A leading charity which raises vital funds for research into head and neck diseases has appointed two new trustees.
Birmingham-based Get A-Head has announced David Spooner, a consultant oncologist at University Hospital Birmingham, and Professor Akhil Tripathi, co-founder and CEO of pioneering firm Signifier Medical Technologies, as new charity trustees.
Tom Bromwich, chairman of the trustees at Get A-Head, said: “We are absolutely delighted that David and Akhil have chosen to join our board of trustees.
“Together they bring significant expertise and experience to the charity, and they will have a vital role to play as we look to grow and move the charity forwards.”
Dr Spooner is a consultant clinical oncologist specialising in cancer diagnosis and management.
He has special interests in treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy on the brain and central nervous system as well as young people’s tumours and treatments for breast cancer.
He said: “I’m thrilled to have been appointed as a trustee of Get A-Head and I’m looking forward to working alongside existing board members to continue the charity’s tremendous work and making a difference to the lives of those impacted by head and neck disease.”
Professor Tripathi is successful serial entrepreneur and innovator in the medtech sector and founder of Signifier Medical Technologies.
Amongst the company’s most high-profile successes, is the development of the world’s first clinically proven daytime therapy to treat primary snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea.
“I’m incredibly proud to take on this new role and I look forward to supporting the charity as it continues to grow and make an impact on individuals and medical services,” said Professor Tripathi, who is also chairman and co-founder of Healcisio and co-inventor of EasyGlide – an adjustable wheelchair.
With the latest appointments, the charity, which has raised £10 million to fight head and neck disease since it was established in 1994, now has a board made up of eight trustees.
Money raised by the charity has funded a range of projects and equipment that have made a real difference to those fighting head and neck disease.
The charity has supported an Accelerated Cancer Drug treatment programme which aims to speed up treatment by matching existing drugs and also purchased life-changing equipment for patients who have lost their voice through cancer.
For more information about the charity visit https://getahead.org.uk/