Alberta Ossoulo, Child Death Review Family Liaison Coordinator, Child Bereavement UK
Karen Luyt, Programme Lead, National Child Mortality Database, and Professor of Neonatal Medicine, University of Bristol
Nasim Khan, Registered Genetic Counsellor
Karen Low, Consultant Clinical Geneticist and NIHR Clinical Research Fellow
Dr. Karen Low is a consultant clinical geneticist based in Bristol with a special interest in genetic conditions associated with developmental delay, intellectual disability, and autism. Karen has led a national study in the UK of over 500 children with genetic neurodevelopmental conditions – GenROC. Through her clinical and research work, she has seen firsthand the challenges families face when limited information is available about their child’s genetic condition—particularly how knowledge gaps can affect clinical care. She is passionate about involving patients in research. Her PhD focuses on learning from parent-reported data in genetic neurodevelopmental conditions.
Karen has also conducted research on several rare syndromes, including PUF60-related syndrome and HUWE1-related syndrome, and has particular expertise in KBG syndrome. She serves on the scientific advisory board of the KBG Association, is deputy chair for the KBG international consensus guideline and organized a UK KBG Family Day in partnership with Unique and has authored four patient information leaflets for families.
Serena Haywood, Consultant Neurodevelopmental Paediatrician
Dr Serena Haywood is a Consultant Neurodevelopmental Paediatrician at St Georges in London. She has been a Medical Examiner since 2020. She is also a Team Leader for performance assessments for the GMC and a Doctor Supporter for BMA Wellbeing. She is putting together a PhD proposal for 2028 on the interface between the child death review process and the medical examiner system.
Sarah Hodkinson, Head of Bereavement Service, Shooting Star Children’s Hospice
Sarah is an Associate Professor at the University of Southampton, music therapist and EMDR therapist, and head of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices’ Specialist Bereavement Service. She leads a team of 45 staff supporting families following anticipated and unexpected child deaths.
Dr David Wright, Senior Research Fellow, University of Southampton
Dr David Wright is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Southampton, with a particular interest in health inequalities. Principal researcher on the QUINTET study, he interviews families and professionals about their experiences and needs following sudden and unexpected child deaths.
Vicky Sleap, Deputy Director, National Child Mortality Database (NCMD)
Claire Thomas, National Clinical lead, NHS Wales
National Clinical Lead for Child Health in Wales, Paediatric Lead for the Child Death Review Programme in Wales, and Designated Doctor for Safeguarding Children. With a commitment to driving system-wide transformation across the NHS through an equitable, children’s rights-based approach. She is particularly passionate about ensuring that the investigation and review of child deaths identifies modifiable factors and translates learning into coordinated, population-level public health action to prevent avoidable deaths and improve outcomes for babies, children and young people.
Ian Fitzgerald, Senior Investigating Officer, Staffordshire Police
DS Sonia Milligan, Staffordshire Police
