Robotics in Urology and its scientific evaluation: Given the precision of robotic technology it is expected that prospective evaluation of every procedure performed over a five year period by collecting data on operative parameters and HRQoL will show advantages over conventional surgery. The above are being compared with laparoscopic and open urological counterparts; specifically the BOLERO trial of robotic versus open and laparoscopic cystectomy for bladder cancer is planned. A “robotic steering group” oversees the health sciences evaluation of this project.

It is expected that evaluation of 3D and 2D vision will demonstrate the advantage of stereoscopic vision and increased degrees of freedom. A unique evaluation of human-robot performance in collaboration with the Jet Propulsion Lab, California using mathematical primitives derived from space robotics has been conducted. A new mechatronic sensor is being developed in collaboration with Prof Lakmal Seneviratne at the KCL strand campus and is supported by the EPSRC. Ergonomics by digitised video assessment of surgical posture during robotic, laparoscopic and open surgery is likely to show an advantage in favour of robotic surgery. Augmented reality and 3D planning of the operative scene within the Da Vinci system is being tested in collaboration with Prof Dave Hawkes of UCL and Dr Graeme Penny of KCL.

Stem cells and cell targeted therapies in prostate and bladder cancer: This is a collaborative project with Professor John Masters from UCL and the new MRC Transplantation Centre at Guys. The ultimate aim is to study the possibility of developing regenerated bladders and ileal conduits from stem cells in samples removed during robotic surgery and an immunological appraisal of the technique.

Bladder physiology particularly receptors such as the vanilloid receptor TRPV1, P2X3, SNAP25, SV2. New methods of assessing receptor structure and function based on high throughput methods derived from the Human Genome Project (HGP). We are investigating in the role of myofibroblasts and their relationship with connexin 42. We are using a combination of micro-array technology, real time PCR and immunohistochemistry in human tissues and a rat model. My group is collaborating with Prof Steve MacMahon at Guy’s and Prof Clare Fowler at Queen Square to answer these questions.

Membrane tagged technology to enhance the action of Botulinum toxin in overactive bladders in collaboration with Dr Richard Smith in our Protein Chemistry Lab in the MRC Transplant Centre. This technology has already been used to reduce complement mediated transplant injury.

I have been a Senior Academic Urologist for the nearly 10 years within Guy’s Hospital, King’s College London School of Medicine. Senior faculty member within our Biomedical Research Centre to promote translational research. I have also worked for 10 years in the 5* rated Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square. Our division currently has 84 PhD students supervised by 41 principal investigators (PI). Programme level grants are available from MRC, Welcome Trust, ARC and BHF. In 2012 we received £57.5 million in renewed grant funding from the NIHR for our Biomedical Research Centre which is an integral part of King’s Health Partners (KHP), the largest Academic Health Sciences Centre in the UK. I am theme lead for Experimental Surgery within this institution.

I pioneered modern robotic urological surgery in UK, following in the footsteps of John Wickham. My team is recognised internationally for the Guy’s robotic cystoprostatectomy technique for bladder cancer and is the leading European group amongst the International Robotic Cystectomy Consortium (IRCC). We conducted the first randomised controlled trial of robotic urology in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Hospital. A further innovation of mine is the description of a minimally invasive method of delivering Botulinum toxin to refractory overactive bladders (Dasgupta technique). I am the Urological Foundation Mentor in Robotic Surgery. I was elected BAUS councillor and Trustee and Royal College of Surgeons Specialist Advisor in 2008. I am a Visiting Professor to a number of overseas institutions.

I have over 500 publications which include over 250 peer-reviewed papers, 30 book chapters and 6 books (H index 26). I am credited with over 350 presentations in national and international meetings. I am one of the BJUI’s top 5 reviewers in the Roll of Honours for 2010-12. I have raised about £70M through 36 grants including those from the EUFP7, MRC, MS Society and BUF. I have established numerous collaborations in basic science research the most recognised of these being the understanding of receptor function in the human and rat bladders and the translational implications. I am also working on targeted immunotherapy in prostate cancer and the development of image guidance and indentation probes to improve the accuracy of robotic surgery in urological oncology. I lead a 28 strong team of basic scientists, engineers and clinician-scientists within King’s College London.

I am divisional academic chairman, academic chairman of the Southern Laparoscopic Urologists Group and have been co-chairman for the robotics section of the World Congress of Endourology. I have delivered over 100 guest lectures – the AUA/EUS 2005, Hunterian 2006, EORTC 2010 and EAU 2012 deserve particular mention. I am tutor on the MSc and FRCS (Urol) courses and have served as an examiner of the University of London for four years. I am faculty on the Tuttlingen, Tygerberg and BAUS Laparoscopic courses and have conducted a number of UK and European symposia/masterclasses in robotic surgery. I am a reviewer for 15 journals including NEJM and Nature Reviews Urology and a member of numerous editorial boards. I was elected as a trustee to BAUS and the BJU International in 2009. I advise NICE on laparoscopic/robotic urology.

I was honoured with the Karl Storz-Harold Hopkins Golden Telescope award from the British Association of Urological Surgeons for significant and lasting contribution to urology.

I became Editor-in-Chief of the British Journal of Urology International (BJUI) in January 2013.