Dr Bhuvan Kishore

Dr Bhuvan Kishore is a principled and forward-thinking senior consultant clinician with a proven track record in clinical leadership, governance, service innovation and trial delivery. With deep expertise in haematology and oncology, particularly in myeloma and bispecific antibody therapy, Dr Kishore has led national trials, authored patient-centred protocols, and championed multidisciplinary fairness across NHS services.

Dr Kishore played a key role in various real-world studies such as Realitec, using real-world evidence to validate and refine trial outcomes for practical application. His Belantamab pathway design exemplifies his ability to translate complex data into accessible, patient-centred protocols—ensuring safety, equity, and operational feasibility across diverse NHS settings. He collaborates with regional and national colleagues to publish this regularly and advice industry.

Dr Kishore seeks to bring this translational mindset to the UKMS board: amplifying frontline voices, embedding real-world relevance in policy, and fostering a culture of safety, innovation, and respect across the medical community.

Professor Chris Bunce

I am a scientist with many years experience in translational blood cancer research including laboratory studies and exploratory clinical trials. Our lab has previously enjoyed 15 years of programme support from the LLR (now BCUK). From 2012-2015 I was research director for LLR. This period had a profound impact upon my research outlook, and I returned to academia to begin a new group focused for the first time on understanding the biology and health economics of myeloma precursor disease with a focus on MGUS. We argue that understanding the biology of MGUS will permit better stratification of the risk of myeloma progression and the identification of targets for early intervention and myeloma prevention. We also aim to model the health economics of MGUS with a view to modelling the cost benefit, or otherwise, of screening in the scenario that accurate stratification and low-cost intervention was possible. In 2024 we received a programme grant from CRUK to support this work which funds a research network between the universities of Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool and Oxford and collaboration with the iStopMM trial in Iceland. I believe that this research background would bring a new nuance to the working of the Board

Mr Craig Simon

I am a Nurse Consultant in Haematology at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre with nearly 20 years’ experience in haematology and immunology, and a specialist interest in plasma cell disorders and AL amyloidosis. Throughout my career, I have committed to advancing evidence-based practice, improving patient care pathways, and promoting professional education within the field of myeloma.

I have worked extensively with Myeloma UK, contributing to the development of their nurse guides, the recent update of the HCP Hub, and the enhancement of their learning programme. I currently chair the Myeloma UK Nurse Panel and have chaired several national nursing meetings. Locally, I have led a number of service developments, including the introduction of a powered bone marrow biopsy device and participation in the working group supporting our NHSE bid to become a regional Amyloid Centre.

If elected to the Executive Committee, I bring extensive clinical expertise, leadership experience, and a strong commitment to collaborative working. My priorities align with the Society’s objectives to develop research and innovation, advance clinical guidelines, promote healthcare professional education, and improve equitable access to myeloma treatments across the UK.

I would be honoured to contribute to the continued growth and influence of the UK Myeloma Society.

Dr Faye Sharpley

Faye is the Lead heamatologist at the Christie@Macclesfield as well, as Clinical Director for haematology for The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. After training at Oxford, she started her consultant career at Macclesfield District General Hospital where she expanded and streamlined the haematology service. She enabled this through collaboration with key stakeholders as well as championing the work of her nursing and pharmacy colleagues to set up several allied healthcare professional clinics.

She has a keen interest in myeloma as well as amyloidosis, and has worked tirelessly to improve their care. Her team have been awarded the Myeloma UK CSEP award, and Faye has also set up a holistic frailty clinic for her myeloma patients to help improve their care. Additionally, she is very involved in education and training and has delivered a variety of educational sessions locally and nationally, as well as Chairing the UK North Myeloma Group.

Faye is passionate about improving care for her myeloma patients and strives to do this however she can. I feel she would be an excellent addition to the UKMS board, as she can bring her varied experience across hospital settings, in addition to her drive and enthusiasm for myeloma treatment.

Dr Fenella Willis

For the past 21 years, I have worked as a Consultant Haematologist at St George’s Hospital with a specialist focus on plasma cell disorders. My role includes overseeing patient pathways, supporting service development and integrating emerging research into clinical practice.

I will complete a six-year tenure as a Trustee of Myeloma UK in early 2026. This work has given me valuable insight into the challenges faced by patients and their families, and the importance of clinical leadership, patient-focused guidelines, advocacy and research in improving access to timely treatments and improving outcomes. As co-chair of the Early Diagnosis Group, I have championed earlier diagnosis, strengthened diagnostic services and contributed to national laboratory best-practice guidelines.

My professional interests include early diagnosis, precursor conditions and improving the quality of patient services. I regularly teach at local, regional and national levels to support clinicians’ understanding of myeloma, and I lead an active clinical trial portfolio at St George’s Hospital to ensure access to novel therapies.

If elected, I would be keen to continue promoting best practice and advancing timely diagnosis across the myeloma pathway, contributing to advocacy, guideline development and education to help improve care and outcomes for patients.

Dr Firas Al-Kaisi

I have been leading the myeloma service at my hospital since 2020. During this time, I have expanded the local myeloma service through rapid adoption of newer therapies, clinical trials and patient-centred initiatives (such as CSEP and creation of local amyloidosis MDT, introduction of WBMRI to Derby and many other projects). I have created an extensive local database for myeloma patients that has informed service development. I have been PI for several myeloma clinical trials locally. From a research perspective, I hold an MD in myeloma (Nottingham University) and have been actively involved in research through collaborations with university. I am a UKMRA member. I have co-chaired the UKMS Autumn meeting 2024. I have been the Haematology Associate Clinical Director at UHDB for the past two years and successfully mediated the merger of the Derby and Burton haematology departments.  Through these roles, I have developed my service development, research and leadership skills. I am keen to contribute to advancing the UKMS mission and would be very honored if you would accept my nomination.

Dr Jaimal Kothari

I am a Consultant Haematologist and the Myeloma Lead at Oxford University Hospitals. My career has always been centred on improving the patient experience through high-quality clinical care, clinical trials, service optimisation, and by strengthening the connection between patients, clinicians, and the wider myeloma community.

As co-host of The Myeloma Minutes podcast, I have helped build a trusted platform that provides clear, accessible content for people living with myeloma and those who support them. This work, combined with an active social media presence, has given me a modern understanding of how patients and carers engage with new treatments, emerging research, and the realities of living with myeloma.  With survivorship becoming an increasingly important theme in myeloma care, these channels of communication feel more vital than ever.

I would bring to the UKMS Executive Committee a patient-first mindset and a commitment to using contemporary communication tools to broaden the Society’s reach and impact. My priority is to ensure UKMS continues to reflect the voices and needs of those we serve — by supporting high-quality education, championing equitable access to innovation, and fostering genuine dialogue between professionals, patients, and carers.

Dr Noel Ryman

I am a consultant haematologist and since August 2015 I have been Myeloma lead clinician for Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust with the aim of improving the myeloma service across HHFT. As part of this I have been the PI for both Winchester and Basingstoke hospitals for a number of clinical trials including myeloma XII, OPTIMAL, MUK9, ARTIMiDs, ICON and most recently the RADAR trial.

We have improved diagnostics at HHFT establishing whole body diffusion weighted MRI as standard in 2017 and I am PI for the WISER-M trial looking at the development and validation of an algorithm to detect and measure bone disease.

We have vastly improved the MGUS advice and monitoring service and won the Univants of Healthcare excellence award in 2021. We have also developed a myeloma physiotherapy post to help with the musculoskeletal complications of myeloma.

I participated in monthly myeloma clinics at Southampton from July 2017 and subsequently have set up network myeloma meetings from 2022. These network meetings have improved regional pathways and the speed in which new regimens are added to our chemotherapy prescribing system.

Following the improvements to our service in February 2022 we received the Myeloma UK clinical service excellence programme award in Basingstoke and in May 2022 in Winchester.

I would relish the opportunity to become closely involved in the UKMS and support its roles with education and advocacy to improve Myeloma patient care.