Hisham Mehanna, Professor of Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Birmingham, has been one of the leading contributors internationally to the epidemiology, prevention and management of Human papillomavirus-associated head and neck cancer. He showed that HPV vaccination is effective in preventing oral-HPV infection, the prerequisite for developing cancer. One of the earliest researchers of AI and deep learning in HNC, he has utilised AI and -omics technologies to develop several biomarkers and algorithms for improved and more automated diagnosis, prognostication and treatment selection for HPV+HNC.
He has also established the UK’s national and then the international multidisciplinary ‘young investigators research collaborative’ to provide research training and experience for early career clinicians – especially in low- and middle-income countries.