Each of the foundation’s trustees is appointed because of their commitment to The Neurosciences Foundation. The foundation’s trustees play a role in ensuring the charity fulfills its mission of helping to fund early-stage neurological research in Scotland. They ensure that this is done in a way that is legal, ethical, and effective.
Decisions are made at formal board meetings, collectively and with a shared responsibility to support those decisions.
Their experience and skills enable the foundation’s trustees to undertake the responsibilities of trusteeship of The Neurosciences Foundation. The charity benefits from having trustees with expertise in clinical, academic, and cancer and medical research. In addition, some of the foundation’s trustees have expertise in finances, IT, journalism, and public services.
Our trustees are accountable to donors, beneficiaries, the public, and regulators for the charity’s performance and use of funds.
To ensure that the charity is run effectively and efficiently, the foundation’s trustees regularly review the charity’s activities and plans. Giving their time willingly and for free, the foundation’s trustees work collaboratively and share responsibilites.
Dr Sarah Deans
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Sarah has a PhD in Physical Activity for Health, and a Masters in Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise. With more than 25 years experience, Sarah worked as a clinician and academic in the fields of prosthetics and orthotics. At the University of Strathclyde for 21 years, she taught rehabilitation of those with limb absence, and professional skills for healthcare. Much of Sarah's research has been published, and she has enjoyed international and national speaking engagements.
Now she currently devotes time to her husband and two children, The Neurosciences Foundation, property development, and gardening. Also trying to be more physically active, Sarah walks Jimmy the dog!
Dr Kristin Flegal
Trustee
Kristin has held the post of Research Development Manager for Glasgow's Imaging Centre of Excellence (ICE) since 2023. She works to enhance access and usage of their imaging research facilities including Scotland's only 7T clinical MRI scanner.
At the University of Michigan Kristin gained a PhD in Psychology with a concentration in Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience. In 2015, Kristin completed a postdoctoral fellowship in fMRI at the University of California, Davis. Moving to the University of Glasgow Kristin took up the role of Lead Scientist of SINAPSE (https://www.sinapse.ac.uk/).
From 2021 until 2023, Kristin worked as a Senior Project Manager in Glasgow's UKRI-funded Living Laboratory for Precision Medicine programme. Here she was responsible for the delivery of three Advanced Imaging collaborative projects with academic, clinical, and industry partners.
