Founder
Jenny Chambers founded ICP Support as a support and information line in 1991. Jenny had suffered a stillbirth in 1986 which was classed as an ‘unexplained’ stillbirth. In 1991 she suffered a second stillbirth and was finally given the diagnosis of ICP (intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy). Jenny had itched in all of her pregnancies but had repeatedly been assured that itching in pregnancy was normal. On realising that all women were being told that itching in pregnancy was normal, Jenny started to raise awareness of the condition supported by Dr Judith Weaver (obstetrician) and Professor Elwyn Elias (hepatologist). In 1997 she met and began working with Professor Catherine Williamson. She formally registered ICP Support as a charity in 2012. She has two sons, Alex and Tim.
In March 2024, Jenny stepped down as CEO of ICP Support to focus on the research work she is involved in and to have some time for herself. She is continuing her work as a researcher into ICP at Imperial College London, and will act as a conduit between the research team and the charity, ensuring that the information provided by the charity is always up to date.
Jenny Chambers
Patrons
‘ICP is a common liver disease of pregnancy that can have severe consequences in terms of adverse pregnancy outcomes. There is increasing interest in ICP throughout the medical and scientific community. Recent studies have focussed on the underlying causes of the disease in the mother (particularly genetic and hormonal factors) and also on the causes of the complications of stillbirth, preterm labour and features of fetal distress. Researchers are keen to work with patient organisations to take our findings to affected women and babies in the clinic and in the community. I have worked with Jenny Chambers and other members of ICP Support for several years and cannot imagine a more effective and professional group of people to run the charity. I am very pleased to be a Patron and I look forward to working with the charity to help improve management of women with ICP and to understand this important disease.’
Professor
Catherine Williamson
‘Pregnancy can be a worrying time even if it runs smoothly, so when I was diagnosed with the condition in my first pregnancy I felt incredibly concerned about the impact on my baby and also overwhelmed by the sudden change in events having had a seemingly ‘perfect’ pregnancy up until that point. My immediate reaction was to research it online, and finding the ICP website was a huge relief – knowing other mums had been or were going through this was such a comfort. The ICP support team are invaluable: they are crusading on behalf of women like me to find out as much as they can about this condition through important research so that diagnosis, care and treatment can be improved in the future. In my second pregnancy I knew my chances of having ICP were very high – knowing that I had the support of this team at that time was worth so much. I look forward to working with ICP Support over the coming years.’
Kim Medcalf
‘I am delighted to be a Patron for ICP Support and promote their work. When I was diagnosed with ICP I was confident that the hospital looking after me knew how to look after me and my unborn baby because they conduct research into the condition.
‘But I realise that not all women will receive the same kind of care that I did, because not all hospitals know as much about it as mine does. That’s why I want to help ICP Support raise awareness of ICP and ensure that women have access to the charity’s in-depth knowledge of the condition as well as the great support that they provide.’
Helen George