Dr Neil Ryan

Chief Scientific Officer Clinical Lecturer and Subspecialty Trainee in Gynaecology Oncology

  • College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
  • Institute of Genetics and Cancer
  • Institute of Regeneration and Repair

Contact details

Address

Street

The Centre for Reproductive Health
Institute for Regeneration and Repair (IRR)
4-5 Little France Drive
Edinburgh BioQuarter

City
Edinburgh
Post code
EH16 4UU

Availability

  • Please note that, due to NHS Lothian IT security policy, I am unable to respond to emails about clinical matters. Please address all clinical matters to the gynaecology oncology NHS secretary Ms Ali MacDonald Tel: 0131 242 2516 (Ext: 22516)

Biography

Background

Neil is the RCOG Subspecialty Trainee in Gynaecology Oncology at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and a CSO/NES Clinical Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh.

Prior to this he completed basic training in Ear Nose and Throat Surgery. He was awarded a personal MRC fellowship to undertake a PhD at the University of Manchester (UoM) which he completed in 2020. His thesis was supervised by Professors Crosbie and Evans.

His PhD led to a change in NICE guidelines relating to the testing of womb cancer along with numerous publications, presentations, invited lectures and awards.

Neil's work was recognised by a President's Doctorial Scholarship and awarded the UoM's highest postgraduate award: The President's Medal. Neil was recently awarded the William Blair Bell Lecture by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). Furthermore, Neil won the Herbert Reiss Prize from the Royal Society of Medicine.

Neil has been invited to sit on several national and international committees including the RCOG's Genetics Task Force, The British Gynaecological Cancers Society's guideline subcommittee, The European Hereditary Cancer Group, Lynch Syndrome UK's Clinical Advisory group and the Royal Society of Medicine's Obstetrics and Gynaecological committee.  

Neil is currently pursuing a career in academic gynaecology oncology and is seeking to explore ways to improve the care of women with gynaecological cancer by improving personalised treatments and identifying those at increased risk of cancer. He is currently applying for national grants to undertake this work.

Qualifications

Bsc (Hons) in Bioethics from University of Bristol 

MBChB (Hons) in Medicine and Surgery from University of Bristol 

PGCertMedED in Medical Eduction from University of Bristol 

PhD (Awarded the Highest Award for Postgraduate Students) form the University of Manchester 

Member of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) 

Member of the Royal College of Obstertrcians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG)

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Responsibilities & affiliations

Trainee Representative and Treasure on the Bell Blair Committee, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 2017-Present

Committee Member on the National Audit and Research Collaborative in Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2019-Present

Committee Member on the Genetics Task Force, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists May 2019-Present  

Board Member, European Hereditary Tumour Group, September 2023-Present

Clinical Fellow for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence May 2021- Present 

Undergraduate teaching

Position: Clinical Tutor and Lecturer

Location: University of Edinburgh

Date:  2021-present

Position: Clinical Tutor and Lecturer

Location: University of Bristol

Date:  2019-2022

Position: Clinical Tutor

Location: University of Manchester Medical School

Date:  2015-2017

Position: Trainee Lead for ENT Undergraduate Education

Location: Southmead Hospital

Date:  2013

Position: Tutor on Finals Surgery Series

Location: Luton and Dunstable Teaching Hospital

Dates: 2011

Position: Peer Assisted Learning and Study (PALS) Tutor

Location: University of Bristol

Dates: 2009

Position: Ethics and Medical Law Tutor.

Location: Centre for Ethics in Medicine, University of Bristol, Third Floor Hampton House, Cotham Hill, Bristol, BS6 6AU

Dates: February 2007-2014

 

 

Postgraduate teaching

Position: Invited lecturer

Location: University of the West of England

Date:  2020-present

 

 

Position: Invited lecturer

Location: Scottish Postgraduate Deanery, School of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 

Date:  2020-present

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

Yes

Areas of interest for supervision

I see medicine as an apprenticeship, and I teach students every week. I have a PGCertMedEd from the University of Bristol which helped me develop my teaching methods and cemented the educational theory required to be an effective teacher. Between 2007-2014 I was a tutor for the University of Bristol in ethics. I designed and led my sessions. I was awarded best tutor consecutively for six years; my students consistently got the highest scores. This success was repeated when I was a clinical tutor for the University of Manchester 2015-2019. I have designed and led Gynaecological Oncology teaching for the University of Bristol; my lectures have had the highest feedback scores each year. Currently I am a clinical tutor for the University of Edinburgh and am responsible for six 5th year students. Furthermore, I will be supervising 10 student selected components for the University of Edinburgh starting in February. I hope to see these through, not only to high academic scores, but also to peer reviewed publication.

 

Past PhD students supervised

Three MSc students (all of whom got distinctions) 

Three BSc students (all of whom got first class degrees) 

Research summary

My research is focused on two things:

1. How to tailor surgical and systemic treatment in gynaecological cancer. 

2. How to diagnose and reduce the risk of those with an inherited risk of gynaecological cancer. 

These goals are broad and necessitate a team science approach which has led to numerous and fruitful collaborations both here at the University of Edinburgh, within the United Kingdom and internationally. 

Cancer is a heterogeneous disease with varying clinical outcomes. All too often we apply the same treatments to all our patients with varying degrees of success. Sometimes these treatments are more harmful than they are therapeutic. I am currently exploring biomarkers that can help predict treatment outcome and also help enable targeted treatments so as to ensure maximal efficacy as well as reduce toxicity and harm. As a surgical trainee I am particularly interested in how we can better tailor surgical interventions in gynaecological cancer. 

Since my PhD I have been passionate about accurately diagnosing those who have inherited an increased risk of gynaecological cancer. Through this diagnosis we can instigate and explore interventions so as to mitigate this inherited risk. I am currently working on how we can enable gynaecological cancer surveillance in these high risk groups through novel technologies.

Knowledge exchange

 

  • Lynch syndrome Lead for the Southwest Genomic Medicine Alliance, lead a regional team that covered all the Southwest of England with an annual budget of £230,000. Under my leadership, tumor testing was increased from 19% to 98%. In addition, our work was recognised by two awards from NHS England.
  • I sit on the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists genomics task force and advise the President of the College on the policy and strategic implications of cancer genomics.
  • I have worked on several social awareness campaigns. These have been alongside charities, universities, and government agencies. They have used multiple methods of communication including reports, blogs, short films, and podcasts. They have received thousands of views, positive comments and have been found to effect real change be that people coming forward for testing or inform policy. Examples include:
  • My PhD was awarded the highest prize for postgraduates at the University of Manchester (The Presidents’ Medal). The result of my work led to a direct change in the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence Guidelines. In addition, this work won the Blair Bell Lecture at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as well as the Greater Manchester Research Award.

Project activity

I am currently trialing three novel diagnostic tools to help diagnose gynaecological cancer. 

In addition to this I am looking to explore liquid biopsy derived biomarkers to help direct surgical treatment. 

Furthermore,  I am working with fellow academics to better understand treatment response in mismatch repair deficient gynaecological cancers. 

Current project grants

CSO/NES Clinical Lecturer Award 2023-2025 (£30,000) "Novel diagnostic methods in gynaecological cancer" N Ryan

Academy of Medical Sciences Clinical Lecturer Starter Grant 2022-2024 (£30,000) “Microsatellite instability detection in the urine of women with endometrial cancer” N Ryan J Burn E Crosbie

Joint RCF/BWHC Small grants Spring 2023 Call (£30,000) "Guiding Drug Selection for Ovarian Cancer" J Armstrong, N Ryan, C Newton

NIHR HTA (£321,713) 2020-2023 “Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of gynaecological surveillance for women with Lynch syndrome: systematic reviews and economic evaluation” T Snowsill, H Coelho, N Ryan, S Briscoe, C Hulme, E Crosbie

Past project grants

Cochrane Collaboration Training Grant (£10,000) 2016 “Weight loss interventions in endometrial cancer” N Ryan S Kitson E Crosbie

MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship (£250,000) 2015-2019 “Lynch syndrome in the context of endometrial cancer: the prevalence, biology and clinical management” N Ryan G Evans E Crosbie

Wellcome Trust (£3000) 2006-2007“Depression in individuals with HV in The Gambia” N Ryan J Combe W Lox

View all 8 publications on Research Explorer

Invited speaker

Lynch syndrome UK annual patient conference, Various Locations, 2016-2020

Blair Bell Annual Academic Meeting of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists, London, 2016-2020

European Hereditary Tumour Group, Various Locations, 2016-2023

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, numerous meetings 2015-2022

Cancer Genetics Group Winter Meeting, London, 2019

NCRI Gynaecological Oncology Group 2019 Trails Meeting, London, 2019

Undergraduate meeting, Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists, London 2020

Trainee National Conference, Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists, Bristol, 2020

National Meeting of Gynaecology Oncology Fellows’ Genetics Day Jan 2020

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Bell Blair Lecture 2021

Japanese Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Annual Meeting 2021

British Gynaecological Cancer Society Annual Meeting 2021

National Trainees’ Meeting, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 2021

Biomarkers Of Gynaecological cancer, Glaxosmithkline Lecture Series, 2021

Numerous talks for the local Cancer Alliances 2021-2022

Danish National Lynch Syndrome Registry Annual Meeting, Keynote speaker, Copenhagen, 2022

Peaches Trust Education Meeting, Online, February 2023

International Workshop Programme on Gynaecological Oncology, Cambridge University, March 2023

Inherited Gynaecological cancer, GlaxoSmithKline Lecture Series, 2023

British Gynaecological Cancer Society Annual Meeting 2023

Organiser

Organising committee of the Annual Academic Conference/Bell Blair Committee, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists since 2017 to present day 

Organising committee of the European Hereditary Tumour Group Annual Meeting 2023

Organising committee of the National Trainees’ Meeting 2021 of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Papers delivered

  1. ‘An interesting presentation of Rosi-Dorfman Syndrome’ N Ryan, T Sammut, S Gillet. The Semon Club- international ENT meeting at Guys Hospital, May 2013
  2. ‘The relationship between symptom diagnosis and urodynamics diagnosis. Is it the time to revisit NICE and recent trials recommendation?’ N Ryan, M Vij & S O’Brien. Accepted as an Oral Presentation - South West Obstetrics and Gynaecology Trainees’ Meeting March 2015
  3. ‘Junior doctor perception of documentation practice in the South West and its effect on training’ O Burdall, M Vannahame, N Ryan, L Patel, R Unworth, J Sansome. Accepted as an oral presentation. The Association for the Study of Medical Education international meeting. July 2015
  4. ‘Cervical cancer survivors have an increased risk of head and neck cancer’ N Ryan, R Huxley, A Patel, P Tierney, E Crosbie. Accepted as an oral presentation. Annual Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Academic Meeting. March 2016
  5. ‘Age stratified surveillance strategies Lynch Syndrome-associated cancer according to mismatch repair mutation’ N Ryan, K Green, G Evans, E Crosbie. Accepted as an oral presentation. European Hereditary Tumour Group Meeting. May 2016
  6. Lynch Syndrome and Endometrial Cancer- screening, prevention, and biology NAJ Ryan, M Glaire, N Ramchander, N Davison, T Walke6, L Donnelly, R McMahon, S Tobi, A Wallace, K Payne, T Bosse, DG Evans, EJ Crosbie. Accepted as an oral presentation. Annual Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology Academic Meeting. Jan 2019 – Winner of Best Oral Presentation with the highest ever recorded score.
  7. The prevalence of mismatch repair deficiency in ovarian cancer: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Atwal A, Snowsill T, Cabrera Dandy M, Krum T, Newton C, Evans DG, Crosbie EJ, Ryan NA. Accepted as an oral presentation. International Congress of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology
  8. Distinguishing the molecular profile of endometrial cancer by spectroscopy: A Diagnostic Cross-Sectional Study NAJ Ryan, CLM Morais, KMG Lima, M Paraskevaid, C Pow DG Evans, J. Bolton, PL. Martin-Hirsch, RVO Silva, FL. Martin and EJ. Crosbie. Accepted as an oral presentation. British Gynaecological Cancer Society 2022. Winner of Best Oral
  9. Biomarkers of ovarian cancer: an umbrella review and meta-analysis. Angus Lawson, Abbey Huang, Allegra Riviera, Anish Subramaniam, Julia Nicholson, Shaan Rai, Sowparnika Gopalakrishnan, Neil Ryan Accepted as a poster presentation. British Gynaecological Cancer Society 2023.

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