Spotlight on... Jayant Vaidya

What is your role and what does it involve?

I am Professor of Surgery and Oncology. I spend my time doing research, teaching and clinical practice. 

How long have you been at UCL and what was your previous role?

I have been at UCL since 2009 as a senior lecturer, reader and professor – before that I was at UCL from 1996 to 2004 as a research fellow.

What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?

Conceiving the idea of targeted radiotherapy for breast cancer and inventing the technique of TARGeted Intraoperative radioTherapy (TARGIT-IORT) along with Professor Michael Baum and Professor Jeffrey Tobias. This has led to a conceptual change in breast cancer treatment and it has now been adopted around the world, with at least 45,000 patients already treated.

Tell us about a project you are working on now which is top of your to-do list?

TARGIT-IORT and a new method to cure cancer – finishing the papers, grant application and patient treatments.

What is your favourite album, film and novel?

Star Trek, Back to the Future and the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov.

What is your favourite joke (pre-watershed)?

Me: Have you ever seen an elephant hiding behind a strawberry bush? 
You: No!
Me: See, how well he hid himself!

Who would be your dream dinner guests?

Richard Feynman, Barack and Michelle Obama, Roger Federer and Lata Mangeshkar.

What advice would you give your younger self?

It will all work out!

What would it surprise people to know about you?

I learnt to play a musical instrument (the tabla).

What is your favourite place?

Home.