Biography

Katherine McCullough is a consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology and General Medicine at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford. She also has an active interest in Research and Development and is the Divisional Research Lead for Medicine and holds an honorary contract at the University of Surrey. Her special interests include Covid-19, diabetes, obesity, thyroid disorders and problems related to the pituitary gland.

Katherine undertook her initial medical training at the University of Edinburgh and qualified with a 1st class honours degree in neuroscience as part of her medical degree. As an undergraduate she was the recipient of various prizes and a scholarship allowing her to obtain research experience. Once qualified as a doctor, she moved down to London and was awarded a prestigious academic training programme based at the Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London. During this time Katherine obtained a highly sought after Wellcome Trust fellowship leading to the successful completion of a PhD on diabetes and novel treatments for obesity. She then became a Clinical Lecturer at Imperial College London, teaching undergraduates as well as qualified doctors. 

In 2015, Katherine moved to the Royal Surrey County Hospital and within two years of becoming a consultant became the Clinical Director for Acute Medicine and subsequently the Research Lead in Medicine. Her interest in research continues and she is the lead investigator for various clinical trials related to Covid-19, diabetes and endocrinology. Over the span of Katherine’s medical career she has published extensively in medical journals and books and presented at conferences in the UK and abroad. She has also appeared in the media including the BBC, radio and other social media talking on a wide range of subjects including obesity and appetite, diabetes as well as current affairs within the NHS. In 2019, Katherine successfully completed the ‘Tomorrow’s Strategic Leader’ programme run by the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management and was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians. In late 2019 her achievements were recognised and she became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.

During 2020, Katherine has been extensively involved with the hospital management of patients with Covid-19 and is currently one of two consultants running the Covid-19 High Dependency Unit at the Royal Surrey County Hospital. She is also the Principal Investigator for the Trust on numerous Covid-19 clinical trials and has a wealth of experience in managing symptoms of acute and chronic Covid-19. 

Specialist interests

• Diabetes

• Obesity

• Testosterone deficiency

• Thyroid disorders

• Adrenal disorders

• Pituitary abnormalities

• Calcium and vitamin D disorders

• Fatigue

• Cholesterol and lipid management

• General Medicine

• Covid-19

Research interests

• Novel agents in obesity

• Diabetes

• Cholesterol inhibitors

• Covid-19

Publications and presentations at conferences

PUBLICATIONS

Hussein Z, Glynn N, Martin N, Alkrekshi A, Mendoza N, Nair R, McCullough K, et al. Temporal trends in craniopharyngioma management and long-term endocrine outcomes: A multicentre cross-sectional study. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf.). 94 (2): 242-249. Feb 2021. 

Woodmansey C, McGovern AP, McCullough KA, Whyte MB, Munro NM, Correa AC, Gatenby PAC, Jones SA, de Lusignan S. Incidence, Demographics, and Clinical Characeteristics of Diabetes of the Exocrine Pancreas (Type 3c): A retrospective Cohort Study. Diabetes Care. 40 (11): 1486 – 1493. Nov 2017.

Cegla C, Troke RC, Jones B, Tharakan G, Kenkre J, McCullough KA, Lim CT, Parvizi N, Hussein M, Chambers ES, Minnion J, Cuenco J, Ghatei MA, Meeran K, Tan TM, Bloom SR. Co-infusion of low-dose glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucagon in man results in a reduction in food intake. Diabetes. 63 (11): 3711-20. June 2014.  

McCullough KA, Parker JA, Field BCT, Minnion JS, Martin NM, Bloom SR. Glucagon and GLP-1 inhibit food intake and increase c-fos expression in similar appetite regulating centres in the brainstem and amygdala. International Journal of Obesity (Lond). 37 (10): 1391-8. Oct 2013.

Tan T, Field BCT, McCullough K, Troke R, Salem, V, Gonzalez J, Baynes K, De Silva A, Viardot A, Alsafi A, Frost G, Ghatei M, Bloom SR. Co-administration of glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) during glucagon infusion in man results in increased energy expenditure and amelioration of hyperglycaemia. Diabetes. 62 (4): 1131-8. Apr 2013.

Claire Grout, Katherine A Simpson, Michael R Clements. Ortner’s syndrome: an unusual cause of cough. British Journal of Cardiology. 19: 48-49. March 2012.

Thong KY et al, ABCD Nationwide Exenatide Audit Contributors. Safety, efficacy and tolerability of exenatide in combination with insulin in the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists nationwide exenatide audit. Diabetes Obes Metab.13(8): 703-10. (2011). 

Samar Ghourab, Kylie E. Beale, Nina M. Semjonous, Katherine A. Simpson, Niamh M. Martin, Mohammad A. Ghatei, Stephen R. Bloom and Kirsty L. Smith. Intracerebroventricular administration of vasoactive intestinal peptide inhibits food intake. Regulatory Peptides. 172: 8-15 (2011).

Katherine A. Simpson and Stephen R. Bloom. Appetite and Hedonism: Gut Hormones and the Brain. Endocrinol Metab Clin N Am. 39 (4): 729-743 (2010). 

Suzuki K, Simpson KA, Minnion JS, Shillito JC, Bloom SR. The Role of gut hormones and the hypothalamus in appetite regulation. Endocrine Journal. 57 (5): 359-372 (2010).

Katherine A. Simpson, Niamh M. Martin, Stephen R. Bloom. Hypothalamic regulation of food intake and clinical therapeutic applications. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 53 (2): 120-128 (2009).

Simpson KA, Martin NM, Bloom SR. Hypothalamic Control of Appetite. Expert Rev. Endocrinol. Metab. 3 (5): 577-592 (2008).

Simpson K.. Use of alternative medicine in patients with diabetes in Tanzania. Pract Diab Int. Vol. 24 (7): p.344. (2007).

 Simpson K Insulin Supply and Availability in Tanzania. The Journal of the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh. 33 (1): 181-201 (2003).

Simpson K.A., Roe J.K., Young M.J. Evaluation of insulin prescribing practices in junior medical staff – do guidelines improve glucose control. (Abstract). Diabetes & Metabolism. 18th International Diabetes Federation Congress. August 2003. 

Simpson KA. The Role of Testosterone in Aggression. The McGill Journal of Medicine. 6: 18-26 (2001). 

Simpson K.  Euthanasia: The Ethics. 2nd Opinion. p28-31 (March 1999).

BOOK CHAPTERS

Simpson K, Parker J, Plumer J, Bloom S. CCK, PYY and PP: the control of energy balance. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology: Appetite Control (Ed: HG Joost). Volume 209: 209-230. (2012).

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

2015                K McCullough, N Hill, R Nair, N Mendoza, B Jones, A Mehta, A Pambakian, E Hatfield, K Meeran, F Wernig, N Martin. 3-for-1: Pituitary apoplexy, hypophysitis and an adenoma – but which one is it? To be presented at the 17th Clinicopathological Conference on Pituitary Disease. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London. February 2015 and updated presentation February 2016.

2013                Jaimini Cegla, Rachel Troke, Ben Jones, George Tharakan, Katherine McCullough, Julia Wilde, Chung Thong Lim, Naseem Parvizi, Mohamed Hussein, James Minnion, Joyceline Cuenco, Edward Chambers, Mohammad Ghatei, Tricia Tan & Stephen Bloom. Energy intake following infusion of glucagon and GLP-1: a double-blind cross-over study. Presented at the British Endocrine Society Annual Conference, Harrogate, Apr 2013.

2011                Simpson KA. Glucagon and GLP-1 co-administration in the regulation of appetite. Imperial Academic Trainees Day. Hammersmith Hospital Conference Centre, May 2011.

2009                K. Simpson. Difficulties faced in managing macroprolactinomas in patients with psychiatric disorders: A Case of secondary hypothyroidism, lithium therapy and a macroprolactinoma. Presented at Clinical Update Conference, Manchester, Nov 2009.

2009                K Simpson.‘Diabetes and Endocrinology in a nutshell’. Overview of Diabetes and Endocrinology to final year medical students from UCL and St George’s. London. March 2009.

2008                K. Simpson. Diabetic Emergencies. Watford General Hospital Diabetes Nursing Education Symposium: ‘Sugar and Spice’. October 2008.

2004                K.Simpson, J. Neary, J. Goddard. Minimal Change Disease in the Elderly: A Case Series. Presentation of a case series to the Scottish Renal Association, Dundee University. 

2002                K. Simpson Experiences as a PRHO.  University of Edinburgh Medical School.

2002                K. Simpson. Insulin Availability in Tanzania: my elective experiences. The Royal Society of Medicine, Edinburgh.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

A Brereton, E Cantelo, R Shone, K McCullough, S Idriz. Designing an Ambulatory Emergency Care Pathway for Pulmonary Embolism: the case for age adjusted D-dimer and modified PESI score. Society of Acute Medicine Conference, Cardiff, May 2017.

M Stevenage, E Theochai, T Prew, M Sukhanthar, E Dhillon, K McCullough, G Warner. Psychosis with non-specific symptoms in acute medical care: A case of NMDAR encephalitis posing a diagnostic dilemma. Society of Acute Medicine Conference, Cardiff, May 2017.

S Shah, D Sabzevari, K McCullough. Improving oxygen prescribing practices in the acute medical setting. Society of Acute Medicine Conference, Cardiff, May 2017.

R Jacobs, B Holdsworth, C Torrilla, S Cookson, K Pasco, K McCullough. The role of D-dimer in the management of PE: utilising Wells score and age adjustment. Annual Conference for Ambulatory Emergency Care in the UK, London, Nov 2016.

W Hinton, AP McGovern, M Whyte, BH Curtis, K McCullough, K van Brunt, S Calderara, S de Lusignan. What are the HbA1c thresholds for initiating insulin therapy in people with type 2 diabetes in UK primary care? EASD, Munich, Sept 2016.

R Kanji, A Moore, M Pontin, K McCullough. Paracetamol level sampling in adult patients admitted to hospital following a drug overdose. Society of Acute Medicine, Edinburgh, Sept 2016.

K McCullough, R Troke, V Salem, J Shillito, J Minnion, J Gardiner, T Tan, M Ghatei, S Bloom. The effects of chronic administration of oxyntomodulin and GLP-1 analogues on energy homeostasis in rodents. Dept. of Medicine Young Scientist Day, Imperial College, May 2013.

K McCullough, V Constantinides, M Badman, J Jackson, F Palazzo. Life-threatening airway obstruction secondary to a large probable parathyroid cyst. British Endocrine Society, Harrogate, Apr 2013.

K McCullough, NM Martin, F Palazzo, C Williamson, K Meeran. Management of primary hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy: a case series of the lessons learnt. British Endocrine Society, Harrogate, Apr 2013.

Jennifer Parker, Katherine Simpson, James Minnion, Ben Field, Mohammad Ghatei, Steve Bloom. The effect of glucagon on food intake and neuronal activation in appetite regulating centres. British Society for Neuroendocrinology. Cambridge University. July 2011.

Katherine Simpson, Jennifer Parker, James Minnion, Ben Field, Mohammad Ghatei, Steve Bloom. The role of glucagon and GLP-1 in the regulation of food intake. Department of Medicine Young Scientist Day. Wellcome Trust Institute. April 2011.

Jennifer Parker, Katherine Simpson, James Minnion, Ben Field, Mohammad Ghatei, Steve Bloom. Interactions between glucagon and GLP-1 and neuronal pathways affecting food intake. British Endocrine Society Conference. Birmingham. 11th-14th April 2011.

Simpson K, Tharakan G, Coady A, Padwick M, Clements M. Hypercalcaemia due to PTH-related peptide secretion by small cell carcinoma of the ovary. British Endocrine Society conference. Manchester. 15th-18th March 2010.

Simpson KA, Tan T, Hatfield ECI, Meeran K, Todd JF. An aggressive phenotype in MEN 1: requirement for more frequent monitoring? 4th Hammersmith Multidisciplinary Endocrine Symposium. Dec 2009.

Troke R, Badman M, Simpson K, Palazzo FF, Todd JF. Surgery or no surgery in a patient with MEN 1 with an asymptomatic pancreatic mass. Oral presentation at 4th Hammersmith Multidisciplinary Endocrine Symposium. Dec 2009.

Simpson K, Troke R, Badman M, Goldstone AP, Todd JF. Removal of a pancreatic lesion for symptomatic relief in a patient with MEN 1. UKI NETS 7th Annual Conference, London. Nov 2009.

Badman M, Troke R, Simpson K, Tan T, Goldstone AP, Meeran K, Todd JF. Severe hypergastrinaemia with marked symptomatic rugal hypertrophy in a patient with MEN 1. UKI NETS 7th Annual Conference, London. Nov 2009.

Smith KL, Semjonous NM, Patel SR, Chee MJ, Murphy KG, Campbell D, Simpson KA, Colmers WF, Ghatei MA, Bloom SR. A role for neuromedin S in the regulation of energy balance and the HPA axis. British Society for Neuroendocrinology Conference. Edinburgh. 2009.

Simpson K, Clements M, Ogilvie A, Carter S, Feben C, Batta K, Rubin A. A Case of Insulin Allergy: Something to Zinc About. 3rd Hammersmith Endocrine Multidisciplinary Symposium. 12th December 2008.

McCullough C, Turner C, Simpson K, Eunson G. A survey of attitudes towards fatigue, performance and driving among doctors, nurses and the public across the UK. BMA-AMA-CMA International Conference on Doctor’s Health. 17th-19thNovember 2008.

Samar Ghourab, Nina M Semjonous, Kylie EL Beale, Katherine A Simpson, Mohammed A Ghatei, Steve R Bloom, Kirsty L Smith. The Effects of VIP on Food Intake and Energy Expenditure. Annual Meeting of the British Society for Neuroendocrinology. Bristol. 14th-16th September 2008.

S. Zac-Varghese, K. Simpson, J. Greenfield, L. Chenailee, S.F. Lau, and J.R. Katz. A Survey of Diabetes Knowledge and an Educational Tool for Nurses on General Medical and Surgical Wards in a District General Hospital. Diabetes UK Conference March 2008.

K.A.Simpson, J.K. Roe, M.J.Young. Evaluation of insulin prescribing practices in junior medical staff – do guidelines improve glucose control. 18th International Diabetes Federation Congress. Paris. August 2003. 

KA Simpson, Phillips J, G Arbuthnott, C Ingham. The timecourse of development of spines on mouse neostriatal neurones. Neuroscience FENS Conference, Brighton 2000.