Our people

Graphic illustration of a variety of people

Centre management and support

Professor Neil Gittoes, Head, Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (CEDAM), Honorary Professor and Consultant Endocrinologist 

Professor Neil Gittoes graduated from the University of Birmingham with BSc (Hons), MBChB (Hons), was later awarded a PhD in Molecular Endocrinology in Birmingham and was supported by a MRC Career Establishment Grant. Neil holds senior leadership roles, including in the NHS and charity sector, and has important interface and strategic positions nationally and within the University.

He is Consultant Endocrinologist and Honorary Professor of Endocrinology at the University of Birmingham and is inaugural Head of the Centre of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. He works within a large highly acclaimed team that delivers the broadest array of endocrine, diabetes and metabolic services with embedded internationally recognised research portfolios.

He coordinated successful bids for European Reference Network status across all domains of CEDAM activities and research areas. Neil works closely with Birmingham Health Partners to drive seamless integration across clinical and academic arenas to facilitate translational research, innovative career progression and continually improving standards of clinical care for patients under the CEDAM umbrella

Neil Gittoes

Dr Abd Tahrani, Translational Research Lead, Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Senior Lecturer in Metabolic Endocrinology and Obesity Medicine and Honorary Consultant

Dr Abd Tahrani is a Senior Lecturer in Metabolic Endocrinology and Obesity Medicine at the University of Birmingham (UoB) and an Honorary Consultant Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity Medicine at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB). Abd is also the lead for diabetic neuropathy services UHB and the lead for communication at the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, UoB. He is a trustee of the Association for the Study of Obesity ASO (UK), a member of the British Sleep Society Research Committee and a member of NIHR RfPB and Dissemination panels. Abd is also a member of the strategic council of the Obesity All Party Parliamentary Group (Obesity APPG) in the UK.

He is an Expert Advisor to the Medical Technology Appraisal Committee of NICE and the Co-Chair of the Clinical practice and Obesity Management Committee of ASO (UK). Abd has published over 150 peer reviewed articles and delivered more than 100 invited and keynote talks in national and international conferences. He was awarded the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Sleep Disordered Breathing Investigator of the Year award in 2013 and two NIHR fellowships in 2008 and 2013 and was awarded the World Obesity Federation SCOPE (Strategic Centre for Obesity Professional Education) international Fellowship.

Abd is an associate editor for the European Journal of Endocrinology and the Diabetes Section Editor for BMC Endocrine Disorders. He is a regular peer reviewer to several leading journals in obesity, diabetes, and sleep and multiple funding agencies in the UK, Europe, and Asia

Abd is the translational research lead at the Centre of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (CEDAM). He works very closely with the CEDAM Director, other principal investigators, consultants and other members of CEDAM to ensure that CEDAM achieve its mission and aims. In particular, he sat up and currently leads the Endocrine, Diabetes and Obesity Research Facilitation Group in CEDAM and UHB. The RFG plays an important role in facilitating research in endocrinology, diabetes and obesity across all the partners within CEDAM and the NHS trusts. In addition, Abd plays an important role in attracting and facilitating industry sponsored research to be conducted by the CEDAM investigators. 

Abd-Tehrani

Steering group

  • Professor Neil Gittoes - Consultant and Honorary Professor of Endocrinology
  • Dr Abd Tahrani - NIHR Clinician Scientist at the University of Birmingham, Honorary Consultant in Obesity, Diabetes and Endocrinology at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and Lead for Weight Management Research and Diabetic Neuropathy Services at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital
  • Professor Tim Barrett - Leonard Parsons Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health
  • Professor David Hodson - Professor of Cellular Metabolism, Professorial Research Fellow
  • Dr Ataf Sabir - Specialist Registrar, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Birmingham
  • Professor Gareth Lavery - Professor of Molecular Metabolism and Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow
  • Dr Rachel Webster - Consultant Clinical Scientist, University Hospitals Birmingham
  • Dr Helena Gleeson - Consultant Endocrinologist & Service Lead, University Hospitals Birmingham
  • Dr Ruth Krone - Consultant in Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Service Lead, Diabetes Educational Lead
  • Dr Hoda Harb - Academic Clinical Lecturer and Specialist Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology
  • Dr Tarekegn G Hiwot - Honorary Reader in Inherited Metabolic Disorders
  • Dr Thalia Antoniadi - Consultant Clinical Scientist, Head of Rare Disease for West Midlands Regional Genetics Laboratory
  • Dr Jackson Kirkman-Brown - Reader in Human Reproductive Biology
  • Dr Jan Idkowiak - NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in Paediatric Endocrinology
  • Dr Vas Chortis - Clinical Lecturer in Endocrinology and Diabetes
  • Dr Krish Nirantharakumar - UKRI Innovation Clinical Fellow and Honorary Consultant in Public Health Medicine
  • Professor Wiebke Arlt - William Withering Chair of Medicine and Director of the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research
  • Professor Kristien Boelaert - Professor in Endocrinology
  • Professor Wasim Hanif - Professor of Diabetes & Endocrinology, Consultant Physician, and Head of Service in Diabetes at University Hospital Birmingham.
  • Miss Lynn Robinson, Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Birmingham
  • Professor Martin Hewison - Professor of Molecular Endocrinology and Deputy Director of the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research
  • Dr Parth Narendran - Reader in Diabetes Medicine and Honorary Consultant Physician