023. Tori’s parents founded our charity over 40 years and Tori continues to be involved with the charity.

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Tony Heddon

Tony joined Neuroblastoma UK as Fundraising Trustee prior to being elected their Chair in February 2018. After five years, on the 31st May, Tony Heddon decided to stand down as Chair of Neuroblastoma UK. He will remain a key part of the charity as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Prof Andy Pearson
Prof Andy Pearson

Prof Andy Pearson is formerly a Cancer Research UK Professor of Paediatric Oncology, at the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust. During a long and distinguished career, he helped establish and led many key groups in the paediatric oncology landscape both nationally and internationally.

Steve Smith
Steve Smith

Steve has been a supporter of Neuroblastoma UK since 1996 and a Trustee since 2001, holding a number of portfolios over that period. He has spent most of his career working in healthcare IT and is currently responsible for several NHS IT delivery programmes and services.

Professor Deb Tweddle
Professor Deb Tweddle

Deb Tweddle is Professor of Paediatric Oncology at Newcastle University and an Honorary Consultant in Paediatric & Adolescent Oncology at the Great North Children’s Hospital, Newcastle.

Faye Watts
Faye Watts

Faye joined Neuroblastoma UK as a trustee in 2017 and looks after corporate fundraising partnerships and our internal HR functions.

Dr Kate Wheeler
Dr Kate Wheeler

Kate has been a consultant paediatric oncologist in the Oxford Children's Hospital since 1995. She has specialised in neuroblastoma and from 2010 to 2016 was the chair of the UK NCRI Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Neuroblastoma group.

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Tanya Wood

Tanya joined Neuroblastoma UK as Trustee in July 2023, with a focus on media and communications.