Clinical and Non Clinical Academics

Professor Chris Butterworth is a leading Maxillofacial Prosthodontist who has worked at University Hospital Aintree since his appointment in 2003. He has built an international reputation for innovative care in the field of Oral & Facial rehabilitation following Head & Neck cancer and has won several national and international awards for his work on implant-based prosthetic rehabilitation.

He has pioneered the combination of skeletally anchored osseointegrated implants in combination with microvascular free flap reconstruction for patients with maxillary and mid-facial malignant diseases (the ZIP Flap technique). He is actively involved in research within the Head & Neck Centre and regularly lectures at national and international meetings. He was the youngest ever national president of the British Society of Prosthodontics in 2011/12.

Chris has authored over 50 scientific papers, several textbook chapters and is the lead author on the restorative guidelines for UK based head & neck cancer patients.

Jason Fleming is an academic clinician, working as a Consultant ENT/Head and Neck Surgeon and Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Liverpool. His clinical practice is based at Aintree Hospital, which includes a tertiary head and neck cancer service for the patients of St. Helens, Knowsley, Whiston and Warrington. His clinical practice includes all head and neck/thyroid surgery, with a particular interest in trans-oral surgery (robotic/laser), and salvage surgery for recurrent cancer.

Having graduated from higher surgical training in London and the South-East, including specialist placements at St. George’s Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital, and a research secondment to defend a PhD in cancer sciences, he went on to complete an advanced head and neck surgical oncology Fellowship at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital. He then became the first UK trainee to be appointed to the prestigious Ablative and Reconstructive Head and Neck Fellowship at University of Alabama (UAB, Birmingham, AL), where he received dedicated training in trans-oral robotic surgery at one of the early pioneering US centres for the technique.

As a surgeon scientist, Mr Fleming plays an active role in the research and teaching activity of the Liverpool Head and Neck Centre and University of Liverpool, and has been awarded over £2.5 million in research grants. He regularly presents internationally on his clinical and research interests, is widely published in high impact specialty journals and has authored a number of textbook chapters. He is the Fellowship Director for the Shaun Jackson Head and Neck / Thyroid Fellowship.

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I received my degree in Biochemistry from the University of Oxford (1993) then undertook a PhD at King's College, London (2001) at the Randall Institute for Cell and Molecular Biophysics and Celltech (now UCB). My thesis was entitled "Structure and Function of Human CD23, the low affinity IgE receptor" which is involved in regulating allergic responses and inflammation pathways with Prof Hannah Gould, Dr Ray Owens and Prof Brian Sutton. I was a Visiting Fellow then subsequently a Research Fellow at the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland USA until 2009 in the laboratory of Dr Martin Gellert investigating the protein-DNA complexes in V(D)J recombination. Together with Dr Santiago Ramon Maiques and Dr Wei Yang, we obtained the first structure of the recombinase essential to development of antigen receptors in the immune system. I returned to the UK as a senior post-doctoral scientist in the laboratory of Prof Keith Caldecott at the Genome Damage and Stability Centre at the University of Sussex. There, I focussed my interests to proteins involved in DNA damage response and DNA repair discovering a common interaction motif for proteins involved in non-homologous end joining and the function of PARP3 in recognising damage to chromatin.

I was awarded a North West Cancer Research Career Development Fellowship in 2019 at the University of Liverpool, mentored by Dr Jason Parsons. As part of the Head and Neck Cancer Research Group, I am investigating methods to improve the radio-sensitivity of head and neck cancer cell by targeting proteins involved DNA repair pathways.

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I am a Professor of Head and Neck Surgery and the University of Liverpool and an Honorary Consultant Otolaryngologist / Head and Neck Surgeon at Liverpool University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

In 2019, I was appointed as inaugural Director of the Liverpool Head & Neck Centre, the largest UK NHS/University collaboration delivering research-driven high-quality patient care. I have led the development of Transoral Laser Microsurgery as a standard of care for oropharynx cancer (OPSCC) and co-lead the international clinical trial, PATHOS, which will establish the safety and effectiveness of risk-stratified reduced dose (chemo)radiotherapy for patients undergoing transoral surgery for Human papillomavirus associated oropharynx cancer. Due to report in 2027, if PATHOS proves positive, it will result in global practice change for this patient group

I have secured >£18 million research funding and published >200 peer-reviewed papers, review articles and textbook chapters. I have edited two international reference textbooks (Scott-Brown, Head and Neck and Stell & Maran) as well as Clinical Otolaryngology, the leading UK ENT scientific journal. Research I led, directly influenced the UK government decision to vaccinate boys against Human papillomavirus (HPV), resulting in a predicted ~£0.54billion saving in NHS treatment costs.

I developed cadaveric courses in Transoral Laser Microsurgery Head & Neck surgery resulting in >100 surgeons being trained in the technique, raising the standard of transoral surgery for UK head & neck cancer patients.

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Dr. Caroline McCarthy has been appointed as a Clinical Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Oral Medicine, within the School of Dentistry and Liverpool University Dental Hospital. She has been based in Liverpool since 2012, as a clinical academic trainee in Oral Medicine, following undergraduate and core training posts in Sheffield and Leeds. She is a member of the Liverpool Head and Neck Centre and has a research focus on oral premalignant disease.  Her PhD was completed with Professor John Field and Dr Laura Bonnett, in risk prediction modelling in Head and Neck Cancer.  She held a personal fellowship with the Royal College of Surgeons in 2019 and has since secured further personal funding from the Academy of Medical Sciences, and joint funding from CRUK, NIHR and Innovate UK, working closely with Professor Richard Shaw.  She is working with industry collaborators, LightOx, to develop a novel topical treatment for patients with oral dysplastic lesions, with the aim of preventing cancer development, with phase I trials anticipated within 2-3 years.  Dr. McCarthy is actively engaged in interdisciplinary collaborations, collaborating with colleagues in the Department of Physics to pioneer a prognostic device for patients with oral dysplasia, aiming to revolutionise patient pathways.  She has a developing interest in early phase clinical trials and is principal investigator for the SAVER trial (phase II chemoprevention trial) at Liverpool University Dental Hospital.  She is a member of the Leukoplakia group for the World Workshop in Oral Medicine which will result in the development of a Core Outcome Set for Leukoplakia clinical trials.Dr. McCarthy is delighted to begin this role within the School of Dentistry and continue to work with colleagues in the Liverpool Head and Neck Centre to inspire the next generation of talent in the field of oral premalignancy research, drive forward early phase clinical trials in this area and foster relations with industry partners.

Contact carolmc2@liverpool.ac.uk

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Dr. Risk obtained her BSc and doctorate at Liverpool University while investigating the molecular genetics of recurrent miscarriage. Her postgraduate research focussed first on identifying the cause of a familial oesophageal cancer syndrome as a mutation in an inactive iRhom protein and, after gaining Lecturer status, on the molecular biology of head and neck cancer.  Previous research has investigated the role of gene methylation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma both as a causal alteration and as a prognostic/diagnostic biomarker.

Dr Risk’s current areas of research include:

1. An investigation into the utility of infrared imaging for the early diagnosis of oral cancer. This is a  CRUK funded, multidisciplinary collaboration with Professor Peter Weightman in the Department of Physics at the University of Liverpool.

2. An investigation of the mechanisms of action of iRhom2 in oesophageal and other aerodigestive tract cancers. This a collaboration with Professor David Kelsell at the Blizard Institute, London.

Dr. Risk has published 72 papers, 30 in the field of HNSCC, and has held more than £1.5m of grant money as PI, including grants from the MRC and Cancer Research UK . She has been the primary supervisor for 21 postgraduate students, teaches basic science to medical students and supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research projects.

I am a clinical-academic Head & Neck Surgeon from an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery background, providing cancer and reconstructive surgical care to Head & Neck patients.

Originally from New Zealand, I completed my Higher Surgical Training in the internationally renowned Liverpool unit, ultimately being awarded the BAOMS Intercollegiate Gold Medal for outstanding performance in the national speciality exit examination.

I held the inaugural Wellcome Trust-FDS Research Fellowship, supporting my doctoral research into Human papillomavirus (HPV) related cancers, and leading to the award of PhD in molecular oncology from the University of Liverpool in 2013. I subsequently held a prestigious NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer (ACL) post in Liverpool.

Within my clinical role is as Consultant Head & Neck Surgeon at Aintree Hospital, I cover the breadth of Oral & Maxillofacial oncology surgery and reconstruction. I have a particular interest in virtual surgical planning technologies for complex custom composite reconstructions.

Offering all patients the opportunity and choice to be involved in clinical research/clinical trials is an ambition that I share with many of the Head & Neck team. LHNC has unique strengths in delivery of the national portfolio of clinical trials to our patients, with the aim to improve outcomes.

As a member of the Merseyside Head & Neck Oncology Research Group (MHNORG) I pursue both academic and surgical research interests, integrating “bench to bedside” research ambitions.

I have research interests in novel technologies and therapies, and ultimately how they can be incorporated into routine clinical care to achieve improvements in outcomes and provide tangible patient benefit.
Within my academic role, I supervise several doctoral (PhD/D) students (both from clinical and basic science backgrounds) and I am departmental director for post-graduate research (DDPR) within cancer medicine.

As Lead for Education within the Liverpool Head & Neck Centre I am responsible for coordinating the extensive portfolio of educational activities that LHNC delivers. I support postgraduate and undergraduate education within the Liverpool School of Medicine both as Deputy Director for 5th Year student doctors and as module lead for several Masters in OMFS modules. Alongside my colleagues, I am course director/faculty for a variety of continuing professional development courses.

Professor Shaw has been an honorary Consultant at Aintree and the Dental Hospital since 2007, and prior to that trained in surgery in Glasgow and Liverpool, undertaking a H&N surgery fellowship. He has an academic interest in research and teaching (see the relevant pages of LHNC) and is president elect of the International Academy of Oral Oncology (IAOO).

He has significant experience in H&N reconstruction and in particular oral cavity cancers. He has a research and clinical interest in premalignant lesions, sentinel node biopsy and late effects of radiotherapy including osteoradionecrosis.

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Michelle is a Clinical Academic Speech and Language Therapist, specialising in dysphagia (swallowing difficulties), working across the University of Liverpool and Mid Cheshire NHS Trust. She is currently undertaking an NIHR Advanced Fellowship, developing and evaluating the feasibility of a novel intervention to improve swallow function for people following head and neck cancer, in addition to working clinically as an Advanced Clinical Specialist in head and neck oncology. She is passionate about developing innovative technologies through research to improve patient outcomes.

Michelle received her undergraduate degree in Speech Pathology and Therapy from Manchester Metropolitan University (BSc (Hons): first) in 2003. She went on to complete a PhD at the University of Manchester, winning a Stroke Association postgraduate Fellowship in 2013. As part of her PhD, Michelle developed a psychometric scale to measure the impact of developing a positive therapeutic alliance in aphasia rehabilitation, which is now being translated internationally. Following her PhD, she secured an NIHR postdoctoral bridging Fellowship in 2021 and Advanced Fellowship in 2023.

Michelle has over 20 years of clinical experience in assessment and management of dysphagia and communication impairment arising from multiple aetiologies. Her clinical and research interests include: prehabilitation, outcome measurement, instrumental assessment, respiratory disorders, psychosocial adjustment and novel swallow interventions. She has presented nationally and internationally and taught at undergraduate and postgraduate level. She is mentor for research-active healthcare professionals and a supervisor for pre-doctoral and doctoral students.

Michelle leads the ‘Improving Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer’ research seminars at the Liverpool Head and Neck Centre. She is a mentor and research champion for The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and a steering group member of the Council of Allied Health Professions Research (CAHPR).

Academic qualifications                                                                                                                                      

2013 –2018                 PhD in Psychology

(part-time 0.6)            University of Manchester

2000 – 2003                BSc (Hons) in Speech Pathology and Therapy - first class

Manchester Metropolitan University

1994-1997                   BA (Hons) Degree in Social Sciences

Dr Amy Harding received her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science from The University of Sheffield (2009) and then went on to undertake an MSc RES in Translational oncology (2015) looking at the role of long non-coding RNA in oral fibroblast phenotypes. Furthering this interest into stromal cancer cell biology, her doctoral degree focussed on the role of extracellular matrix in OSCC using complex in vitro models (Awarded 2020). After several post-doctoral positions in epithelial tissue-engineering and oral drug delivery she has recently joined Liverpool University’s, Liverpool Head and Neck Cancer centre as a North-West Cancer Research Senior Fellow mentored by Professor Keith Hunter, where she will be utilising her specialism to generate 3D/4D tissue-engineered models of the oral tumour microenvironment. These models will use the extracellular matrix generated natively from patient stromal cells i.e. Cancer associated fibroblasts and mimic the protein complexities of native tumours acting as invaluable tools for understanding how the matrix progresses head and neck cancers.  Future research intends to draw on this understanding of stromal biology as well as her specialised knowledge of in vitro oral drug delivery systems to explore and exploit cancer desmoplasia. The aim being that understanding the biochemical and architectural changes that occur in the extracellular matrix of head & neck cancers, will help develop innovative and personalised stromal-targeted therapies.