SirJames Gowans, CBE, FRS, is one of our Scientific Advisers. He is a former Director of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Cellular Immunology Unit and Royal Society Research Professor in the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology at the University of Oxford. He served for ten years as Secretary of the MRC. His medical knowledge is highly relevant as research projects are selected and supported.

Professor Angela Vincent FRCPath, FMedSci, scientific Trustee, is Emeritus Professor of Neuroimmunology at Oxford University, and an Emeritus Fellow of Somerville College. She still heads the Neuroimmunology Group working on the role of autoimmunity in neurological diseases. Together with Sir James and Prof Kevin Talbot, she brings invaluable asistance to the selection of research projects.

Professor Kevin Talbot, MBBS, B.Sc., D. Phil., FRCP, scientific Trustee. Kevin is Professor of Motor Neuron Biology in the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Oxford and Honorary Consultant Neurologist at the John Radcliffe Hospital. He is Director of the Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Care and Research Centre. His research focuses on the cause and treatment of diseases of the motor neuron, including SMA.

Andrew Knight was previously Editor of The Economist, Chief Executive of the Telegraph Group, Chairman of News International and is now Chairman of J. Rothschild Capital Management.

Casimir Knight, co - chair and Trustee for International Scientific Affairs. He is SVP for the Global Media Division, Wasserman Media Group.

Hugo Pickering is the Communications Trustee. He runs a digital media consultancy and has extensive experience of working with charities. His son Harry died of SMA Type 2, aged six in 2000.

Marita Crawley, is a songwriter and playwright. She has served as a Trustee on many charities and acts as Trustee without portfolio.

Tessa Rice, co-Chair and Fundraising Trustee, worked for a Medical Advertising Agency as an Account Manager, before leaving to bring up 3 children. Her niece, Millie, has SMA Type 2, which is the reason why she feels so strongly about supporting SMA Research through fundraising.

Mark Dearlove, is part of the Corporate Development, Awareness & Fundraising group of Trustees. He is a Managing Director at Barclays Capital and also serves as a member of Barclay's UK Community Investment Committee. Mark has been an active fundraiser for the SMA Trust, having run two marathons as well as organising and completing the Celtic Crow Challenge.

Tim Woodward, is part of the Corporate Development, Awareness & Fundraising group of Trustees. He runs Listed Commodities for an Investment Bank in the City of London. He lives in Somerset and his 14 year old daughter, Octavia, has SMA type 2.

Tim Sheffield, is part of the Corporate Development, Awareness & Fundraising group of Trustees and sits on the Finance sub-committee.