Award win for UCLH and UCL research team

A team from UCLH and UCL has seen off competition from 120 applicants to have its research paper crowned as the best of the year.

An international team of researchers led by UCL's Dr Veeru Kasivisvanathan and Professor Caroline Moore carried out a randomised trial which investigates how to diagnose prostate cancer.

The PRECISION trial was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and has led to a change in practice with men now having MRI scans before a biopsy of the prostate followed by detailed targeted biopsies of the prostate. 

The BMJ shortlisted this work as one of the most important papers published in the last year by a UK group and announced it as the winner at the Awards Ceremony.

The presenter announced that they selected this paper as the winner from 120 applications and stressed the significance of the work which has helped changed national practice.

Professor Caroline Moore, head of UCL Urology said: "I am delighted that the team has been recognised for this outstanding paper - a true international collaboration. 

“Changing the prostate cancer diagnostic pathway will allow us to detect aggressive prostate cancers more accurately, whilst 1 in 3 men can safely avoid an invasive biopsy.”

Geoff Bellingan, medical director for surgery and cancer, said: “The excellent work of this team has improved the care for prostate cancer patients in a significant way and we are very proud of this.”

It was a successful night for UCLH, with the multidisciplinary team for Trigeminal Neuralgia at the Eastman Dental Hospital also shortlisted in the clinical leadership category. There were 350 applicants so a fantastic achievement to be shortlisted. 

Professor Joanna Zakrzewska said: “It was a great surprise as we were a late entry and did not expect to get short listed. It was a great morale booster for the team.

“Our thanks go to UCLH Charities who paid for four members to attend the ceremony and Corporate nursing group who paid for our nurse.”

The clinical leadership award was won by a team from University College London Hospitals (UCLH), UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) which has been carrying out operations on babies with spina bifida in the womb.