NDS celebrates two CRUK awards for colorectal cancer research
29 October 2025
The Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences (NDS) is celebrating the achievements of Professor Simon Buczacki and Dr Alex Gordon-Weeks, who have both received Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Discovery Programme Awards — a rare double success for a single university department.
Professor Fadi Issa honoured with ISOT Recognition Award for leadership in transplantation
27 October 2025
Professor Fadi Issa, Professor of Transplantation at the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences (NDS), has been awarded the Recognition Award by the Indian Society of Organ Transplantation (ISOT), celebrating his outstanding leadership and contributions to the field of transplantation.
Teaching Excellence Awards 2025: Mr Martin Gillies recognised for outstanding teaching
24 October 2025
The Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences (NDS) is delighted to announce that Mr Martin Gillies has been recognised in the 2025 Teaching Excellence Awards, receiving an Excellent Teacher Award for his exceptional contributions to education within the Medical Sciences Division.
To Immunity and Beyond: A conversation with Fadi Issa
23 October 2025
Professor Fadi Issa, from the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, joins the latest episode of To Immunity and Beyond — a podcast series produced by the Oxford Immunology Network — to discuss his pioneering work on regulatory T cell (T reg) therapy in kidney transplantation.
Professor Kokila Lakhoo publishes book on paediatric cancer surgery
23 September 2025
Professor Kokila Lakhoo, Professor of Global Paediatric Surgery at the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, has co-authored a new book titled 'Pediatric Surgical Oncology', published by Springer Nature.
DPhil student receives competitive Royal College of Surgeons fellowship
20 September 2025
Patrick Jull, DPhil Student and Clinical Research Fellow in Transplant Surgery at the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, has been awarded a highly competitive One Year Surgical Research Fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Oxford-led team awarded significant grant to improve kidney transplant decision-making with AI
30 August 2025
Researchers from the Centre for Evidence in Transplantation (CET), led by Associate Professor Simon Knight, have been awarded a prestigious five-year National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grant for Applied Research (PGfAR). The project will develop and evaluate AI-driven clinical decision support tools to help clinicians make better-informed choices about kidney transplant offers.
Surgery to treat chronic sinus disease more effective than antibiotics
29 August 2025
Sinus surgery is more effective than antibiotics in treating chronic rhinosinusitis, according to a major clinical trial conducted by the Surgical Intervention Trials Unit (SITU) at the University of Oxford.
Major new study aims to improve surgery options for acid reflux patients
28 August 2025
A UK-wide research team, led by the University of Oxford, has launched a major international study to improve surgical treatment for people suffering from gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), a chronic condition that affects around one in five adults in the UK.
Mr Tony Jefferis, Senior Teaching Fellow, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, Oxford University
27 August 2025
It is with great sadness that we announce the sad passing of Mr Tony Jefferis. Tony has been a very important part of Oxford education and in particular surgical education for over two decades.
Oxford University spinout OrganOx to be acquired by Terumo for a record $1.5bn
25 August 2025
An agreement has been reached for the acquisition of OrganOx, a pioneering University of Oxford spinout transforming kidney and liver transplantation, by Terumo Corporation, a global medical technology company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, for US$1.5 billion. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory and other approvals, would be the largest acquisition of an Oxford University spinout to date, and one of the most significant venture capital exits in UK university spinout history.
Translating curiosity into careers: NDS Work Experience Programme 2025
21 August 2025
In July, we welcomed fourteen students to our NDS Work Experience Programme, all eager to pursue careers in medicine and medical research.
Two new professors at NDS
18 August 2025
Henk Giele and Richard Bryant have both been conferred the title of full professor at the University of Oxford in this year’s exercise for Recognition of Distinction.
James Hunter appointed to leadership role in NHS Blood and Transplant
15 August 2025
The Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences is proud to announce that Associate Professor James Hunter has been appointed as Kidney Clinical Lead – Assessment and Recovery Centres (ARCs) for NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT).
Obese surgical patients’ medication lifeline can reduce risk
12 August 2025
Overweight patients waiting for operations could safely use a particular type of weight-loss treatment to reduce the risk of surgical complications linked to their obesity, a new study reveals.
Ágata Carreira appointed Research Associate at Jesus College
30 July 2025
We are pleased to announce that Dr Ágata Carreira, who recently joined Professor Ian Mills’ lab as a Postdoctoral Researcher, has been appointed as the Dr Sara Hope Browne Non-Stipendiary Research Associate in Medical Sciences at Jesus College, Oxford. Her appointment will run from 1 October 2025 until 2 June 2027.
NDS hosts third annual Student Symposium highlighting research excellence
17 July 2025
On Wednesday 3 July, the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences (NDS) hosted its third annual NDS Student Symposium at the Richard Doll Building on Oxford's Old Road Campus.
Oxford’s OrganOx wins the MacRobert Award 2025
9 July 2025
The Royal Academy of Engineering has announced that OrganOx has won the £50,000 MacRobert Award, the longest running and most prestigious prize for UK engineering innovation, for its life-saving technology that is supporting more organ transplants and helping to cut waiting lists.
Oxford neurosurgeon secures nearly £2 million for brain cancer trial
17 June 2025
Associate Professor Puneet Plaha of the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences has been awarded a £1.98 million NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) grant to lead a five-year clinical trial addressing one of the most critical questions in brain cancer care.
Oxford’s OrganOx is shortlisted for the MacRobert Award 2025
16 June 2025
The Royal Academy of Engineering has announced the finalists for the 2025 MacRobert Award, the longest running and most prestigious prize for UK engineering innovation.