An Aberdeen clinical academic who is spearheading efforts to make life better for patients with urological problems has been rewarded for the international quality of his research.
James N’Dow, who is co-founder and managing director of urological cancer charity UCAN, and a Consultant Urological Surgeon, has been promoted from Senior Lecturer to Professor of Urology at the University of Aberdeen.
Professor N’Dow is delighted at the new appointment although he believes it reflects on the efforts of the hard working urology team.
He said: “I am absolutely thrilled about being appointed Professor of Urology but I truly believe that my promotion is a reflection on the tremendous work and dedication of everyone in the urological research team.
“It is also great news for our charity UCAN which is aiming to raise £2 million by the end of 2008 to set up a urological research centre of excellence in Aberdeen.
“The centre will lead a research programme which will strive to improve the quality of life for patients and their families. It will study the best ways of treating patients with urological cancers, the best ways of managing some of the unwanted effects of treatments, and it will improve information for everyone to raise awareness and reinforce the benefits of early diagnosis.
“If patients and their families can look back in five years and say that the work urology is doing is making a difference to their lives and that the quality of their care has improved as a consequence then we will be delighted as we will have achieved our aims.”
Professor N’Dow works closely with the University’s Health Services Research Unit. The Unit’s Director, Professor Adrian Grant, said: “It has been a pleasure to work closely with James N'Dow over the last few years.
“His promotion is richly deserved: through wisdom, energy and perseverance, in a short time he has forged an international quality research programme that is making a highly significant contribution to improving the care of people with urological problems."
Professor Mike Greaves, who is Head of the University’s School of Medicine, added: “Professor James N'Dow has been exceptionally successful in taking forward urology research in Aberdeen.
“He is innovative and shows great enthusiasm for collaboration in research. His work is increasingly recognised internationally and includes research which impacts directly on the delivery of care to patients with urological conditions.”
· Urological CANcers are among the most common cancers. They include cancers of the prostate, bladder, kidney and testis. Urological cancers make up one in three cancers in men and one in five of all cancers in men and women. 50,000 urological cancers are diagnosed every year in the UK and over 18,000 people in the UK die every year of urological cancer. In Grampian, over 5,000 people are referred every year with a suspected urological cancer.
For more information about UCAN see: http://www.nhsgrampian.org/nhsgrampian/UCANMAIN.jsp?pContentID=3393&p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show&