Annabel Griffiths joined Costello Medical in 2015 and was a phenomenal force from the very start, giving her very best to the company every day. She spearheaded our Rare Diseases division in 2018, later leading rare disease teams across the globe and mentoring and inspiring many colleagues along the way. Her work strengthened our partnerships in the field, and her thought leadership left a lasting, positive impact on the rare disease sector. A respected and thoughtful voice on our leadership team, Annabel guided decisions in harmony with our core values.
In early 2024, Annabel was diagnosed with a rare cancer. She faced her illness with the same courage she brought to her work, receiving treatment at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and care at Arthur Rank Hospice, Cambridge, UK. She passed away on 1 March 2025, with her partner and soulmate, Philippe Collin, at her side.
Annabel changed the direction of Costello Medical for the better – forever. Words fall short in capturing the person she was: someone who approached life with positivity, humour, ambition, compassion and selflessness. She was among the finest this world has to offer, and it was a privilege to work alongside her.
To ensure Annabel remains a part of our company forever, and to honour the incredible work she inspired, we have established Annabel’s Legacy in collaboration with Annabel’s family, to remember who she was and celebrate the impact she made, carrying forward the goodness she championed through her work and the values she lived by.
Inspired by her remarkable life and selfless ambition to create lasting change for people living with rare diseases, we designed an identity for Annabel’s Legacy that represents the multitude of rare diseases that Annabel was so passionate to support. Going forwards, we hope each circle in this emblem can represent each moment of bravery, each rare disease funded and supported, and each life touched and positively impacted through Annabel’s Legacy activities.
Annabel lived with courage, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to bettering the lives of people affected by rare diseases. The annual Annabel Griffiths Rare Disease Project is our way of carrying forward her extraordinary work: blending scientific support with strategic funding to empower charities to step outside their comfort zones and deliver patient-centred outcomes for those living with rare diseases. By inviting charities to partner with us, we keep Annabel’s impact alive in every proposal, every milestone, and every success story that follows in her footsteps.
Ensure Annabel’s bravery continues to inspire real-world change, by pairing our scientific expertise with meaningful funding
Support charities and non-profits working in rare diseases in ways that are ambitious, collaborative, and beyond their usual scope
Create lasting, tangible benefits for patients and families, while publicly celebrating the courage, innovation, and impact that Annabel stood for
In September 2025, we issued our first open call for projects from charities and non-profit organisations working in rare diseases. The aim was to identify initiatives where our combined offering of pro bono scientific support and a one-off donation of up to £50,000 could accelerate meaningful impact.
Thank you to everyone who applied. We were thrilled to receive so many inspiring proposals from organisations committed to improving outcomes for patients with rare diseases. After careful review and deliberation, we are delighted to announce the selected partner and project for this year.
The CSF Leak Association is a charity dedicated to raising awareness, providing support, and advancing research for patients with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks.
We will be supporting the CSF Leak Association in their ambition to establish a CSF Leak patient registry in 2026. This registry will better enable research, improve diagnosis and treatment, and guide evidence-based policy development and services to promote wider access to timely, safe and effective care for patients.
Our support will include:
We believe this initiative truly embodies the bravery and ambition at the heart of The Annabel Griffiths Rare Disease Project. In tackling a rare disease challenge through uniting the limited and fragmented data currently available, this project also reflects the power of RWE generation; a field where Annabel’s leadership and vision was also instrumental in shaping our services at Costello Medical.
We are looking forward to getting started on this collaboration and sharing progress updates throughout the year.
The call for the Annabel Griffiths Rare Disease Project is currently closed. We intend to reopen it for future cycles; however, if you believe Costello Medical may be able to provide pro bono support that would help advance your aims or tackle a challenge you are facing, our Expression of Interest form is open throughout the year.
March 2026 will mark a year since Annabel’s passing, and the Costello Medical team will come together to honour her memory through the Cambridge Half Marathon on 8th March 2026. Our team of 16 (and growing) runners will be putting their best feet forward while being cheered on from the sidelines by many more colleagues and supporters.
Annabel spent her final days being cared for at Arthur Rank Hospice, and Team Costello will be covering the 13.1-mile route through Cambridge in support of this truly impactful local charity. Our fundraising page is now open, and we invite you to stand with us by donating today and help motivate all our runners to reach the finish line. Every penny will make a difference by helping sustain the essential and compassionate care Arthur Rank Hospice provides across the Cambridgeshire community.
Updates on fundraising progress and training will follow.
The annual Annabel Griffiths Bravery Award celebrates colleagues across Costello Medical who have demonstrated exceptional personal bravery in their professional life. Nominations are made by peers across the global company and reviewed by a senior internal panel.
Bravery can take many forms from stepping significantly outside one’s comfort zone, taking on a challenging project, starting a new venture, or showing resilience in the face of personal challenges. This award recognises those who act with courage in uncertain circumstances, with the potential to create new value, gain fresh learning, and inspire others along the way.
This award is a lasting tribute to Annabel’s bold and inspiring approach to life and work, encouraging us all to “be more Annabel” in our own journeys. Each year, recipients are recognised with a token of appreciation and the opportunity to nominate a charity to receive a £2,500 donation from Costello Medical, reflecting our commitment to being a force for good and ensuring that the impact of this award extends beyond our organisation.
