Professor Hisham Mehanna PhD, BMedSc, MBChB, FRCS, FRCS(ORL-HNS)

Professor Hisham Mehanna

Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences
Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor (interdisciplinary research)
Director, Institute for Global Innovation and Institute for Advanced Studies
Director, Institute of Head and Neck Studies and Education (InHANSE)

Contact details

Address
Institute of Head and Neck Studies and Education
Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences
Robert Aitken Building
Vincent Drive
University of Birmingham
Birmingham B15 2TT

Professor Hisham Mehanna is the chair of head and neck surgery, and is the Director of the Institute of Head and Neck Studies and Education (InHANSE) at the Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences.

Hisham is a head and neck and thyroid surgeon with clinical interests in recurrence in thyroid and parathyroid surgery. He has a keen interest in clinical and translational research, heading a research team of 20 researchers, and holding over £15million in research grants. His research has changed clinical practice across the world. 

His experience of multi-disciplinary research in the field of cancer biology and treatment has made him a strong proponent of multi- and inter- disciplinary research, as the way to provide new insights and approaches to address intractable global challenges. 

As Deputy PVC, Hisham has responsibility for promoting interdisciplinary research across the University. Also as Director of the Institute for Global Innovation (IGI) and the Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS), Hisham strives to ensure that the Institutes inspire, support and deliver world-leading, multi- and inter-disciplinary research that seeks to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, that affect humanity at a global level. The IGI’s research themes revolve around the factors that challenge, and sometimes threaten, the sustainability and resilience of individuals, communities, countries and the world as a whole. Themes include resilient cities, water challenges in a changing world, clean cooling, pollution solutions, antimicrobial resistance, ageing and frailty, gender inequality, artificial intelligence and 21st century transnational crime. 

Qualifications

  • PhD, Assessment of Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancers. Erasmus University 2010
  • FRCS (ORL-HNS) 2002
  • FRCS Glasgow 1998
  • MBChB (Hons)  University of Glasgow 1994
  • B.Med.Sc (Hons) University of Kuwait 1990 

Teaching

Hisham runs several post graduate courses and meetings, including the international biennial ‘Controversies in the management of head and neck cancer’ meeting. He also serves on the organising committee of several large international conferences, and has served on faculty of many conferences and courses. He is currently the Academic Chair for the British Academic Conference of Otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery (BACO International) 2021.

Postgraduate supervision

Hisham supervises several PhD, Masters and intercalating BSc students, in topics ranging from translational research to bioinformatics to clinical research

Other activities

  • Chair, Head and Neck Cancer International Group, 2019-present 
  • Council Member, University of Birmingham, 2015-2019
  • President, British Association of Head Neck Oncologists, 2017-2019
  • Secretary, Head and Neck Cancer International Group (HNCIG), 2016-2020
  • Chair, UK’s National Cancer Research Institute Head and Neck Group, 2012-2018

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Lim, A, Laskar, S, Steuer, C, Chow, VLY, Szturz, P, Henson, C, Day, AT, Bates, JE, Lazarakis, S, McDowell, L, Mehanna, H & Yom, SS 2024, 'Assessment of endpoint definitions in recurrent and metastatic mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma trials: HNCIG international consensus recommendations', The Lancet Oncology.

Lim, AM, McDowell, L, Hurt, C, Tourneau, CL, Homma, A, Shenouda, G, Thompson, DJ, Moya-Plana, A, Henson, C, Szturz, P, Day, AT, Bates, JE, Lazarakis, S, Thariat, J, Psyrri, A, Mehanna, H & Yom, SS 2024, 'Clinical trial endpoint use and definitions in curative-intent trials for mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: HNCIG international consensus recommendations.', The Lancet Oncology.

Mehanna, H, Gaunt, P, Kong, A, Hartley, A, Sanghera, P, Forster, M, Sen, M, Paleri, V, Fong, C, Geropantas, D, Srinivasan, D, Garikipati, S, Moleron, R, Casswell, G, Aynsley, E, Ward, A, O'Toole, L, Mirza, A, Firth, C, Humphreys, I, Fulton-Lieuw, T & Nankivell, P 2024, 'CompARE: study protocol for a phase III randomised controlled platform trial comparing alternative regimens for escalating treatment of intermediate and high-risk oropharyngeal cancer', Trials, vol. 25, 50. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-023-07881-1

Henson, C, Abou-Foul, A, Glastonbury, C, Huang, SH, King, A, Lydiatt, W, McDowell, LJ, Nagelschneider, AA, Nankivell, P, O'Sullivan, B, Rhys, R, Xiao, Y, Yu, E, Yom, SS & Mehanna, H 2024, 'Criteria for the Diagnosis of Extranodal Extension Detected on Radiological Imaging in Head and Neck Cancer: HNCIG International Consensus Recommendations', International Journal of Radiation: Oncology - Biology - Physics , vol. 118, no. 5, pp. e12-e13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2024.01.033

Henson, C, Abou-Foul, A, Glastonbury, C, Huang, SH, King, AD, Lydiatt, WM, McDowell, L, Nagelschneider, AA, Nankivell, P, O'Sullivan, B, Rhys, R, Xiao, Y, Yu, E, Andrew, D, Asmussen, JT, Bidault, F, Dankbaar, JW, de Graaf, P, Gebrim, ES, Hu, C, Ding, J, Kanda, T, Kim, J, Kuno, H, Medrano-Martorell, S, Oikonomopoulos, N, Park-Nam Goh, J, Santos-Armentia, E, Schafigh, DG, Subramaniam, RM, Wu, X, Yom, SS & Mehanna, H 2024, 'Criteria for the diagnosis of extra nodal extension detected on radiological imaging in head and neck cancer: HNCIG international consensus recommendations', The Lancet Oncology.

Mehanna, H, Rapozo, D, Zeidler, SVV, Harrington, K, Winter, S, Hartley, A, Nankivell, P, Schache, A, Sloan, P, Odell, E, Thavaraj, S, Hunter, K, Shah, K, Thomas, G, Long, A, Amel-Kashipaz, R, Brown, R, Conn, B, Hall, G, Matthews, P, Weir, J, Yeo, Y, Pring, M, West, C, McCaul, J, Golusinski, P, Sitch, A, Spruce, R, Batis, N, Bryant, J, Brooks, J, Jones, TM, Buffa, F, Haider, S & Robinson, M 2024, 'Developing and validating a multivariable prognostic-predictive classifier for treatment escalation of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: the PREDICTR-OPC study', Clinical Cancer Research, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 356–367. https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-23-1013

Matheson, L, Greaves, C, Duda, JL, Wells, M, Secher, D, Rhodes, P, Lorenc, A, Jepson, M, Ozakinci, G, Watson, E, Fulton-Lieuw, T, Mittal, S, Main, B, Nankivell, P, Mehanna, H & Brett, J 2024, 'Development of the ‘ACT now & check-it-out’ intervention to support patient-initiated follow up for Head and Neck cancer patients', Patient Education and Counseling, vol. 119, 108033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2023.108033

Baliga, S, Abou-Foul, A, Parente, P, Szturz, P, Thariat, J, Shreenivas, A, Nankivell, P, Bertolini, F, Blau, J, Blakaj, D, Brennan, S, Brunet, A, Bueno De Oliveira, T, Burtness, B, Carral Maseda, A, Chow, VLY, Chua, M, de Ridder, M, Garikipati, S, Hanai, N, Ho, F, Huang, SH, Kiyota, N, Klinghammer, K, Kowalski, LP, Kwong, DLW, McDowell, L, Merlano, MC, Nair, S, Economopoulou, P, Overgaard, J, Psyrri, A, Tribius, S, Waldron, J, Yom, SS & Mehanna, H 2024, 'Essential data variables for a minimum dataset for head and neck cancer trials and clinical research: HNCIG consensus recommendations and database', European Journal of Cancer. <https://api.jst.scifree.se/links/birmingham:j:65ba737cdcdeb100011e8c5c>

Patel, A, Brock, K, Slade, D, Gaunt, C, Kong, A, Mehanna, H, Billingham, L & Gaunt, P 2024, 'Implementing the time-to-event continual reassessment method in the presence of partial orders in a phase I head and neck cancer trial', BMC Medical Research Methodology, vol. 24, no. 1, 11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-024-02142-4

Kong, A, Kirkham, AJ, Savage, JS, Mant, R, Lax, S, Good, J, Forster, MD, Sacco, JJ, Schipani, S, Harrington, KJ, Yap, C & Mehanna, H 2024, 'Results and lessons learnt from the WISTERIA phase I trial combining AZD1775 with cisplatin pre- or post-operatively in head and neck cancer', BJC Reports, vol. 2, no. 1, 6. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44276-023-00026-6

Abou-Foul, A, Henson, C, Robinson, M, Chernock, RD, Huang, SH, Lydiatt, WM, Mcdowell, L, O'Sullivan, B, Perez-Ordonez, B, Nankivell, P, Ruiz-Bravo, E, Chiosea, S, McGreen, TM, Hunter, KD, Hwang, JSG, Koljenovic, S, Koppes, SA, Larsen, SR, Lo, AW, Costes-Martineau, V, Mittal, N, Mori, T, Panayiotides, IG, Pinto, CAL, Scheckenbach, K, Seethala, RR, Ulhøi, BP, Vingiani, A, Zhang, Y, Yam, SS & Mehanna, H 2024, 'Standardised definitions and diagnostic criteria for extra nodal extension on histopathological examination in head and neck cancer: HNCIG international consensus recommendations', The Lancet Oncology. <https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/issue/current>

Ferris, RL, Mehanna, H, Schoenfeld, JD, Tahara, M, Yom, SS, Haddad, RI, König, A, Salmio, S, Bajars, M & Tourneau, CL 2024, 'XRay Vision: A Phase 3 Study of Xevinapant Plus Radiotherapy (RT) for High-risk, Cisplatin-ineligible Patients with Resected, Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (LA SCCHN)', International Journal of Radiation: Oncology - Biology - Physics , vol. 118, no. 5, pp. e17-e18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2024.01.042

Cavalieri, S, Vener, C, LeBlanc, M, Lopez-Perez, L, Fico, G, Resteghini, C, Monzani, D, Marton, G, Pravettoni, G, Moreira-Soares, M, Filippidou, DE, Almeida, A, Bilbao, A, Mehanna, H, Singer, S, Thomas, S, Lacerenza, L, Manfuso, A, Copelli, C, Mercalli, F, Frigessi, A, Martinelli, E, Licitra, L, BD4QoL Consortium & Nankivell, P 2023, 'A multicenter randomized trial for quality of life evaluation by noninvasive intelligent tools during post-curative treatment follow-up for head and neck cancer: clinical study protocol', Frontiers in Oncology, vol. 13, 1048593. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2023.1048593

Preprint

Shephard, AJ, Bashir, RMS, Mahmood, H, Jahanifar, M, Minhas, F, Raza, SEA, McCombe, KD, Craig, SG, James, J, Brooks, J, Nankivell, P, Mehanna, H, Khurram, SA & Rajpoot, NM 2023 'A Fully Automated and Explainable Algorithm for the Prediction of Malignant Transformation in Oral Epithelial Dysplasia'.

Review article

Ferris, RL, Mehanna, H, Schoenfeld, JD, Tahara, M, Yom, SS, Haddad, R, König, A, Witzler, P, Bajars, M & Tourneau, CL 2024, 'Xevinapant plus radiotherapy in resected, high-risk, cisplatin-ineligible LA SCCHN: the phase III XRay Vision study design', Future Oncology. https://doi.org/10.2217/fon-2023-0774

View all publications in research portal

Expertise

  • Head and Neck Cancer
  • Global Development and Research