Summary
George Hanna was trained in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, Scotland in laparoscopic and oesophago-gastric surgery under the clinical and academic mentorship of Professor Sir Alfred Cuschieri. He obtained FRCS (Edinburgh) in 1993 and PhD (University of Dundee) in laparoscopic surgery in 1997. He joined Imperial College as Clinical Senior Lecturer and Upper Gastrointestinal Consultant Surgeon in 2003 and promoted to Reader in 2005 and Professor of Surgical Sciences in 2008. He became the Head of Division of Surgery in 2012 and Head of Department of Surgery and Cancer in 2018.
Professor Hanna’s clinical work is based at Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and includes oesophageal and gastric cancer and advanced laparoscopic surgery.
The current interests of his laboratory revolve around volatile organic compounds analysis for biomarker discovery and understanding the molecular drivers of volatile biomarkers, supported by CRUK research programme (AROMA). This programme aims to develop and validate a non-invasive breath test as a platform diagnostic technology to detect gastrointestinal (oesophageal, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic and liver) cancers. Professor Hanna also leads a research programme on point-of-care diagnostics, supported the NIHR Medtech and In vitro diagnostics co-operative. His surgical research aims to develop, validate and use competency assessment tools for training and quality assurance of surgical performance in randomised controlled clinical trials.
Current leadership positions include Editor in-chief, Surgical Endoscopy and Allied Technology (2016- ), President Elect of European Association of Endoscopic Surgeons (EAES) (2021-2022), Co-chair of Publication Committee, International Society of Esophageal Diseases (ISDE) (2021- ), Director of National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) London In-Vitro Diagnostics Co-operative (2018- ), Co-lead of Cancer Research UK Convergence Major Science Centre (Imperial College London and Institute of Cancer Research (2021-), Director of London Higher Surgical Skills Training Simulated Programme (2012- ), Clinical Lead of the London MedCity Diagnostic Growth Hub (2021- ), Deputy Chair of CRUK Cancer Early Detection and Diagnosis Expert Panel – Trials, Behavioural, Health Systems and Health Economics (2021- ).
Previous key leadership positions include Co-chair of Guidelines Committee, ISDE (2016-2019), General Secretary of EAES (2013-2017), Chairman of EAES Research Committee (2009-2013), Research Director for Association of Laparoscopic Surgeon of Great Britain and Ireland (ALSGBI) (2012-2019), Academic lead for the National Laparoscopic Colorectal Cancer Surgery Training Programme (Lapco) in England (2007-2013), Chair of oesophago-gastric cancer pathway, Royal Marsden Vanguard (2016-2019), Chair of oesophago-gastric cancer pathway, London Cancer Alliance (2013-2016), Chair of oesophago-gastric cancer multidisciplinary team, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (2004-2019).
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Mackenzie H, Cuming T, Miskovic D, et al., 2015, Design, Delivery, and Validation of a Trainer Curriculum for the National Laparoscopic Colorectal Training Program in England, Annals of Surgery, Vol:261, ISSN:0003-4932, Pages:149-156
Fakhry M, Hanna GB, Anderson O, et al., 2012, Effectiveness of an audible reminder on hand hygiene adherence., Am J Infect Control. 2011, Vol:In press