Professor Pranav Pandya

As a full-time NHS consultant at UCLH, I have led clinical research trials and observational studies and collaborated with academic colleagues to improve the management of pregnant women undergoing screening, diagnosis, and fetal therapy in pregnancy. I have published 65 peer reviewed articles, 15 book chapters, and I am the editor in chief of a major textbook in Fetal Medicine. My publications have been cited 2140 times with a Scopus H index of 23. Some of my key publications determine clinical practice globally and guide clinicians and patients to choose optimal treatment options.

I have personally secured over £800,000 from external funding for women’s health research, with a focus on prenatal screening and diagnosis of chromosomal and genetic abnormalities and in utero therapy for fetal anaemia. In addition, I have been a co-applicant in multiple trials. I have a significant track record in securing charitable funds (over £900,000) to support research and clinical service.

I have been committed to providing the highest standard of education throughout my career, evidenced by pioneering new courses in fetal medicine, obstetric ultrasound and invasive prenatal diagnosis. I developed the first course in the world to train doctors to perform amniocentesis on novel simulators. I was the organiser of Dilemmas in Obstetric Ultrasound, the only practical course to support trainees through the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG/) Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) Diploma in Obstetric Ultrasound and Fetal Medicine. Subsequently I introduced new courses in screening first trimester anomalies and a further course on screening for fetal cardiac defects. In view of the lack of training in obstetric ultrasound, I co-led hands-on training in basic obstetric ultrasound. In 2014 I started the Annual Advances in Fetal Medicine conference, showcasing the best of UCL, IfWH and UCLH. Attended by doctors, midwives and trainees from around the country and abroad.

As the lead for obstetric ultrasound, in 2015 at UCLH I established a 2-year Training Fellowship in Obstetric Ultrasound & Fetal Medicine to provide education, training and a clinical service. Subsequently from 2019 I was co-lead for the new UCL MSc Programme in Obstetric Ultrasound and Fetal Medicine (derived from the above clinical training programme) to provide an academic degree to specialists who want to learn to perform ultrasound in pregnancy. I co-led in the development of new teaching and assessment tools. We have a total of 22 students enrolled since the start of the MSc in 2021. The MSc will generate £1m income for UCL with 20% revenue for UCLH. The MSc has been endorsed by the National Screening Programme Committee and the RCOG.

I have been Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) Subspecialty Training (SST) Programme Director since 2007. We are the only centre in the UK to be accredited for four subspecialty trainees in MFM – 2 full time trainees and 2 clinical lectures with a 50:50 clinical academic contract. I led our application to increase the number of training posts. I have trained 13 SST all of whom have gone on to consultant posts in MFM nationally and internationally.

Nationally I was centrally involved in development and implementation of a national programme to train all 2190 sonographers in England to screen for cardiac defects and developed e-learning for the implementation of Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT). Internationally I have been awarded two visiting professorships in Hong Kong and India.

National Policy, Implementation, Audit and Global Advisor: I have made a major contribution to national and international policy in the field of prenatal screening and fetal medicine. I am recognised as a key policy maker in this area and England is a world leader in this field.

Since 2010, I have developed and implemented at the Fetal Anomaly Programme (FASP) evidence-based standards to optimise detection rates, minimising false positive rates with the potential harm from miscarriage following invasive testing and psychological impact. I have been centrally involved in changing the screening tests and routine obstetric ultrasound offered to all pregnant women in England. I was appointed Chair of the FASP in 2012. Key achievements include the introduction of screening for Trisomy 18 and 13 at 11-14 weeks resulting in national detection rates improving from 60 to over 85%, the introduction of new standards to screen for fetal anomalies at 18-20 weeks (BJOG 2022, national detection rates above acceptable standards e.g. major cardiac defects from 35% to 85%) and the evaluative rollout of non-invasive cell free fetal DNA screening for Trisomy 21, 18 and 13. This resulted in a reduction of over 5000 invasive procedures annually equating to approximately 50 fewer miscarriages per year of healthy babies. I have achieved this by leading on public engagement through national consultation, advising parliament, working with patient support groups/charities, ethical debate (Nuffield Council of Bioethics), policy setting at the National Screening Committee, securing NHS funding and research. I have validated these changes through national audit. England is the first country in the world to implement national fetal anomaly screening standards and because of my work with NCARDS we now have a national audit on screening performance for all of England since 2018. I have published these results and am advising on national policy in Italy and Canada.

Leading the Fetal Medicine Unit: I have been the director of fetal medicine at UCLH since 2007. I have developed and collaborating in research, introducing new clinical services, promoting education and expanded the consultant body from 5 to 9 with 7 new appointments. My significant achievements include introducing fetal surgery – I led on the introduction of ex-utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) and am the lead for ultrasound in open fetal surgery for the repair of open spina bifida – UCLH is the only specialist commissioned centre in the UK. In 2019 we were awarded the prestigious BMJ Leadership Award for our fetal surgery service.

I have developed and implemented a new UCL MSc which integrates academic and clinical training which is unique in my specialty and will set an example to other institutions who are struggling to recruit sonographers. Following the Montgomery case, I have championed a new model of consent using an interactive decision aid. I have worked closely with patient support groups and charities to embed diversity, inclusion and equality. I promote UCL Global Engagement by engaging with the Ugandan government to develop training and implement fetal medicine in their country

My personal contribution has enhanced the reputation of UCL, IfWH and UCLH as a centre of excellence, leading the way in policy making, education, training, research and clinical service. I have achieved this by having a senior national leadership role in public health, developing a world class clinical service, appointing and mentoring colleagues and being at the forefront of education.