David Cranna is Director of Cranna Consulting Ltd, an Auckland business specialising in commercial support for technically-driven companies. Mr Cranna had a successful 18-year career with Swiss pharmaceutical company, F Hoffmann-La Roche, where his positions included Pharmaceutical Director of Roche Australia, Area Manager in Europe and Managing Director of the New Zealand and Greek affiliates of Roche. Along with his two fellow directors, David founded ACS in 2006 and remains active in its day-to-day business operations.

Richard Robson is a clinical pharmacologist and consultant physician in Nephrology and has served as Associate Professor of Medicine at the Christchurch School of Medicine. He has considerable expertise and extensive experience spanning 30 years in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. In addition to his clinical duties at Christchurch Hospital Richard provides an important consultancy and advisory role in pharmaceutical regulatory matters. He was responsible for initiating the introduction of Good Clinical Practice Guidelines for New Zealand. Richard is actively involved in academic and scientific organisations and is committed to the maintenance of professional standards. He is currently the Chairman of NZ Medicines Advisory and Assessment Committee (MAAC), the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Therapeutic Trials (SCOTT) and is on the NZ Generic sub committee. Richard is the author of many original publications in pharmaceutical and nephrology research and he has wide experience in conducting pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies.

Ed Gane is Deputy Director and Hepatologist of the New Zealand Liver Transplant Unit at Auckland City Hospital and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Auckland School of Medicine. He is the Government Clinical Advisor to the National Hepatitis B Screening Programme. Associate Professor Gane has a vast research experience. He is first author of more than 50-refereed publications. He has been Principal Investigator for many important and ground-breaking hepatitis studies conducted at ACS. Dr Gane was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen's 2011 New Year Honours for services to medicine.

Rod Ellis-Pegler is an infectious diseases physician and was formerly head of Infectious Diseases at Auckland City Hospital. He was also Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology at the Auckland University School of Medicine. He has a wide clinical experience and served on many NZ national committees in relation to infectious diseases and clinical microbiology in addition to the NZ Medicines Advisory and Assessment Committee. He has honorary life memberships of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases, the Australian Society of Antimicrobials and of the NZAIDS Foundation. He has authored many publications, many relating to antimicrobial use and served as Principal Investigator on a number of studies for ACS.

John Wishart is a dermatologist working both in private practice and for the Auckland District Health Board. Since 1975 he has worked in Auckland and has a broad interest in phototherapy and performing clinical trials. Of his 32 trials, the more recent have included Aldara in basal cell carcinomata, photodynamic therapy in BCC’s, tumour necrosis factor alpha inhibition in psoriasis and the effect of UV radiation on blood pressure and vitamin D levels. He has participated in two trials at ACS as Principal Investigator.

Vernon has been a consultant Medical Oncologist at Auckland Hospital since 1984 and was Clinical Director until 2004. He is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Oncology at the University of Auckland Medical School. He trained in medicine at Guy’s Hospital and undertook his postgraduate oncology training in Auckland and at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London.

Vernon’s primary interest is the management of patients with breast cancer and germ cell tumours. He is a keen supporter of clinical trials and the Principal Investigator of a large number of clinical trials in early and advanced breast cancer, germ cell tumours and drug development. He is an active member of several breast cancer co-operative trial groups. He was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to Medicine, particularly Oncology Research in the 2010 New Years Honours.

Sally Poppitt is the director of the University of Auckland Human Nutrition Unit, a 10 bed residential nutrition trials facility which is a collaboration between the School of Biological Sciences and Department of Medicine. The Unit conducts intervention studies in the area of obesity and weight control with interests in appetite regulation and metabolic dysregulation associated with weight gain and adiposity. She is also Associate Professor of Nutrition at the University of Auckland. She has been living and working in New Zealand for the past 10 years, where from 2006-08 she was also director of clinical trials development at Protemix Corporation working on therapeutics for obesity-related conditions including insulin resistance and diabetes. Prior to that Sally was a research fellow at the MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit based in Cambridge, UK and at the MRC tropical research facility in The Gambia, West Africa.

Janak de Zoysa graduated from the University of Auckland and trained in Renal Medicine in Christchurch and Leicester before returning to Auckland in 2004. He is a Consultant Nephrologist at North Shore Hospital and an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Medicine at the University of Auckland, School of Medicine. He is also interested in Medical Education and Obstetric Medicine.

Janet Patterson graduated from the University of Auckland, School of Medicine, majoring in haematology. Following a university and hospital-based research career that included several years at the Royal Free Hospital, UK, Janet moved to the pharmaceutical industry where she gained experience as a Clinical Research Associate, Trial Manager and Good Clinical Research Practice Officer. In 1994 she was selected to be a member of the Ciba Geigy GCP Auditors team and led GCRP audits in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Janet remains active as a GCP trainer in New Zealand.

Christian Schwabe trained in General Surgery at the University Hospital of Hamburg-Eppendorf. He joined Roche Germany in 1998 as a Medical Manager in the transplantation team and then moved to Roche New Zealand as a Product Specialist in transplantation where he developed business skills and a love for New Zealand. He returned to Europe in 2005 as International Business Leader (Transplantation) with F Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel. Christian and his family immigrated to New Zealand and he joined ACS in September 2008; he brings a unique set of clinical skills and business acumen to the organization. Christian is responsible for ACS clinical operations and has been Principal Investigator and co-investigator on ACS studies.

Nicky Cranshaw specialised in paediatric medicine at Auckland’s Starship Childrens Hospital before travelling to Australia and the UK. In London she worked as a medical consultant for Kinapse Ltd and was responsible for the medical needs assessment for a number of drugs for a large pharmaceutical company. She previously had a planning, data collection and clinical role for a Phase III study of Meningococcal B Vaccine. Nicky has been Principal Investigator and co-investigator on a number of ACS studies.

Ursula McCrann graduated in Medicine from Cardiff, UK and gained wide clinical experience as hospital physician and in General Practice training. She gained Membership of the Royal College of GP (UK) prior to moving to NZ in 2004.She has worked predominantly in GP practice in South Auckland, joining ACS in 2010 as a Research Physician.

Phillipa graduated in Medicine from Otago University and gained experience in general practice in New Zealand before moving to the UK. She spent four years working in London as a Clinical Research Physician for Charterhouse Clinical Research specializing primarily in Phase I clinical studies. Phillipa returned to New Zealand and joined ACS as a Research Physician in 2008.

Ben gained his Bachelor of Pharmacy degree with honours from University of Auckland in 2005. He was President of the University of Auckland Pharmacy Students’ Association and Pharmacy Board of Studies Student Representative. He worked in community pharmacy and was heavily involved in developing and managing robotic dispensing for a Northland group of pharmacies. Ben joined ACS in 2011 as Principal Pharmacist.

Natalie Gauld gained her Master of Pharmacy degree with credit from University of Otago and has worked in the pharmaceutical industry, education and research as well as community and hospital pharmacy. She has been a government appointee to committees including the Medicines Classification Committee and a Regional Ethics Committee as well as having a long involvement in the local branch of the Pharmaceutical Society.

Rosemary Langham gained her Diploma in Pharmacy from CIT, Wellington in 1975.Since that time she has worked in community pharmacy in New Zealand, Australia and the UK. She owned her own pharmacy in New Zealand for 15 years and tutored at the School of Pharmacy before joining ACS. She remains a Member of National Pharmacy Agreement Advisory Committee to the Ministry of Health and is a member of a Regional Ethics Committee.

Virginia gained her qualifications in pharmacy in 1994 from De Montfort University, Leicester. She worked in a number of hospital pharmacies in England before moving to New Zealand in 2005. Virginia joined Auckland City Hospital as a Senior Pharmacist, Haematology, and has also practiced in community pharmacy. Virginia joined ACS in 2009 and brings a wide range of experience including sterile preparation and dispensing.

David graduated from the University of Auckland in 1973 as a BSc with a double major on Zoology and Cellular Biology. He then moved to the University of Otago and gained his BPharm degree. David has spent most of his career working in community pharmacy in New Zealand, Australia and England. Most recently he has owned and managed a number of successful Auckland retail pharmacies. David joined ACS in 2009.

Avril registered as a pharmacist in the UK and came to New Zealand in the mid-eighties. She has worked extensively in hospital pharmacy in a variety of roles (management and clinical) in Cantebury and Auckland, before moving into the areas of quality improvement , medication safety and integration across primary and secondary care. She currently sits on the DHBNZ Safe and Quality use of Medicines Group and the DHB/Pharmacy Joint working group. She joins ACS from a Healthcare Improvement role at Waitemata District Health Board.

Kelly Halliday graduated from the University of Bath with a BSc (Hons) in Chemical and Biomolecular Science. She worked as a Research Scientist with Glaxo Smith Kline (UK) before joining Roche (UK) as Sample Logistics Coordinator. In this latter role she was responsible for the set up and coordination of study material supplies for Phase I-IV clinical trials as well as monitoring the receipt of biological samples. Kelly joined ACS as A Study Coordinator and is now responsible for internal quality control.

Mary trained as a Comprehensive Nurse in Wellington NZ before gaining her Bachelor of Health Science degree. She was employed as a nurse with Capital and Coast Health before embarking on a career in research. She worked as a CRA in NZ and the UK before joining the Clinical Trials Research Unit of University of Auckland as a Project Manager. Mary contracts to ACS and is primarily focused on Study Coordination of special projects.

Vithika completed undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Auckland graduating with 1st Class Honours in her MSc degree in 2007. As a Masters student, she worked at the Liggins Institute identifying and characterising the link between HOX genes and the ErbB receptors in the human breast cancer cell line, MCF7. She then held a Research Scientist position with the Department of Anatomy, University of Auckland, analysing the presence and distribution of gap junction protein, Cx43. Vithika joined ACS as a Study Coordinator early-2009 and has successfully completed a number of hepatitis patient studies.

Following a strong academic career in medical science at the University of Auckland that included tutoring and mentoring other students, Carolyn joined ACS as a Research Assistant in 2007. She gained experience in many departments at ACS before finally taking on the role of Study Coordinator in 2011.

Stephanie graduated with a first class honours degree in Bioscience Enterprise from the University of Auckland. She has a strong interest in the application of science in business and won the NZ Trade & Enterprise award for the best Masters thesis in 2010. Stephanie joined ACS as a Research Assistant in 2011.

Ishita was awarded her BSc from Bangalore University, India and her MSc from the Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences. She worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Dept of Cardiology at the Fortis Flt. Lt. Rajan Dhall Hospital in New Delhi and as a CRA for Baxter Pharmaceuticals in New Delhi. Ishita joined ACS as a Transcriptionist/Research Assistant in 2011.

Tara Shadbolt is both a NZ Registered Comprehensive Nurse and a UK Registered General Nurse. Prior to joining ACS, Tara worked as Clinical Research Nurse at LCG Bioscience, a Cambridgeshire, UK-based Phase I Clinical Pharmacology Unit. At LCG Tara gained experience directly relevant to her position at ACS including the planning, coordination and implementation of clinical research projects and carrying out clinical tasks in accordance with GCP and SOPs. Tara has been with ACS since start-up.

Mary is a Registered General and Obstetric Nurse whose career has focused on research. Most recently she was employed by Auckland District Health Board as Manager of the Cardiovascular Research Unit. Mary joined ACS as a Research Nurse in 2008 and is now a Senior Research Nurse with a special focus on hepatitis.

Kay trained as a Registered General and Obstetric Nurse at Waikato Hospital before moving to the UK where she practiced in both private and hospital nursing. On return to NZ, Kay worked as an orthopaedic and theatre nurse and held a number of nurse management positions with Auckland District Health Board at the same time as completing a business degree. Kay joined ACS as a Research Nurse in 2008 and is now a Senior Research Nurse with a special focus on hepatitis.

Del Dalton brings to ACS a broad background in both reception and office administration. She has worked in the hotel and corporate areas and gained substantial experience in accounting and IT functions. Del is the first "port-of-call" for many ACS clients and patients/volunteers.

Margaret has a strong background in administration & reception roles. Most recently she held the position of Administrator for the Auckland Museum Institute where she had sole responsibility for day-to-day running of the office. At ACS she assists the QA Manager and Study Coordination team as well as having relief reception responsibilities.

Rose gained her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology degree from the University of Otago in 2004. She went on to spend three years as Research Technician with the Ministry of Health in Suva working on the Fiji Group A Streptococcal Project (Fiji GrASP). Rose then joined ACS as a Laboratory Technician and in 2009 was promoted to the position of Laboratory Supervisor and then Laboratory Manager in 2011.

Thomas gained his Bachelor of Biological Science degree from the University of Canterbury in 2008 before joining ACS’ Christchurch-based sister company, CCST, as a Laboratory Assistant. Thomas moved to Auckland in 2009 and joined ACS as Laboratory Technician.

Elise is a NZ Registered General Nurse and Midwife who originally trained at Grey’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Following a period nursing in England, Elise moved to New Zealand and has worked in a variety of nursing roles for Auckland District Health Board including a period as a gastroenterology research nurse. Elise joined ACS as a Research Nurse in 2007 and is now a Nurse Team Leader.

Margaret is a Registered General and Maternity Nurse who trained at Wellington Hospital. Following a period nursing in Australia, Margaret returned to New Zealand and has most recently been working at North Shore Hospital in Post Anaesthetic Care, Emergency Care and the surgical and orthopaedic wards. Margaret joined ACS as a Research Nurse in 2007 and is now a Nurse Team Leader.

Following a career as a hospital-based midwife, Kaye worked as a pool Research Nurse at ACS gaining experience in Phase I clinical trials. Following training new research nurses for ACS, Kaye now works as a Nurse Team Leader.