Join us to celebrate a special milestone for our new professors and hear about their inspiring career journeys. Doors for this event will open at 16.45, with the lectures to commence at 17.00. A drinks reception will be held immediately after the lecture at 18:00.

Please note that registration will close at midnight the Sunday before the lecture.

Professor Ana Rodriguez-Mateos

Of Rainbow Diets and Healthy Hearts

Abstract

In this inaugural lecture, Professor Ana Rodriguez-Mateos will discuss the role of dietary (poly)phenols in preventing non-communicable diseases, highlighting how these bioactive compounds, abundant in plant-based diets, promote cardiovascular health. Drawing from recent studies, she will examine the complexities of assessing dietary exposure and individual variability in response to diet. She will also reflect on her research journey and the importance of collaboration, kindness, and enjoyment in the pursuit of science.

Biography

Ana Rodriguez-Mateos is a Professor of Human Nutrition at King’s College London. Her research examines the effects of diet on non-communicable diseases, with a focus on the role of plant foods and (poly)phenols in preventing cardiometabolic diseases. She is also interested in developing novel tools to improve dietary assessment using biomarkers and metabolomic approaches. A Registered Nutritionist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, she received the Nutrition Society Silver Medal in 2023.

She is the founder and co-Chair of the Nutrition Society Special Interest Group on Phytochemicals and Health, Associate Editor of Food & Function, co-lead of the Lifestyles theme at CARICE, co-lead of the Safe and Sustainable Diets for a Healthy Body and Mind research group, and Programme Director of the BSc Nutritional Sciences. She has published over 130 peer-reviewed articles with more than 10,000 citations.

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Professor Ben Challacombe

Urology and Robotic Surgery- The perfect combination

Abstract

Ben is a Consultant Urological Surgeon with a special interest in the robotic treatment of prostatic and renal diseases. He is the Guy’s & St Thomas’ MDM urological cancer and clinical robotics lead, and robotic fellowship director. He was the BAUS Oncology Section Chairman 2018-20 and in 2019 was awarded the BAUS Golden Cystoscope for contributions to British Urology.

He performed the first RCT of telerobotics between Guy’s and Johns Hopkins, in 2002. Ben has been Associate editor of the BJUI 2012-2020, has >320 peer-reviewed publications (h index 62), 4 books, and 25 book chapters on robotic urological techniques. He has performed over 3000 robotic procedures 1600 HoLEPs.

His current research is in pan speciality robotic surgery training, novel robotic systems and the development of the Wickham Robotic Training Centre.

Biography

In this lecture, I will chart my journey in urology and robotic surgery. From my first paper and randomised clinical trial of robotic surgery in 2002 to establishing myself as an academic consultant in 2010. I will look at how robotic surgery has become a central part of urological and surgical practice and how we are training the next generation of surgeons in this technology. I will look at surgical education with hydrogel models and advanced simulation methods. We will explore new surgical techniques and new clinical robotic systems and how they are being introduced into the NHS. I will look at how KCL and GSTT have become the national epicentre for robotic clinical excellence,  training and research.