Our Patron
We are delighted to have as our patron the leading expert on CMV in the UK.
Paul Griffiths
Paul Griffiths is Emeritus Professor of Virology at University College, London. His research concerns cytomegalovirus infection, where he has helped to define the natural history and pathogenesis of this infection and used this information to design randomised controlled trials of antiviral drugs and prototype vaccines. He is Editor-In-Chief of Reviews in Medical Virology.
Our Trustees
Our organisation is headed up by our Trustees.
Liz Estall
Liz has been a Trustee and Support Volunteer since 2012 and one of her sons is affected by congenital CMV.
Sarah Dewar
Sarah has been involved with CMV Action since 2011 when she started as a volunteer. She became a trustee in 2015 and Chair of Trustees in June 2019. Sarah has a son who had congenital CMV and is now an adult. She is also a support volunteer.
Angela Johnson
Trustee
Angela became aware of cCMV during her pregnancy, which ultimately resulted in the stillbirth of her daughter in early 2019. Since learning of the virus she has supported CMV Action both as a fundraiser and by raising awareness in her local community, and is passionate about continuing this work as a Trustee.
Alice Fletcher-Etherington
Alice has recently completed a PhD in the molecular biology of cytomegalovirus from the University of Cambridge, and has been looking for ways to stay connected with the CMV community, to utilise her knowledge of CMV to raise public and political awareness of this little-known virus, and to help children and families affected by it. Alice is passionate about the application of scientific research to improve health and promote equality.
Our Staff
Meet our wonderful staff responsible for the day to day running of CMV Action. We currently have three part-time members of the team.
Debbie Rennie
CMV Connect Project Coordinator
Debbie joined CMV Action in September 2025. Debbie has worked in social work and the third sector for over 20 years, leading projects that support families, children, and communities. She is passionate about building connections and ensuring families feel supported and included.
Hannah Phillips
Fundraising and Social Media Officer
Hannah joined CMV Action in December 2023, having worked as Fundraising Manager at Beyond Bea Charity and Sponsorships and Events Manager at The Shepherd Centre in Sydney, Australia. Hannah is an experienced and passionate fundraiser who is committed to delivering the best results for CMV Action.