Tara Comber Email & Phone Number

London, Gb

London Area, United Kingdom

I currently lead the operational delivery of the Our Future Health research programme for the NHS Blood & Transplant recruitment and sample collection pathway. I have overseen the study set-up and ongoing management within 76 blood donation teams across England.Key responsibilities:- Stakeholder management and engagement, I am the main contact internally and externally for the NHS Blood & Transplant recruitment pathway- Preparing reports and weekly/monthly progress updates for the organisation and key stakeholders- Strategy development to optimise recruitment and processes- Creating and maintaining study documentation- Chairing regular operations and governance meetings with key stakeholders- Budget management, reviewing and approving invoices- Responding to any internal/external queries related to the NHS Blood & Transplant pathway- Problem solving any issues that arise and ensuring any risks are communicated and correctly documented- Working with our study support team to answer participant queries and provide clear information about the programme

London, England, United Kingdom

I worked on the delivery of multiple dementia research projects as part of the department of Old Age Psychiatry. When I first joined, my main responsibilities were set-up, coordination and recruitment for the commercial CTIMP trials within the department. I was promoted in February 2021 to Clinical Study Manager, where my main responsibilities were to manage a pilot study for a new Brain Health Clinic for patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment within South London & Maudsley NHS Trust. I was also still responsible for overseeing the set-up and delivery of some of the commercial CTIMP trials within the department and providing support and training to junior members of staff.Key responsibilities:- Gaining relevant approvals including HRA, REC, R&D and sponsorship- Ensuring accurate costing and invoicing of studies, contract negotiation- Collaborating with multiple partner organisations and stakeholders, keeping them updated on progress and key milestones- Developing study protocols, information sheets, worksheets and other relevant documents- Training staff members on protocols and clinical rating scales, developing guides and SOPs for colleagues- Staff recruitment, shortlisting, interviewing and line management- Developing recruitment plans and implementing strategies to improve recruitment, producing recruitment reports for senior staff and sponsors- Communicating with sponsor representatives weekly, undergoing monitoring visits with CRAs and PIs, working with them to resolve any queries- Engagement activities with clinical staff throughout South London & Maudsley to promote research- Community outreach, engaging with charities and related organisations to promote our research studies

I worked as a study coordinator on the commercial clinical trials within the department of Old Age Psychiatry at KCL. I also provided support to other studies and activities where needed.Key responsibilities and activities include:- Identifying, pre-screening and recruiting participants- Organising and conducting study visits- Performing venepuncture, processing blood samples and arranging shipment- Performing ECGs, measuring vital signs,- Conducting clinical and cognitive rating scales to assess participants (including MMSE, MoCA, ACE III, NPI and more)- Data entry and query resolutions, site file management- Communicating with sponsor representatives on a constant basis, undergoing monitoring visits with CRAs and PIs, working with them to resolve any queries- Producing recruitment reports for senior staff and sponsors- Study set up, working as a team to facilitate the site selection and feasibility process, liaising with sponsors and internal teams- Ensuring accurate costing and invoicing of studies- Training staff members on protocols and clinical rating scales- Providing support and guidance for junior members of staff- Engagement activities (e.g. presentations) with clinical staff throughout SLaM to promote research- Patient and public involvement - I have set up a PPI group for Dementia with Lewy Bodies- Presenting the departments research studies at engagement events- Community outreach, engaging with charities to promote our research studies- Database management, creating and maintaining study trackers- Designing worksheets for source documentation- Attending MDT meetings with clinical teams from SLaM to identify participants

I was a research assistant as part of the CRN North Thames graduate training scheme. The scheme consisted of 4 x 6 month placements at sites within North Thames Clinical Research Network (CRN) in combination with studying an MSc in Clinical Trials. I was involved in the set up and coordination of a variety of clinical research studies within the NHS and UCL, please see details of each placement below. NIHR CRN North Thames Office (Sep 16 – Mar 17): I worked within the core team to ensure the timely set up of studies at local NHS sites. Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Trust (BHRUT) (Mar – Sep 17): I worked on an observational maternity cohort study and 5 commercial CTIMP studies in rheumatology, 2 of which I was delegated the lead study coordinator role for.UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science (ICS) (Sep 17 – Mar 18): I assisted with the coordination of: the SABRE Study (an observational population study in diabetes and cardiovascular disease), and IRONMAN (a clinical trial in heart failure patients).UCL Dementia Research Centre (DRC) (Mar – Sep 18): I was involved in the coordination and management of a wide range of dementia studies at the DRC.

• I tutored a total of ten students aged 8-16 in Mathematics and Science. I prepared activities and worksheets for them to support their learning and identify topics that needed more work. • I strengthened my verbal communication skills by clearly explaining difficult concepts in simpler terms to increase the students' understanding of a subject; helping them to achieve top grades. • This work improved my organisation and time management skills as I carefully planned my time to be able to tutor multiple students and attend lectures and complete coursework assignments.

I completed a summer research project funded by the Wellcome Trust. The aim of the project was to investigate whether phytocannabinoids CBD and CBDV can activate TRPV4 channels to allow an influx in calcium. If proven true, this could lead to new drugs being developed to target these channels in order to treat symptoms of epilepsy and other central nervous system (CNS) disorders. I have gained experience in tissue culture, cDNA transfections and calcium imaging throughout this vacation scholarship. I also presented a poster on my research at the Young Life Scientists' Symposium 2014 at Kings College London.

Master Of Science (Msc), Clinical Trials, Distinction

Bachelor Of Science (Bsc), Biomedical Sciences, 2:1