PCD Research was founded and Registered by the Charity Commission UK in January 2023.
Dr Harriet Holme founded PCD Research, the first charity world wide to fund scientific research for Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, to progress a cure. The majority of research in the UK, particularly in rare disease, is funded by charities.
Dr Harriet Holme MA MBBS MRCPCH(2009) PhD
Founder and Chair Trustee
After reading medicine at Cambridge University, Harriet worked in the NHS as a National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) academic paediatrician in London for nearly a decade, ultimately specialising in paediatric oncology. Harriet completed her PhD on cancer drivers and potential novel therapeutic targets in osteosarcoma at University College London and the Institute of Cancer Research, in Professor Alan Ashworth’s laboratory. This included investigation of synthetic lethality using siRNA screening of the kinome and creation of models of loss of function using gene editing (CRISPR-Cas9).
Harriet currently works as a Drug Development Clinician for Weatherden, assisting biotechs with strategy and clinical trial design in oncology and advanced therapeutics. Through experience in Harriet’s career, she understands the route from bench to clinic for the development of novel therapies. Harriet is passionate about improving the outcomes for people with PCD, and ensuring access to proportionate, evidence based effective treatments.
Harriet is the parent of a child with PCD.
Gurhan Erturan MBBS MA LLB, Trustee
Gurhan is currently the Medical Director and global lead for Medical Affairs for Orthofix-SeaSpine. Gurhan worked for sixteen years in the NHS as a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon. He has a research fellowship and postgraduate science degree from the University of Oxford, together with a Law degree. Gurhan has a decade of commercial and clinical consulting in the life sciences and health-tech sectors. He advises predominantly in orthopaedic, musculoskeletal trauma, biologics, surgery enabling technologies, and spinal devices.
Gurhan is the parent of a child with PCD.
Harriet Nowell-Smith BA Hons MA LLB, Trustee
Harriet has 22 years of experience as a lawyer. She worked for 3 years in private practice (advising on tax and trusts, including charities law) and 20 years in the Government Legal Department. She specialises in public law (administrative law, regulatory law) in relation to provision of services (including financial and legal services). She is particularly interested in the cross-border regulation of trade in services. Harriet has expertise as a school governor and experience with employment law and financial services law.
Michelle Levene MA Oxon MBA, Trustee
Michelle is an Advisor, Consultant and Interim Executive, responsible for pioneering trailblazing innovations in biotechnology treatments for oncology and rare disease. She is able to galvanise diverse, cross-functional, remote teams to tackle complex, business-critical issues across strategy and operations, including drug development, pre-launch preparations and commercialization; this includes due diligence, opportunity assessment and valuations, through high-profile and compelling project leadership.
Michelle read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University and has an MBA from Harvard.
Oliver Burgel MSc(Econ) PhD
Oliver is an investor in early-stage technology and real estate. Oliver has worked for over 25 years in finance, latterly as Chief Executive for the European region of asset management firm Barings and as Chief Operating Officer for Babson Capital Europe. Oliver was a co-founder of credit fund manager Duke Street Capital Debt Management. Prior to his career in finance, he worked as an academic economist. Oliver was responsible for the financial affairs of an educational charity.
Oliver has an MSc(Econ) from London Business School and a PhD from the University of Warwick.
Natalie Gehl MSc
Natalie is passionate about helping children to thrive, having worked voluntarily in the education setting, and as the mother of two young children. She has been delighted to continue the prestigious significant fundraising history of her family, personally raising over half a million pounds for medical research and treatment. Natalie understands the immense value of improving patient outcome.
PCDresearch.org 