NACCS ASM 2026 Speakers
Browse our esteemed roster of expert speakers for the NACCS Annual Scientific Meeting 2026.
Ms Zainab Alani
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Zainab Alani is a medical student studying at the University of Glasgow, currently in her fourth year following completion of an intercalated BSc in Critical Care and Perioperative Medicine for which she was awarded honours and distinction. Zainab’s interests lie in trauma and motorsport medicine and, thus, for her intercalated project she pursued an avenue exploring traumatic brain injury.
Under the supervision of BrainIT Steering Group members Dr Laura Moss and Dr Martin Shaw, Zainab worked on a project pertaining to dynamic modelling in the traumatic brain injury domain using statistical methods. This work and Zainab’s oral presentation secured her first prizes across both her critical care subgroup and year cohort. Despite her research year having drawn to a close, Zainab remains interested in pursuing research avenues and opportunities where they arise.
Dr Flora Bird
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Dr Bird is a Consultant in Emergency Medicine at the Royal London Hospital and Consultant in Prehospital Care with London’s Air Ambulance (LAA). She has spent time working with Air Ambulances in the UK and abroad – Essex & Herts Air Ambulance as flight doctor and Governance Lead; and with the Flying Doctors in East Africa (AMREF). She has long held an interest in the hyperacute physiology of severe traumatic brain injury and holds the role of Head Injury Lead for LAA. Flora completed an MPhil in applied physiology at the University of Portsmouth and is an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer for Queen Mary University London.
Dr Murray Blackstock
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Critical Care and Anaesthesia Consultant in NHS Lothian.
Prof Paul Brennan
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Paul Brennan is Professor of Clinical and Experimental neurosurgery at the University of Edinburgh, Honorary Consultant Neurosurgeon and Clinical Director at NHS Lothian. He is a Council Member of the Royal College Surgeons of Edinburgh.
Paul combines his clinical practice focused on surgical neuro-oncology with a broad portfolio of research. His research spans the laboratory and the clinic, combining molecular, epidemiology and clinical investigation to guide rationale innovation to improve patient care. He collaborates on bringing innovative technologies to the clinic, developing the clinical and scientific evidence for adoption into routine care.
For more than 5 years Paul and colleagues have been developing the internationally reknowned Edinburgh Centre for Brain tissue Research, using human brain slice cultures to better model human disease and to accelerate therapy development.
Prof Jon Coles
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I completed my PhD in the field of neuro-imaging (MR and Positron Emission Tomography (PET)) following traumatic brain injury (TBI) from the University of Cambridge. My current research program examines mechanisms responsible for secondary neuronal injury, their temporal profile, and implications for eventual neurocognitive recovery following TBI. I am currently Clinical Professor of Intensive Care Medicine and lead for the Perioperative, Acute, Critical Care and Emergency Medicine (PACE) Section, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, and President of the Neuroanaesthesia and Critical Care Society (NACCS), UK.
Dr Hanlie DuPlessis
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Hanlie trained in South Africa before moving to Scotland to complete her postgraduate training in Anaesthesia. She worked as a consultant anaesthetist across West and Central Scotland and has been based in Oxford since 2015. Her clinical work focuses on major emergencies, spinal trauma, and complex elective surgery.
She has been recognised for her compassionate approach to patient care, including a nomination for the Oxford University Hospitals Doctor of the Year award. During the pandemic, she played a key role in establishing her department’s wellbeing and sustenance initiative, and she now serves as the clinical governance lead for her group.
Hanlie is also an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Oxford, teaching medical students during their anaesthesia rotation. Alongside her clinical work, she is a holistic life coach supporting clinicians to prevent burnout and navigate career transitions with clarity and confidence.
She is guided by the values of empathy, emancipation, and equality. Outside of work, she enjoys yoga, reading, the outdoors, and the ocean — all fuelled by strong coffee.
Prof Nicolai Bang Foss
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MD, DMsC, Professor in Acute perioperative medicine and pathophysiology at Dep. of anaesthesia Hvidovre Hospital.
Dr Paul Garcia
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Paul García, MD, PhD, is Chief of Neuroanesthesia at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and a physician-scientist whose research bridges neurophysiology, aging, and anesthetic pharmacology. His laboratory investigates how anesthesia and age affect brain function, using both preclinical models and intraoperative EEG data to study postoperative outcomes like pain and delirium. Dr. García’s work has been continuously supported by the NIH, DoD, and other agencies, and he has translated his findings into clinical innovation. He is also the co-founder of a Columbia-backed biotech startup focused on EEG-based tools to improve recovery after surgery.
Dr Christopher Hawthorne
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Chris is a Consultant in Head and Neck Anaesthesia and Neurocritical Care at the Institute of Neurological Sciences in Glasgow where his clinical work is focused on the care of patients with brain and spinal injuries. He is a Senior NRS Fellow and his current research reflects his belief that innovative analytic approaches to clinical data can lead to advances in patient care.
Mr Mark Hughes
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Mark is a consultant neurosurgeon in Edinburgh, pituitary and skull base subspecialist interest.
Dr Keith Kelly
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Qualifications; MB ChB, MD, MRCP(UK), FRCA DICM
Anaesthetic Career SHO Training SE Scotland (Western General Hospital, Eastern General Hospital, St John’s & Bangour Hospitals West Lothian)
Registrar Career; 1991-1993 North of Scotland (Raigmore, Inverness & Aberdeen Royal Infirmary)
ITU Fellow;1993-1994 Western General Hospital Edinburgh
Senior Registrar SE Scotland 1994-1997 including 1995-1996
Research Fellow (“Gastarzt und Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter”) at the Virchow Klinikum, Humboldt University, Berlin
Intavent Research Fellow 1998-1999 University of Edinburgh.
Current post since 1st April 1999; Consultant Neuroanaesthetist, Dept of Clinical Neurosciences, Edinburgh
Involved with management of low CSF pressure headache since 2004
Also Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer. The University of Edinburgh, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Mr James Loan
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I am a Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Specialty Registrar in Neurosurgery at the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian. I have particular interests in neurovascular surgery and neurocritical care.
Dr Mathew Lyons
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Mathew is a clinical lecturer in anaesthesia.
Dr Jennifer Proc
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Jennifer is a Consultant Anaesthetist at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
Dr Jonathan Rhodes
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Jonathan was educated in Manchester and then the University of Edinburgh. He trained in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care and is currently a Consultant in Critical Care and Anaesthesia at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and Honorary Reader at the University of Edinburgh. During his training he developed an interest in the pathophysiology of acute brain inflammation following trauma. This culminated in a neuroscience PhD.
He continued his research interests focused on traumatic brain injury (TBI), as part of the team behind the Eurotherm 32-35 study. He maintains diverse interests in TBI research, including fever management, multimodality monitoring and his most recent multicentre study, evaluating the significance and impact of venous thromboembolism in patients with isolated traumatic brain injury (Traumatic Brian Injury Associated DVT Incidence and Significance -TARDIS, cofounded by the NACCS and the BJA). He enjoys teaching both at an undergraduate and post graduate level. He is the lead for the Neurological Critical Care section of the University of Edinburgh’ s MSc in Critical Care.
For fun he designs and builds experimental rocket engines, is the UK altitude holder for a single stage amateur rocket (23k feet Mach 1.7), is a passionate Marker, loves building all manner of flying things, technology, and miscellaneous Nerdery.
Dr Mary Slingo
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Mary Slingo is a Consultant Anaesthetist at University Hospital Southampton and a member of the Royal College of Anaesthetists environment advisory board.
Mr Chris Stewart
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Chris is a Partner and Head of the Serious Injury team at Digby Brown, specialising in catastrophic injury claims. He acts for individuals whose lives have been significantly impacted by serious injury, including brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and amputations.
With over 20 years’ experience, Chris is known for handling high-value and complex litigation, often involving life-changing injuries where long-term care, rehabilitation and financial security are critical. He has extensive experience litigating in the Sheriff Court and Court of Session, and brings a calm, strategic approach to even the most challenging cases.
Chris qualified as a solicitor in 2000 and became a Solicitor Advocate in 2006, giving him rights of audience in the highest civil courts, including the Court of Session and the UK Supreme Court. His advocacy background underpins a detailed and forensic approach to case preparation and negotiation.
He is recognised by leading independent directories including Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, where he is ranked as a specialist in serious injury work. Chris is also a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).
Chris has particular expertise in complex and sensitive claims involving serious injury, working closely with clients to secure the support, rehabilitation and compensation they need. He is known for combining technical excellence with a clear focus on achieving the best possible outcome for those he represents.
Prof Jon Stone
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Professor Jon Stone is Professor of Neurology at the University of Edinburgh.
Since 1999 Jon, along with his colleague Alan Carson, has promoted a new transparent, pragmatic and multidisciplinary approach to FND which had been a neglected and stigmatised problem.
In 2009 he made the first website (and now app), the Neurosymptoms FND guide, for people with FND at www.neurosymptoms.org which is now widely used across the world. He has published over 400 articles in the area including large cohort, mechanism and treatment studies. and led on new international diagnostic criteria for FND.
He is currently President Elect of the international FND society (www.fndsociety.org). He has received a number of awards including the Presidents Medal from the Royal College of Psychiatry, the John Walton Award from the Association of British Neurologists and the Ted Burns Humanism in Neurology Award from the American Brain Foundation.
Dr Anna Stout
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Anna is a consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine in Edinburgh. Her interests are in obstetric anaesthesia, recovery after critical illness, medical education and maternal critical care.
Dr Ian Thomas
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Ian Thomas is a Consultant in Adult Intensive Care Medicine in Bristol. He holds a Masters Degree in Medical Ethics and Law and is a member of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine’s Legal and Ethical Professional Unit. He is also the National Lead for Operational Performance in Deceased Organ Donation and the Regional Clinical Lead for Organ Donation in the South-West of England with NHS Blood and Transplant.