Who We Are

EGFR Positive UK was set up in 2019 after Kathy and Jenny met and agreed there was an urgent need for an organisation to support EGFR positive lung cancer patients in the UK. Both were passionate about supporting and promoting the needs of EGFR positive patients, their families, and carers. Jenny and Kathy both died in 2021 and EGFR Positive UK is forever grateful for their selfless work and dedication to their fellow lung cancer patients and to the Charity.

Angela Terry
Non-executive chair

In January 2019, following a skiing accident, a CT scan confirmed a malignant tumor in my lung which was later confirmed as stage IV EGFR positive lung cancer. I had no symptoms, was fit, and a never smoker. I am a retired Business Psychologist and ran my own practice for over 30 years. My family is my husband Rob, our two grown children, Robyn & George their partners, and our Granddaughter.

I was lucky enough to find the EGFR Positive UK charity early in my cancer journey. Having found the group to be of inestimable personal value I am honoured to have the opportunity to continue the work that Jenny and Kathy began. I am committed to furthering equal access to treatment, enabling peer advice and support in managing the many side effects and impact of treatment, and driving patient advocacy.

Soumitra Bose
Treasurer

A freak chest X-ray during the Covid period detected my lung cancer in Oct 2021. Being a non-smoker was a huge surprise but I consider myself lucky for this early detection at Stage 2. Post my surgery in Nov 2021 followed by chemotherapy, I am now in full remission but on the Osimertinib course. 

After a career in finance with Unilever and other MNCs, I had taken an early retirement to work in the charity sector in India. The two organisations I governed are involved in health and education of the underprivileged and protecting the environment in the cyclone prone areas of Sunderbans in India. Having initially joined the Facebook group of EGFR Positive UK, as a Trustee now, I hope to bring my knowledge and experience of working in the charity sector. My wife and I live in Croydon, Greater London, while our two grown-up sons and are based in Singapore and London. 

Gini Harrison
Researcher

I was diagnosed with EGFR+ lung cancer in December 2021, while I was on maternity leave with my second child. I’d been suffering with persistent shoulder pain for about 9 months, which was put down to poor breastfeeding posture. But an MRI identified tumours in my right lung, hilar lymph node, and scapula. A biopsy revealed that I had Stage IV EGFR+ NSCLC. As a young(ish!!), never smoker who was otherwise relatively healthy, I genuinely couldn’t believe it. It felt like my world suddenly collapsed and made no sense. Luckily I found a lot of support and information online, and EGFR+ UK was a fantastic source of both. This group gave me hope. And I’m honoured to be able to be involved with them. 

As a Lecturer and a Psychologist, I’m passionate about education and wellbeing, and I am committed to raising awareness about EGFR lung cancer, and supporting those affected by it. I am also a firm believer that knowledge is power. Understanding your specific cancer and what treatment options might be effective can help you to be your own advocate. When I was first diagnosed there were no targeted treatments available for my rare EGFR Exon 20 mutation. Since then, mobocertinib has been approved, and many more treatments are in the pipeline. So research gives me hope for the future… and I hope to be able to share some of it through the Charity.

natasha loveridge
marketing trustee

As a fit, healthy, non-smoker,  I was utterly shocked when I was diagnosed with Stage 4 NSCLC EGFR+ exon 19 deletion in January 2023.  I was initially misdiagnosed in October 2022 as having tuberculosis after attending a chest x-ray to investigate a persistent cough and hoarse voice.  I thought my world had ended but then I started to take Osimertinib as a palliative drug.  Osimertinib has given me my life back; it has given me so much hope.  My primary tumour has shrunk and my brain metastasis can no longer be seen on a CT scan.   

My lung cancer nurse specialist told me about EGFR+ UK when I was first diagnosed and the facebook group and website have been such a support.  The knowledge, empathy and sense of community within the group is phenomenal and I was so proud when I was asked to become a trustee of this fabulous charity.

I am a mum of two teenage daughters who keep me on my toes; a wife to the ever supportive Matthew; and a dog mum to Max and Olive, my two bonkers hounds! I have been a primary school teacher for 26 years and absolutely adore my job - I miss not seeing the children every day but working for EGFR Positive UK has given me a new focus.  I am determined to raise awareness of EGFR Positive lung cancer and to challenge stigmas attached to lung cancer.

LIZ BAKER
trustee

My lung cancer diagnosis came in August 2022 during routine surveillance for another condition. I was a physically fit non-smoker, had no symptoms and was working full time, so this news was very unexpected. The lung tumour was identified as stage 2b EGFR positive adenocarcinoma. I underwent a lobectomy, received chemotherapy and I am now on a targeted therapy called Osimertinib. I stumbled across the EGFR+ Facebook group while looking for information on my condition, and I have benefitted enormously from the resources available. The emotional support of other members has also been invaluable in learning to live and thrive with this diagnosis.

I live in Manchester with my husband and have three adult sons. I worked as an NHS nurse for 27 years before moving into teaching and healthcare research in the later years of my career. The areas I focused on as a researcher and lecturer included lung conditions, health promotion and addressing inequalities in health. I feel strongly motivated to use the skills and experience gained during my career to my role as a Trustee. I am proud to be involved in a charity that works so tirelessly to support EGFR positive lung cancer patients.

Dr Riyaz Shah

Dr Shah is a thoracic medical oncologist practising in Kent and London.

He has been intimately involved in multiple clinical trials over his career and works with NHS England to optimise the delivery of lung cancer genomics. He is an early adopter and champion for liquid and tissue genomics in lung systemic therapy.

As a steering committee member of the British Thoracic Group he is extensively involved in the organising and delivery of educational events at a national level. As an active member of IASLC he works to improve education internationally.

He is a clinical advisor to the UK patient support/advocacy groups EGFR Positive UK and ALK+ Lung Cancer UK.

DR SHOBIT BAIJAL

Dr Shobhit Baijal is a Consultant Medical Oncologist based at The University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust. He is a renowned expert in the oncological management of all forms of thoracic malignancies.

Dr Baijal completed his medical training at St Bartholomew's Medical School, including a First Class BSc Honours in immunology and cell pathology from University College London. He went on to specialise in Medical Oncology in the West Midlands and was appointed to University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust 2011.

Dr Baijal actively treats lung cancer across multiple hospital sites within the West Midlands. He specialises in all forms of cancer drug treatments including chemotherapy, immuno-oncology and precision oncology.

Dr Yvonne Summers

Dr Summers studied undergraduate medicine at the University of St Andrews and the University of Manchester, graduating in 1993 and subsequently completed higher specialist training in Medical Oncology at the Christie Hospital, Manchester between 1997 and 2004. During this period she was awarded a doctorate for research in the field of stem cell biology.

In 2004 she commenced her first post as consultant medical oncologist in the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre, Belfast, where she concentrated her efforts on establishing a medical oncology service for lung cancer patients and introducing clinical trial research.

She returned to Manchester in 2009, where she specialises in thoracic oncology, was previously Clinical Director of Medical Oncology and is now Deputy Medical Director at the Christie Hospital.

Dr Alex Georgiou

Dr Alex Georgiou is a medical oncology consultant specialising in lung cancer and mesothelioma at Guy’s and St Thomas Hospitals (GSTT), London. Dr Georgiou is also the service clinical lead for systemic anti-cancer therapies at GSTT and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at King’s College London (KCL).

Dr Georgiou graduated from University of Liverpool medical school with Hons in 2008. During his undergraduate years, in 2007, he intercalated in Pharmacology and achieved a First Class, Bachelor of Science. By 2012, he successfully completed his early clinical training and Royal College Physicians membership (MRCP) exams.

In 2012 he started his medical oncology training at The Royal Marsden Hospital (RMH) in London. During his oncology training, in 2015, he was awarded Cancer Research UK (CRUK) funding and successfully completed a 3-year PhD at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and RMH London.