The team
Dianthus Medical has an investor in people policy and as part of the company’s continuing commitment to its employees; special emphasis is placed on both the encouragement and support of personal and professional development to meet clients’ needs.
All our medical writers maintain their skills by regular training, both in-house and with courses provided by the European Medical Writers Association as part of their Professional Development Programme. Non-medical writing staff attends regular training sessions to ensure clients benefit from the most effective and efficient working processes. Our investment in staff training is through a number of appropriate organisations.
Dr Adam Jacobs, director
Adam is an experienced medical writer and statistician. Before setting up Dianthus Medical in 1999, he worked as a medical writer for both a small contract research organisation and a large medical communication agency. Adam has a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in medical statistics from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
He takes an active role in the European Medical Writers Association (EMWA), and was president of the association in 2004-2005. In 2003, he set up EMWA’s ghostwriting task force, as a result of which he was co-author of EMWA’s guidelines on the role of medical writers in peer-reviewed publications. He is a regular workshop leader for EMWA’s training workshops and a columnist in their journal, The Write Stuff, and was among the first few people to be awarded EMWA’s advanced professional development certificate. He is also a fellow of the Institute of Clinical Research and a Chartered Scientist.
In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, gardening, karate, long-distance running, travel, and hill walking (but not usually all at the same time).
Nancy Milligan, senior medical writer
Nancy has an MSc in cognitive neuroscience from Imperial College, London. She joined Dianthus Medical in 2005 after having previously worked as a medical writer at a medical communications agency and as an information researcher.
She has completed the EMWA professional development programme at the foundation and advanced levels. She is also a regular columnist in EMWA’s journal, The Write Stuff.
In her spare time, she enjoys travel, music, film, and theatre.
Dr Melanie Lee, senior medical writer
Melanie has a PhD in biochemistry from St George’s Hospital Medical School, University of London. She joined Dianthus Medical in early 2007, after completing post-doctoral research at the Marie Curie Research Institute in Surrey.
She has completed the EMWA professional development programme at the foundation and advanced levels.
In her spare time, she enjoys swimming and gardening.
Dr Alice Walmesley, medical writer
Alice has a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Liverpool. She joined Dianthus Medical in 2007, after working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Medical Genetics Section, University of Edinburgh, in the field of motor neurone disease.
She is currently enrolled in the EMWA professional development programme at the foundation level.
In her spare time, she enjoys travel, music festivals, gardening and yoga.
Dr Sara Hughes, medical writer
Sara has a PhD in genetics from the University of Birmingham. She joined Dianthus Medical in 2008 after completing post-doctoral research at the University of Reading.
She is currently enrolled in the EMWA professional development programme at the foundation level.
In her spare time, she enjoys playing golf, playing the piano, gardening, and cooking.
Emily Bell, medical writer
Emily has a BSc in Molecular Cell Biology from University College, London. She joined Dianthus Medical in 2011 having previously worked as an editorial assistant at a medical communications agency.
She is currently enrolled in the EMWA professional development programme at the foundation level.
In her spare time, Emily enjoys travel, photography, music, and literature.
Alpa Jadeja, senior clinical data manager
Alpa has a degree in computer systems technology from the University of Westminster, specialising in database design. She joined Dianthus Medical in early 2005, and her responsibilities include not only managing data from clinical trials but also developing and maintaining the database systems that we use for clinical data management.
She is a member of the Association for Clinical Data Management.
In her spare time, she enjoys playing sports (football, tennis, and volleyball), listening to music, watching films, and reading.
Dr Michael Grayer, statistician
Michael joined Dianthus Medical in 2011 after submitting his PhD thesis at Queen Mary, University of London, which he was awarded in October 2011. He has an MSc in Demography and Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and a BSc degree in Mathematics with Modern Languages from UCL.
He is a member of the Royal Statistical Society and the PSI, and a volunteer in the Science Media Centre’s pioneering “Before the Headlines” programme, providing statistical summaries of scientific papers as information for journalists preparing science news stories.
In his spare time, he enjoys playing and umpiring a range of sports, including baseball, softball and korfball, as well as playing and writing music.
Ruth Allwood, client support manager
Ruth has a degree in American Studies and Film Studies from the University of Hull. She joined Dianthus Medical in early 2010, and her responsibilities include financial management, project tracking, and manager of all quality processes.
She is a member of the Institute of Clinical Research.
In her spare time, she enjoys cycling and watching films.
Vivien Allen, administrator
Vivien does not have a degree, is not a statistician or a computer systems expert, but she does have over 15 years experience as an Administration Manager within the Private Health Care Industry.
In her spare time, she enjoys interior design, gardening, reading, films, and theatre.