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We're excited to have innovators and world leaders in the healthcare engineering field join our new Management Board.
Professor Kurinchi Gurusamy, from the UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, is working to achieve uniform high-quality healthcare for all by developing evidence-based guidelines and innovations that make surgeries safer. His main interests are liver, gallbladder and pancreatic surgery.
In 2014, Kurinchi was awarded £300,000 from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to deliver 30 Cochrane systematic reviews to address the diagnosis and treatment of upper digestive disorders. Upper digestive system disorders cost the NHS approximately £1.3 billion each year.
Using the highest methodological standards available, Cochrane reviews are considered to provide the best evaluation of treatments and diagnostic tests. The systemic reviews led by Kurinchi focused on key NHS priorities: preventing premature death, enhancing quality of life for people with long-term conditions, and helping people recover from illness. The NHS’ overarching priority is to deliver patient-centred and customer-focused healthcare. Kurinchi’s reviews addressed this by looking at patient participation and standards of care.
Following these systematic reviews, at least 40 of Kurinchi and his colleague’s research publications have influenced national policies and international guidelines in the management of liver, gallbladder and pancreatic disorders. National and international bodies including the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), have formulated guidelines using this research. His research has also resulted in significant cost savings for the NHS.
More recently Kurinchi has also been awarded funding for, Closed-system drug transfer devices which aims to reduce healthcare staff’s exposure to infusional hazardous drugs, as well as a project on surgical planning and guidance systems to improve the up-take of laparoscopic liver resection.
These projects along with his continued work on Cochrane systematic reviews solidifies the continued work towards his career aim of providing uniform high-quality healthcare for all.
Kurinchi has recently been promoted to Professor of Evidence-based Medicine and Surgery at UCL where he continues to contribute to improvements in healthcare by collaborating with and influencing the top experts in the world.
What is the highlight of your career so far?
At least 40 of research publications have been used in national or international clinical guidelines in the field of liver, pancreas, and gallbladder disorders.
Where do you see your field of research in 10 years, in terms of scientific developments and advances?
I think we will be able to better predict success or failure of treatment and this will enable a more informed choice of treatments. This is likely to be powered by data sharing, machine learning, and automation of many routine aspects of research. This will allow researchers to increase the quality of their research and communication of information in a more patient-friendly way, leading to better evidence-based clinical practice.
What clinical impact has your work had?
Many of my research publications have been used in national and international clinical guidelines. Two of my publications, in particular, brought about a major change in the management of gallstones.
What would you like the public to know about your research?
Many treatments do not work and it is important to focus resources on the most effective methods. This will us to achieve uniform, high-quality healthcare for all, with limited resources.
What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learnt during your career so far?
It is extremely important to involve patients in research as it helps us understand their priorities and focus on what’s important to them. Patient interaction also generates creative ways of thinking and interesting research questions.