Meet Some Of Our Patient Event Contributors
We’re incredibly excited to bring you a day filled with knowledge, connection, and hope. A big part of what makes our event so special is the dedicated professionals and organisations who are at the forefront of thalassaemia care and research. Here, we shine a spotlight on four of our fantastic contributors. As the event gets nearer we aim to shine a light on more of our contributors… but here are our first introductions!
Dr Farhan Ali Anjum – Pioneering Adult Gene Therapy
Dr Farhan Ali Anjum is a highly respected Consultant Haematologist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), bringing two decades of experience across three continents to his role. A graduate of King Edward Medical College, he is a true expert in the field with special interests in acute leukaemia, Stem Cell Transplant, CAR-T, and Gene Therapy.
Dr Anjum’s recent appointment at Manchester Royal Infirmary is a landmark moment, as he is set to be the lead consultant for adult thalassaemia patients receiving gene therapy in the North of England. This is a monumental step forward, especially with the recent approval of Casgevy, the world’s first CRISPR-based gene-editing therapy. Approved for NHS use in England for those with severe forms of beta-thalassaemia, this “life-changing” treatment offers the hope of a potential cure. We are thrilled that Dr. Anjum will be on hand to discuss the latest advancements and pathways in this groundbreaking area.
Dr Ramya Nataraj – A Champion for Paediatric Patients
Joining us from the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH), Dr. Ramya Nataraj is a compassionate and dedicated Paediatric Gene Therapy & Transplant Specialist. She is deeply involved in a range of advanced therapeutic programmess, including stem cell gene therapy and allogeneic transplant activity, and is a passionate advocate for translational cell and gene therapy research.
Dr Nataraj’s work is particularly vital as gene-editing therapies like Casgevy are now being made available on the NHS for eligible patients aged 12 and older. This means that young people living with thalassaemia now have access to a treatment that could free them from the burden of regular blood transfusions and allow them to lead more independent, higher-quality lives. Dr. Nataraj will provide invaluable insights into these developments, offering hope and a clear path forward for our youngest community members and their families.
Both Dr Anjum and Dr Nataraj will be answering your questions about gene therapy at the patient event. They have successfully helped the first patients in the UK to receive gene therapy so they are some of the most qualified people around to answer your questions.
Fortrea – A Partner in Progress
We’re also delighted to welcome Fortrea, a leading force in clinical trial research. Fortrea plays a critical role in advancing life-changing therapies, and their work on new treatments is a crucial part of the journey toward better thalassaemia care.
At our event, Fortrea representatives Mike Ravenscroft, Dr Jim Bush and Sherly Fen, will be speaking about their work for thalassaemia patients, and new treatment in the works such as petadeferitrin, a novel iron chelator from Pharmacosmos. This is a topic of great importance, as managing iron overload is a daily challenge for many patients. You’ll have the chance to learn more about their promising research and join an upcoming webinar where they delve deeper into a clinical study that you can be a part of. This online event, to be held via MS Teams on September 25th, 2025, from 18:00 – 18:30, will feature a presentation on the study followed by a Q&A session. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed on the latest clinical developments!
To learn more about that webinar, and register to watch/ask questions, follow this link: www.tickettailor.com/events/fortrea/1832469
Creativity with Sarah-Jane Mason
While our adult forums are a fantastic opportunity for learning and connection, we haven’t forgotten about the little ones! We are so excited to have Sarah-Jane Mason, a talented artist and educator, join us to lead a creative session in the children’s room in the morning.
Sarah-Jane believes that creativity is the key to unlocking learning and that play and experimentation are essential to the creative process. She has dedicated her career to making art accessible and fun for everyone. As an Artist Educator, she works with prestigious spaces like Leeds Art Gallery, The Tetley, and Yorkshire Sculpture Park, helping children and families explore their artistic side through interactive workshops.
Sarah-Jane’s passion for art is rooted in her own extensive training. After earning a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Liverpool John Moore’s University and a postgraduate degree in Cyprus, she chose to focus on creative education, earning a PGCE from the University of Leeds.
Most recently she has been involved with Leeds Art Gallery to help artists explore oil pastels and portraits inspired by the working process of Lynette Yiadom – Boakye whose exhibition ‘ To Improvise a Mountain’ is currently on show at the gallery.
https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/to-improvise-a-mountain-lynette-yiadom-boakye-curates-fgcq
