Insigneo Operations Team

Dr Andrew Narracott

Scientific Director of Operations

Dr Andrew Narracott is a Senior Lecturer in Cardiovascular Mechanics in the Division of Clinical Medicine. He completed a Masters degree in Physics in 1997 and has a PhD in computational and experimental characterisation of coronary stent deployment from the University of Sheffield in 2002.

Andrew’s research experience in EC and international research projects includes a six month research fellowship at the RIKEN Institute, Tokyo, Japan. He has worked closely with industry, including consultancy for Huntleigh Healthcare.

Research topics have included a clinical decision support system for haemodialysis patients within the FP7 ARCH project and strategies for training through research within the FP7 MeDDiCA and H2020 VPH-CaSE Marie Curie European Training Networks. He represents the University of Sheffield on the VPH Institute Board.

Andrew’s research interests include simulation and experimental measurement of the cardiovascular system, with focus on the role of the venous circulation in health and disease.

Sarah Black

Insigneo Administrative Manager

Sarah Black joined the University of Sheffield in 2018. She first worked as a PA in Campaign and Alumni Relations and then moved to PA/Administrator for Insigneo. Sarah previously worked at Sheffield Hallam University and a research agency.

Sarah is responsible for the operations of the Institute. This includes governance and supporting the Interim Executive Director and Board, managing the facilities and Insigneo office space and managing the budget and finances. She also is responsible for member activities including organising events, summer research placements and the BioMedEng21 conference.

Sarah is your first point of contact at Insigneo.

Alex Wilkinson

Commercialisation Manager

Alex is the Commercialisation Manager for the Insigneo Institute and is part of a wider commercialisation community supporting the development of the Institute’s intellectual property (IP).

Alex’s role is to aid Insigneo to achieve wider reach and rapid clinical translation of technologies through developing members’ research into commercially attractive products.

Alex joined the University of Sheffield in 2015 having spent the previous decade in Contract Research Organisations managing delivery of drug and medical device trials for industry working on Phases I-III.

Within Sheffield Alex supported the development and delivery of translational grants as project manager and has been part of the NIHR Research Design Services providing advice on the development of medical devices and in vitro diagnostics.

Sarah Hollely

Marketing and Communications Officer

Sarah Hollely joined the University of Sheffield in 2011 and has worked in marketing and communications roles for research centres in the faculties of Engineering and  Health; the School of Education; and the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research (SCHARR).

Sarah became Insigneo’s Marketing and Communications Officer in 2017 and is responsible for Insigneo’s internal and external marketing and communications activities. This includes the monthly newsletter, on-line content, social media, and communicating and promoting a range of events and activities.

For all marketing and press enquiries, contact news@insigneo.org

Jennifer Rodgers

Research Administrative Manager

Jenny Rodgers joined the University of Sheffield in 2014. She initially worked as a Clerical Assistant within the University MRI Unit and was promoted to Research Administrative Assistant in 2019. Jenny became the Research Administrative Manager in August 2024.

Jenny is responsible for the management of key research studies and liaising with partner organisations along with high-level administrative support for the Executive Director of Insigneo, who is also the Imaging and Engineering BRC theme lead and Head of Imaging/POLARIS group, one of the country’s leading imaging research groups and facilities based in the School of Medicine and Population Health.

She also supports the research implementation and strategies of the Insigneo Institute, the NIHR BRC Imaging and Engineering theme, and medical technology development and clinical translation of the POLARIS group.