Dermot Burke

Profile

Associate Professor in Surgery

MB ChB (Manchester) 1986

FRCS (RCS England) 1990

PhD (London) 1999

Intercollegiate FRCS 1999

Consultant Surgeon at Leeds Teaching Hospitals since October 1999

Responsibilities

• Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
• Academic sub-dean

Research interests

My research activity includes pragmatic clinical trials and translation of data derived in the lab to the bedside. Research includes:

Surgical infections: This involves clinical studies in surgical infections in the perioperative period. We have performed a local study on continuous infusion of prophylactic antibiotic in elective colorectal surgery (COLOPRO), with interesting results presented at specialty meetings. We plan to extend this work nationally. We have undertaken a national audit of complicated intra-abdominal infections (CABI) and plan a further randomised study of antibiotic duration in this difficult group.

Surgical interventions: I am co-investigator for a recently funder NIHR study into  Laparoscopic versus Open Colorectal Surgery in the Acute Setting  etc.

Laboratory to bedside research. The team has recently been involved in studies on: lymphangiogeneisis in colorectal cancer; calcium channels in vascular endothelium; pre-operative testing of fitness for surgery in colorectal cancer.

In the last 5 years we have had 6 students awarded an MD thesis (3 with commendation). We have had numerous papers published in peer reviewed journals. We have presented more than 50 papers at national and international meetings

To support this research I have developed and fostered links between the colorectal department and academics within Leeds University - Professor Phil Quirke (Pathology), Professor David Beech (Molecular Physiology), Professor Pam Jones (Angiogenesis), Dr Simon Howell (Anaesthesia) and Dr Andrew Kirby (Microbiology).

Qualifications

• MB CHB
• FRCS (Eng)
• PhD (London)

Professional memberships

• Association of Surgeons
• Association of Coloproctology GB&I
• Society of Academic Surgeons

Student education

I teach 2nd, 3rd and 5th year MB ChB students

I am a member of the Course Management Team for 3rd and 5th year MB ChB students

I was recently external Examiner on the MB ChB course at Queen Mary Univeristy Hospital

I was recently external Examiner on the MSc in Surgical Sciences course at University College London

Research groups and institutes

• Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's
• Academic Surgery Colorectal Research Group
• Healthcare Associated Infection Research Group