Dr Jennifer Kirton
BSc, MSc, PGCE, PhD (Principal Investigator)
Dr Jennifer Kirton is a lecturer in clinical psychology and researcher in the Department of Primary Care & Mental Health at the University of Liverpool. Motivated by her personal experience of autism, she is dedicated to reducing barriers to healthcare for autistic patients and enhancing services and support for neurodivergent people. She also co-founded the University of Liverpool Autism Hub to advance this important work.
Dr Idalmis Santiesteban
PhD, CPsychol, FHEA
Idalmis is a psychology lecturer and researcher, interested in social cognitive neuroscience and autism. She is co-founder of the University of Liverpool Autism Hub and is committed to improving service provision and support for autistic people.
Dr Gemma Cherry
BSc, PhD, DClinPsychol, FHEA
Gemma is an academic clinical psychologist in the department of Primary Care & Mental Health at The University of Liverpool. She conducts basic and translational research at the interface between physical and mental healthcare, with a particular focus on oncology and evidence synthesis methodology.
Adele Curley
Adele Curley is an AuDHD parent carer to two neurodivergent children. She is a disability equality advocate, SEND school governor, and runs peer support groups for neurodivergent people. Adele is passionate about improving accessibility and support for neurodivergent individuals and works to create more inclusive spaces through advocacy, education and co-production.
Elanor Harris
Elanor is a self-diagnosed neurodivergent adult who became involved with the advisory group following her participation in a research project at the university. Through her own lived experience, she has faced significant challenges when it comes to attending GP appointments. These difficulties motivated her to contribute to the development of the tool designed specifically to make healthcare settings more accessible and manageable for neurodivergent individuals.
Dr Thomas Mohaupt
Dr. rer. nat. habil
Thomas is a reader in theoretical physics in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Liverpool. Since being diagnosed autistic (Asperger's syndrome), he has been involved in autism research, with particular interest in its impact on the employability and wellbeing of autistic staff and students.
Miss Claire Newey
BSc, BDS, MFDS RCS(Ed), PGCert, FHEA
Claire became interested in joining this project after her own experience of navigating healthcare as a late diagnosed autistic adult. Claire realised she was autistic after a lifetime of struggles and years spent being investigated by primary care and community mental health services. She was diagnosed as autistic in 2023 at the age of 39.
Claire is a dentist and a clinical lecturer in restorative dentistry. Alongside Claire’s work teaching dental students, she is a student welfare advisor for students in the School of Dentistry, and is interested in supporting autistic students in clinical training programmes.
Mrs Marilla Bianco
Bsc, MSc, MSc
Marilla is a PhD student in psychology at the University of Liverpool, where her research explores how delayed autism diagnosis impacts the mental health and quality of life of autistic adults. She is also the co-founder and director of Work’n’Diversity CIC, a social enterprise promoting neurodiversity awareness and inclusive employment, and works as a research specialist with the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA). Her research interests focus on autism (diagnosis, quality of life and mental health), neurodivergence and employment, and more broadly on cognitive and developmental psychology.
