Diabetes Technology Network Ireland Speakers
Dr Tomás Griffin
Dr Tomás Griffin has recently taken up a post as a Consultant Diabetologist at Galway University Hospitals/CHO2 and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Galway. He is a graduate of the school of Medicine at the University of Galway (First Honour). He completed a PhD entitled, “The Role of Novel Biomarkers in Addressing the Burden of Chronic Kidney Disease in Diabetes Mellitus” at the University of Galway. In addition, he holds a Masters in Clinical Research (First Honour) and a Higher Diploma in Clinical Education (First Honour) from the University of Galway.
Dr Griffin was awarded and completed a competitive Clinical Fellowship in Diabetes Technology with a special focus on diabetes in pregnancy at the prestigious Leicester Diabetes Research Centre (2021-2022). He is an honorary Lecturer at the University of Leicester and a Clinical Consultant in Diabetes Communication Technology at the University of Dundee. Dr Griffin has worked as a Consultant Diabetologist/Associate Professor of Medicine at University Hospital Limerick/University of Limerick.
Dr Kate Gajewska
Kate is a Clinical Manager for Advocacy and Research in Diabetes. In her role Kate is responsible for all advocacy activities, and oversees Diabetes Ireland Research Alliance. Consecutively, Kate is still involved in academic research as a Postdoctoral Researcher (Knowledge Broker) at the School of Public Health, University College Cork. In 2020 Kate has been awarded a PhD degree by RCSI: University of Medicine and Health Sciences for her thesis focusing on access to insulin pump therapy in Ireland.
Prior to joining Diabetes Ireland, Kate worked as a lecturer in Epidemiology and Public Health at RCSI: University of Medicine and Health Sciences, and a Postgraduate Researcher in the OPEN diabetes project focusing on the DIY artificial pancreas systems. Before conducting her PhD she worked as a research data manager in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, in Dublin, and as a psychologist and a diabetes educator in an outpatient diabetes clinic in Warsaw, Poland. She completed MSc in Clinical Psychology in 2010, and received a Postgraduate Award in Mixed Methods for Health Services Research.
Kate’s research interests include diabetes, mainly type 1 diabetes, its epidemiology, determinants of (barriers and facilitators to) access to technology in diabetes care, health and well-being of people with chronic illnesses, as well as health services research and its role in improving health, outcomes and quality of care.
She is the author of peer-reviewed publications, educational materials, presents as a speaker at international and national conferences, and actively engages in patient advocacy and scientific organizations (i.e. ISPAD, IES, PSI) as a healthcare professional, researcher and a person living with diabetes (since 1987).
Professor Partha Kar
Professor Partha Kar is the Type 1 Diabetes & Technology lead for NHS England and co-lead of the Getting it Right First Time (Diabetes) and Consultant, Diabetes & Endocrinology in Portsmouth.
In his role with NHS England–He has helped to expand use of technology in Type 1 Diabetes- namely use of Flash Glucose/CGM & implementation of use of CGM in T1D pregnancy along with use of online digital self-management platforms- while recently leading on real world data collection on Closed Loops for subsequent NICE review. He has worked subsequently with NICE on updating relevant guidelines in non-invasive glucose monitoring access in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.
His other work has involved introduction of frailty into Quality Of Framework (QoF) treatment targets, Diabulimia pilot projects in the NHS; championing “Language Matters” and helping to create an overview of Diabetes care in Primary Care Networks.
Recent work has included principles of Peer support for Type 1 Diabetes as well as a Decision Support Tool for those with Type 1 Diabetes.
He is one of the leading users of social media in diabetes care- and writes a monthly blog for the British Medical Journal.
He has been:
*Co-creator of TAD (Talking About Diabetes) – TED talks from those with T1Diabetes
*Co- creator of Type 1 Diabetes comic (Volume 1 to 5)
*Co-creator of DEVICES (Virtual Reality educational modules in diabetes)
He has also been recognised as one of the most influential figures from the ethnic minority population across healthcare in the UK by the Healthcare Service Journal in 2020,2021, 2022 & 2023
He received an OBE for services to Diabetes care in 2021.
His has worked with NICE regards opening up access to “Artificial Pancreas” to those with Type 1 Diabetes- and leading on the 5 year implementation plan.
Dr Kevin Moore
Dr. Kevin Moore is a graduate of RCSI. After completing the SPR training programme in Diabetes and Endocrinology, Dr. Moore undertook a fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he studied insulin pump therapy and continuous glucose monitoring. In 2007, Dr. Moore was appointed as a Consultant Endocrinologist at Naas General Hospital and Tallaght University Hospital.
His special areas of interest include Type 1 diabetes, Young adult diabetes, insulin pump therapy, glucose monitoring and exercise. Dr. Moore is a previous chairperson of the Diabetes Section of the Irish Endocrine Society and he was chairperson of the writing committee for the 2018 national guidelines for adults with Type 1 Diabetes, and the 2024 rapid update.
Professor Rob Andrews
Rob Andrews is an Associate Professor at the University of Exeter, an Honorary Consultant Physician at Musgrove Park Hospital Taunton. He is one of the co-founders of EXTOD, a group that aims to provide evidence-based support for people with type 1 diabetes to undertake safe and effective exercise, and to enjoy its associated health benefits.
At the University he leads a group that researches how to encourage and support patients with diabetes to exercise. Past studies include; The Early ACTID study that look at the effect of diet and exercise in newly diagnosed people with Type 2 diabetes; EXTOD education a study that developed and tested an education programme for people with Type 1 diabetes (with accompanying training for health care professionals to deliver this programme) to guide insulin and carbohydrate adjustment for safe exercise; and EXTOD 101 a study that determined the “real world” risks and benefits of exercise in 101 adults with type 1 diabetes who are training for and running a Half Marathon.
Ongoing studies include; EXTOD education online a study that adapts the EXTOD education programme to an online programme; MOTIVATE T2D that aims to determine how to remotely increase and maintain exercise in people with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes; EXTOD adolescents a study that aims to develop an education programme to help encourage and support exercise in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes; and studies that aim to determine the best ways to support women with Type 1, Type 2 or gestational diabetes to become more active.
At Musgrove park hospital as well as doing regular Diabetes and obesity clinics he runs specialist adult, adolescent and paediatric sports clinics to give advice to sports men, women and children who have Type 1 diabetes.
Ms Sonya Browne
Sonya Browne completed her general nurse training in Beaumont Hospital in 1988. She completed the Post graduate Diploma in Diabetes in UCD in 2003 and is a registered nurse prescriber since 2011.
She is currently a Candidate Advanced Nurse Practitioner for Diabetes Technology in Beaumont Hospital and the nurse lead for the insulin pump service. She has played an integral part in the expansion of this service which now cares for > 500 pump users.
She is currently pursuing a masters in advanced nurse practice in the RCSI.
Mr Ken Barclay
Ken Barclay, from Dublin, has had type 1 diabetes for more than thirty years. Ken works in IT and has been an early and enthusiastic user of all forms of Diabetes Technology as it has become available. He has been using an insulin pump for twenty years.
He also helps to run a Type 1 diabetes support group that started out as Dublin focused but now caters for people all over Ireland by meeting online. As a result of his participation in peer support Ken also helps organise Thriveabetes Ireland’s only Type 1 Diabetes Conference (https://thriveabetes.ie/). Ken is a member of Diabetes Ireland and Diabetes Ireland Advocacy Group.
Professor Orla Neylon
Dr Neylon graduated from NUI Galway in 2002, entering general paediatric specialist training in 2004. After 5 years training in Ireland she completed a clinical & research fellowship in paediatric endocrinology at The Royal Children’s Hospital and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne Australia. She concurrently completed a thesis entitled “The Interface between Human Behaviour and Diabetes Technologies in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus” for which a Doctorate of Medicine was awarded by NUIG.
She has a keen interest in APLS teaching and research interests include neonatal endocrinology, patient interaction with diabetes technologies and puberty/menstrual management and bone health in individuals with chronic disability. She worked as a Consultant General Paediatrician and Endocrinologist in Sligo University Hospital from 2013 to 2017, then moving to a post as Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist at University Hospital Limerick.
She is a member of several national paediatric and endocrinology committees and adjunct Associate Professor of Paediatrics at the School of Medicine at the University of Limerick.
Dr Christine Newman
Dr. Christine Newman is currently working as a consultant endocrinologist in Galway University Hospital and lead clinical researcher in the Diabetes Collaborative Clinical Trials Network. She graduated from NUIG in 2012 with an MB BCh BAO and completed her MD in the area of diabetes in pregnancy in 2022.
She has previously held posts as a clinical lecturer in the School of Medicine at the University of Galway and clinical fellow in Diabetes Technology and Endocrinology in Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals Group. She obtained postgraduate qualifications from the The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and is a member of the college and she has a Speciality Certificate in Endocrinology and Diabetes from the Society of Endocrinology.
Dr. Newman’s research interests are currently focused in the area of diabetes in pregnancy, diabetes technology and evidence synthesis and she is currently leading a refresh Priority Setting Partnership with the James Lind Alliance in the area of type 1 diabetes.
