Professor Dan Martin

Professor of Intensive Care Medicine

Dan Martin is a professor in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine at Derriford hospital and university of Plymouth. 

His research interest is focused on oxygen physiology; in particular how humans adapt to low levels of oxygen and the potential harm caused by excessive oxygen. He was involved in a series of research expeditions to high altitude with the Xtreme Everest team defining oxygen physiology near the summit of Mount Everest where they recorded the lowest oxygen levels ever reported in humans. The group is studying the key adaptive processes required to survive such low levels of oxygen through a wide range of studies at various altitudes.

He is currently the chief investigator for the NIHR funded UK-ROX trial and EXAKT study in the UK. UK-ROX trial is investigating if giving a little less oxygen than usual to critically ill patients on a mechanical ventilator will improve their survival. The aim is to recruit 16,500 patients from 100 NHS intensive care units. In the EXAKT study we will be investigating the accuracy pulse oximeters in critically ill patients with different skin tones, to answer a very important question about these essential oxygen monitoring devices. 

I am also very interested in exercise and how it can be used to improve clinical outcomes. We have used a tailored exercise intervention to train patients waiting for liver transplantation and I am the co-chief investigator of the NIHR-funded EXALT trial in which we will further evaluate the effect of exercise around the time of liver transplantation. I am also invoked with a study to explore the benefits of exercise programmes in patients awaiting bariatric surgery. 

I am the National Institute of Academic Anaesthesia academic training coordinator and Royal College of Anaesthetists Bernard Johnson advisor for academic training. I am passionate about promoting academic training for both doctors in training and allied health professionals. I supervise a number of higher degree students including scientists, medical doctors and allied health professionals. 

I have been the Editor in Chief of the Journal of the Intensive Care Society for the last four years and sit on the Council of the Intensive Care Society. 

In 2015 I was awarded Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), for services to the prevention of infectious diseases. This was the result of our work at the Royal Free Hospital in London, caring for patients with Ebola virus disease. 

: @deoxyexplorer

Dr Jessie Welbourne

Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine, Honorary Associate, Professor University of Plymouth

Jessie is a deputy editor in chief of the Journal of the Intensive Care Society, associate editor of the British Journal of Hospital Medicine and the lead ICM editor for the Oxford Specialist Handbook of Neuro Anaesthesia and Intensive Care. She is an Intensive Care consultant in Plymouth and the Chief Investigator of the NIHR funded DAYDREAM study.

Dr Neha Passi

Anaesthesia trainee in North-East London

Neha is an anaesthetic trainee in North-East London. Her clinical interests are anaesthesia for major complex abdominal surgery and critical care medicine. She is due to commence a one-year fellowship in liver transplant and hepatobiliary anaesthesia at the Royal Free Hospital from August. 

She has a strong interest in quality improvement and research. Highlights have included: the publication of the first systematic review looking at the evidence base for analgesic strategies in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy and leading a national awareness campaign, with the RCOA, focused on safeguarding women from the risks of contraceptive failure following sugammadex administration.

She is passionate about peer review and is an associate editor for the Journal of Intensive Care Society.