A pioneering professor
Hunterian professor, Mr Pankaj Chandak reunites with young patient who benefited from his pioneering research.
Named after surgeon scientist John Hunter and dating back over two centuries, The Hunterian Professorship is one of the most recognised accolades in scientific surgery and is given to work that combines strong clinical investigation with good science.
Hunterian Professors are invited to present their research at the Hunterian Lecture which has hosted some of the most famous names in scientific surgery, including James Paget, best known for his studies into progressive bone disorder, and Sir Watson-Cheyne surgeon and bacteriologist who pioneered the use of antiseptic surgical methods.
Mr Chandak’s award-winning research focussed on the use of 3D printing to understand the suitability of the organs for complex transplants in young children. His finding's led to two year old, Lucy Boucher's, life-saving operation using 3D printing technology in 2016.
Using measurements from CT and MRI scans, the 3D printer was able to replicate the anatomy of Lucy’s abdomen and her father’s (donor) kidney, giving the surgical team better information to plan the procedure.
Eight years later, Lucy is approaching her 10th birthday and is living a healthy life. Mr Chandak, Lucy and her family were all recently reunited at ASGBI Congress 2024 in Belfast where Pankaj delivered his Huntarian Lecture on the research that saved Lucy's life.
You can see Lucy’s 3D printed abdomen and details about Mr Chandak’s work in the London Science Museum.
Now working at The Royal London Hospital in the transplant team as a trainee transplant registrar, Pankaj hopes to expand the method of 3D printing and organ regeneration to east London and beyond.
On receiving the award, Mr Chandak said:
“It is an honour to receive this recognition from The Royal College of Surgeons of England.
I would like to thank colleagues across King’s Health Partners, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and Evelina London Children's Hospital and KCL Department of Imaging Sciences and particularly my research mentors for this work, Professor Nizam Mamode and Mr Nicos Kessaris.
I look forward to future exciting and inspiring science and innovative collaborations to continue to provide care for our east London patients"
(Pictured: Mr Chandak with Lucy and her family at The Hunterian Lecture)