Mighty Oaks from Little Acorns Grow: Introducing the ACORN Research…
OCHRE and its partners aim to transform OSCC research in the UK and bring new hope to patients facing…
Behind OCHRE’s mission is a passionate and dedicated team committed to making a real difference in the lives of those affected by oesophageal cancer.
Though small in size, we’re mighty in determination, working tirelessly to ensure that every patient, family, and healthcare professional has access to the support, information, and hope they need.
We exist to improve outcomes for people affected by oesophageal cancer through awareness, research, and support. By promoting early diagnosis, funding innovative research, and providing compassionate guidance, we aim to create a future where this disease no longer takes lives prematurely.
A future where oesophageal cancer is detected early, treated effectively, and ultimately prevented. We envision a world where patients have access to the best possible care, supported by cutting-edge research and greater public awareness of symptoms.
Far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast. Far far away, behind the word mountains,
Our team brings together expertise in patient advocacy, policy development, and community engagement. From taking calls from worried families to representing oesophageal cancer patients at policy tables across the world, we’re here to be the voice that ensures no one is forgotten.
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Get to know the people driving change in oesophageal cancer care.
OCHRE and its partners aim to transform OSCC research in the UK and bring new hope to patients facing…
Sue Kee prepares for epic fundraising trek to honour her late father Gordon Kee, one of OCHRE's…
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, OCHRE is providing over £300,000 to fund this vital…
Allan had a career as a Chartered Surveyor of nearly 40 years before retiring in 2017.
He becomes a 20-year survivor of Oesophageal Cancer this year. An incredible achievement thanks to early diagnosis and the intervention of radical surgery and chemotherapy. He is thought to be Scotland’s longest surviving oesophageal cancer patient having been diagnosed in 2005.
Joined Ochre as a Director in October 2007 and elected Chair in February 2009.
Mike is the Chairman of the NHS Tribunal and is a part-time lecturer and tutor in Ethics, Professional Responsibility and Awareness and Legal Skills to Graduate Diploma Students and trainee solicitors at the University of Glasgow.
He is the former Director of Business Law at MacRoberts Solicitors, one of the top six legal firms in Scotland and a former member of Court Glasgow Caledonian University.
Mike is Vice-Chair of Ochre and was one of the organisation’s founding members.
I am Lead of the Cancer Epidemiology Research Group at the Centre for Public Health at Queen’s University Belfast. I am Deputy Director of the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry.
I have expertise in molecular epidemiology (incuding molecular pathology epidemiology) studies, statistical analysis of population-based disease registers and real world evidence, and systematic reviews of lifestyle factors and biomarkers in cancer risk and progression.
Professor Russell Petty’s main research interests are in clinical and translational research in gastro-oesophageal cancers. He was the chief investigator of the recently completed COG trial which was the first Phase III randomised controlled trial of second line therapy in oesophageal cancer and lead the translational arm TRANSCOG which identified a predictive biomarker for a gefitinib responsive subgroup of tumours.
He is a current member of the trial management groups for several UK national clinical trials in gastroesophageal cancer including PLATFORM and GO-2 and the translational research lead for TRANS-GO2 and TRANSCOG2.
Dr Hosney Yosef, O.B.E, F.R.C.R, F.R.C.P, F.R.S.M, F.B.I.R, is a retired Clinical Oncologist who was based at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre. He was also an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Glasgow University.
In 2006 he was awarded an O.B.E in recognition of his services to medicine in the West of Scotland. During his time (from 1974) as a cancer specialist at Hairmyres Hospital, he developed, in conjunction with a leading surgeon, the concept of pre-operative chemotherapy and radiotherapy (multi-modality treatment) for Oesophageal cancer which is now standard practice in the treatment of oesophageal cancer.
Sue’s career spans 15 years in IBM UK, converting from IT to the space sector in 2018. She is currently VP Commercial Management at AAC Clyde Space. Sue has a BEng (Hons) in Product Design Engineering, an MSc in Information Technology and a PGCert in Space Science.
Darren is originally from Banff, now living in Balmedie in Aberdeenshire. He has been married to Nicole for 10 years with two amazing children – Jackson and Alix and a husky called Cobain.
Darren studied literature at Binghamton University in upstate New York whilst playing football and now works in a joint role as QHSE Manager and MARPOL Marine Surveyor for Swan & Co. Marine Surveyors in Aberdeen within the oil and gas sector .
Darren lost his Dad in 2015 after a brave fight against oesophageal cancer.
Mr Donald McArthur is a Consultant Upper Gastro Intestinal Surgeon. He trained in the West of Scotland and works at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
When not in the hospital Donald enjoys outdoor activities with his wife and two daughters and is a keen sailor, cyclist and hill walker.
Dan is a Lecturer in the Cancer Epidemiology Research Group of the Centre for Public Health at Queen’s University Belfast. Dan’s previous research has focused on identifying novel risk factors for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), with extensive fieldwork experience in East Africa while working at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the dedicated cancer prevention research agency of the WHO.
Dan’s work at QUB continues to use environmental epidemiology approaches to address the cancer burden at home, filling a gap of much-needed research on ESCC.
Kate Cunningham specialises in communications and engagement and runs the day to day operation of OCHRE. Her focus is on ensuring that the experience and outcomes of oesophageal cancer patients and their families are represented at every level of government and NHS decision making.
Kate brings many years of communications and public affairs expertise to OCHRE having worked in Government, third sector, consultancy, media, the arts, and football.