SMA REACH UK Study Team
SMA REACH UK, is led by Chief Investigator Professor Muntoni, and is coordinated from the Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, Institute of Child Health, UCL, London by Dr Mariacristina Scoto; Clinical Research Physiotherapist and Dr Salma Samsuddin; SMA REACH Trial Manager. This team forms the London site where patient recruitment will take place at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Principal Investigator Consultant Research Physiotherapist Dr Anna Mayhew currently leads SMA-REACH at Newcastle and are our collaborators.
Principal Investigator Consultant Research Physiotherapist Dr Anna Mayhew currently leads SMA-REACH at Newcastle and are our collaborators.
London Team
![]() Francesco Muntoni
Professor Francesco Muntoni, Chief Investigator, is a Paediatric Neurologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital and Head of the Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. ![]() Dolapo Anifowoshe
Dolapo Anifowoshe is the SMA-REACH Trial Coordinator at the Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. ![]() Matthew Madden
Matthew Madden is the SMA REACH Global/iSMAC Data Manager at the Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. Annemarie Rohwer
Annemarie Rohwer is our dedicated SMA-REACH Research Physiotherapist at the Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Institute of Child Health. |
![]() Mariacristina Scoto
Dr Mariacristina Scoto is a Senior Clinical Research Associate at the Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. For all clinical enquiries related to the study contact: m.scoto@ucl.ac.uk ![]() Salma Samsuddin
Dr Salma Samsuddin is the SMA-REACH Trial Manager at the Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. For all study enquires contact: s.samsuddin@ucl.ac.uk ![]() Elzo Cavalcante
Elzo Cavalcante is the SMA-REACH Regional Data Manager at the Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. |
Newcastle Team

Anna Mayhew
Dr Anna Mayhew is a Consultant Research Physiotherapist based at the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, International Centre for Life, Newcastle and is the Principle Investigator for SMA REACH at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Dr Anna Mayhew is a Consultant Research Physiotherapist based at the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, International Centre for Life, Newcastle and is the Principle Investigator for SMA REACH at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
International Collaborators
Co-Investigator Professor Eugenio Mercuri and Research Physiotherapist Elena Mazzone from the Catholic University Rome are International Collaborators for this project with significant clinical and research experience in SMA.
The Scientific Advisory Board
The Scientific Advisory Board consists of a panel of international experts with significant expertise in SMA who provide external advice on the scope and direction of the project.
SMA-REACH Steering Committee Group
A steering committee group has been set-up to review audit requests and other appropriate SMA-REACH governance as required.
Our team of volunteers consist of the following specialists-
Consultants-
Dr Deepak Parasuraman (Consultant Paediatrician)- Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham UK
Dr Deepa Krishnakumar (Consultant Paediatric Neurologist)- Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK
Dr Min Ong (Consultant Paediatric Neurologist)- Sheffield Children's Hospital
Dr Chiara Bettolo (Consultant Neurologist and Clinical Lead)-Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Vasantha Gowda (Consultant Paediatric Neurologist)- Evelina London Children’s Hospital
Dr Anne-Marie Childs (Consultant Paediatric Neurologist)- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Dr Channa Hewamadduma (Consultant Neurologist)- Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Physiotherapists-
Marion Main (Consultant and team lead physiotherapist, neuromuscular)- Great Ormond Street Hospital
Robert Muni Lofra (Consultant Physiotherapist)-John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Newcastle University Translational and Clinical Research Institute
Jennie Sheehan (Clinical Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist)- Evelina London Children’s Hospital
Jacqui Taylor (Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust)
Charities-
Liz Ryburn (SMA UK)
Jackie Guyler (SMA UK)
Dawn Wilbur (Treat SMA)
Our team of volunteers consist of the following specialists-
Consultants-
Dr Deepak Parasuraman (Consultant Paediatrician)- Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham UK
Dr Deepa Krishnakumar (Consultant Paediatric Neurologist)- Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK
Dr Min Ong (Consultant Paediatric Neurologist)- Sheffield Children's Hospital
Dr Chiara Bettolo (Consultant Neurologist and Clinical Lead)-Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Vasantha Gowda (Consultant Paediatric Neurologist)- Evelina London Children’s Hospital
Dr Anne-Marie Childs (Consultant Paediatric Neurologist)- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Dr Channa Hewamadduma (Consultant Neurologist)- Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Physiotherapists-
Marion Main (Consultant and team lead physiotherapist, neuromuscular)- Great Ormond Street Hospital
Robert Muni Lofra (Consultant Physiotherapist)-John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Newcastle University Translational and Clinical Research Institute
Jennie Sheehan (Clinical Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist)- Evelina London Children’s Hospital
Jacqui Taylor (Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust)
Charities-
Liz Ryburn (SMA UK)
Jackie Guyler (SMA UK)
Dawn Wilbur (Treat SMA)