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
- Email: neil.ryan@ed.ac.uk
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)
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:
- https://eveappeal.org.uk/inherited-risks/lynch-syndrome/lets-talk-lynch/day-one/
- https://www.nice.org.uk/news/article/test-people-with-womb-cancer-for-inherited-genetic-condition-nice-says-in-new- guidance
- https://blog.policy.manchester.ac.uk/author/neil-ryan/
- https://www.facebook.com/UKLynchSyndrome/
- 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
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
- ‘An interesting presentation of Rosi-Dorfman Syndrome’ N Ryan, T Sammut, S Gillet. The Semon Club- international ENT meeting at Guys Hospital, May 2013
- ‘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
- ‘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
- ‘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
- ‘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
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- 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.