Dr Vasantha Gowda is a consultant paediatric with neuromuscular expertise based at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, which is one of the four centres designated by NHSE for gene therapy treatment for children with spinal muscular atrophy. She has an honorary appointment as a senior clinical lecturer at the faculty of life sciences and Medicine, King’s College.

She has served as the lead for post-graduate medical education for paediatric neurosciences for 5 years. She has organized well attended paediatric neuromuscular study days for paediatricians and allied health professionals. She is interested in developing training videos for general paediatricians and general practitioners and has worked with Neurology Academy to design a teaching animation for Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

With a background of Master's in Evidence Based Health-Care from the University of Oxford, she takes a keen interest in clinical research and serves as the co-lead for neurosciences clinical trials at Evelina London Children’s Hospital. She has successfully conducted several clinical trials as the principal/chief investigator. She is a part of the SMAREACH steering committee, which oversees data collection and monitoring for patients with spinal muscular atrophy in the UK. She is a member of the Cellular, Genomic and Regenerative Medicine Board, ATMP Working Group, and the Research and Development Biological Safety Committee at the Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. She serves as the regional lead for the Royal College for Paediatric and Child Health.