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 Andrews
Angela is a registered nurse and midwife, currently working as a community midwife in the Midlands. Angela became a trustee for CMV Action in 2019 following a personal experience of CMV in pregnancy, whereby her son was then born with congenital CMV.
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.
Leena O'Hara
Operations Manager
Leena joined CMV Action as its Operations Manager in April 2024. Her current priorities are to develop the new 3-year strategic plan for the charity and to oversee CMV’s portfolio of projects. Leena has worked with large and small organisations, in the public and not-for-profit sector, and has found small charities to be her natural habitat.
Career highlights for Leena include leading a 10-year health behaviour change programme for Warwickshire County Council, and the successful delivery of a National Lottery Community Fund programme, which transformed the information and support for families, affected by a rare blood disease.
Leena lives in Warwickshire with her family. When she isn’t working, she enjoys watching live stand-up comedy and taking walks with her family and their dog, Bella.
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.