Science
The Scientific Committee of APAGBI exists to strengthen the evidence base for paediatric anaesthesia and pain medicine, and to accelerate the translation of knowledge into safer, better care.
High quality science underpins everything we do, whether clinical, basic science, translational or data driven work in artificial intelligence. We promote conceptual clarity as well as methodological rigour. That includes explicit attention to ontology and epistemology when formulating research questions, and to sound methodology, measurement and analysis when executing studies. We emphasise reproducibility, transparency, robust statistics and appropriate governance, and we expect meaningful patient and public involvement throughout the research pathway.
We work in partnership with the National Institute of Academic Anaesthesia (NIAA), and with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Medical Research Council (MRC), universities and medical charities to support investigators at every stage of the research pathway. Our strategy aligns with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and with the Children’s Healthcare Alliance in their shared mission to elevate child health research and to bring frontier science to the bedside.
On these pages you will find the Scientific Committee membership, research support and survey processes, funding and grant opportunities, and resources for quality improvement. These materials are intended to help new and experienced investigators design rigorous studies, secure funding and deliver measurable improvements in outcomes for children.
Research
For those interested in undertaking research in Paediatric Anaesthesia we include comprehensive guidance from the Scientific Committee on how to get started
Grants
The APAGBI shall, from time to time, award grants for the purposes of research, education and other activities in line with the Association’s aims.
Surveys
This section explains how to propose a survey to the APAGBI membership and the standards expected for methodological quality and governance.
Quality Improvement
As part of the Scientific Committee, the QI team provides leadership, guidance and resources for members to undertake impactful projects
PATRN
Paediatric Anaesthesia Trainee Research Network (PATRN) is a network of motivated and enthusiastic anaesthetic trainees with an interest in paediatric anaesthesia. We form a collaborative via which trainees can undertake multi-centre research and audit projects.
Scientific Committee Members 2025 Leads
Chair of Scientific Committee; Data Science, AI, and Methodology lead
Dr Johnny Kenth. Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester, England. Appointment: Academic and research. Clinical interests: Airway and ENT; Neonatal. Expertise: Statistics and research methods; Data science; Artificial intelligence; Technology; Physiology; Population health; Systematic review.
Past Chair; Paediatric Cardiac Anaesthesia Lead
Dr Philip Arnold. Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool, England. Appointment: Clinical with interest in research. Clinical interests: Cardiac. Expertise: Pharmacology; Population epidemiology; Statistics and research methods.
PATRN Lead
Dr Hannah Lewis. Evelina Children’s Hospital, London, England. Appointment: Clinical with interest in research. Clinical interests: Out of theatres and imaging; Pre operative assessment; Airway and ENT. Expertise: Quality improvement; Patient safety; Statistics and research methods.
Surveys Lead
Dr Richard Newton.
Deputy Surveys Lead
Dr Nalini Malarkkan. Leeds Children’s Hospital, Leeds, England. Appointment: Clinical with interest in quality improvement. Clinical interests: Major general surgical; Neonatal; Out of theatres and imaging; Pre operative assessment; Anaesthesia for oncology including PET, proton and photon; Acute pain. Expertise: Quality improvement.
Digital Lead
Dr Deborshi Sinha. Nottingham Children’s Hospital, Nottingham, England. Appointment: Clinical with interest in research. Clinical interests: Airway and ENT; Venous access; Spines. Expertise: Collaborative multicentre research; Quality improvement.
AI and Wearables Subgroup
Dr Tim Dawes. Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and UCL GOSH Institute of Child Health, London, England. Appointment: Clinical with interest in research. Clinical interests: Cardiac. Expertise: Data science; Artificial intelligence; Wearable technologies.
Committee Members
Prof Thomas Engelhardt. McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Appointment: Academic and research. Clinical interests: Airway and ENT. Expertise: Physiology; Data science; Pharmacology.
Dr Sajith Chakithandy. Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar. Appointment: Clinical with interest in research. Clinical interests: Airway and ENT; Neurosurgery. Expertise: Physiology; Simulation; Technology; Physics and equipment.
Dr Jennie Craske. Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool, England. Appointment: Clinical with interest in research. Clinical interests: Acute pain; Sedation. Expertise: Qualitative research.
Dr James Armstrong. Nottingham University Hospital, Nottingham, England. Appointment: Clinical with interest in research. Clinical interests: Airway and ENT; Trauma. Expertise: Patient safety; Technology.
Dr Hannah Robertson-Gill. Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and University of Bristol, Bristol, England. Appointment: Clinical with interest in research. Clinical interests: General paediatric anaesthesia. Expertise: Pre clinical research; Data science.
Dr Natasha Woodman. King’s College Hospital, London, England. Appointment: Clinical with interest in quality improvement. Clinical interests: Neurosurgery; Neonatal; Pre operative assessment. Expertise: Editorial and peer review.
Dr Pratheeban Nambyiah. Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States. Appointment: Clinical with interest in quality improvement. Clinical interests: Spines; Airway and ENT; Major general surgical. Expertise: Quality improvement; Laboratory and basic sciences; Patient safety; Data science; Simulation.
Dr Vimmi Oshan. Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester, England. Appointment: Clinical with interest in quality improvement. Clinical interests: Airway and ENT; Neonatal; Urology; Spines; Anaesthesia for oncology; Major general surgical; Regional anaesthesia; Anaesthesia for children with disabilities. Expertise: Patient safety; Quality improvement; Qualitative research.
Dr Benjamin Blaise. Evelina Children’s Hospital, London, England.