Research Advisory Committee
Dr Steve Cook BSc PhD
Dr Steve Cook is currently providing support in research, technology and innovation issues to a number of organisations including ABHI and Huntleigh Healthcare Ltd. Dr Cook is a member of the steering groups for the Health Technologies KTN, the New Dynamics of Aging research programme, eminate and remedi research collaborations, and the programme management committee for the DH Health Technology Devices funding programme. He is also involved in the Expert Group considering technology aspects of the NHS 18 week project. Previously Dr Cook was Group Technology Director for the Huntleigh Technology Group, covering research and technology strategy as well as control of the regulatory and IP functions. This was combined with active involvement with the groups clinical and technology innovation and he is the co-holder of several international patents in wound healing and medical pneumatics.
Mr Baljit Dheansa MB.BS FRCS MSc FRCS(Plast)
A consultant burns & plastic surgeon based at Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, covering acute burns, burns reconstruction, skin malignancy, breast surgery including reconstruction, leg trauma, vascular anomalies, trauma. With a subspecialty interest in acute burns and burns reconstruction he is involved in two projects based at the Blond McIndoe Research Centre. The first is investigating the use of sprayed, cultured keratinocytes combined with widely meshed skin grafts in the management of burn wounds while the second involves the assessment of sprayed, keratinocytes in the treatment of deeper paediatric scald injuries. Preliminary work has already been presented in regard to the first project and patients are being recruited for the second. He is a member of the Sussex Skin Cancer Network and South East Burns Network.
Mr Norbert V Kang MD MB.BS FRCS(Eng) FRCS(Plast)
Mr Norbert Kang is a consultant plastic and hand surgeon who is part of a team of three hand surgeons based at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead. He is a former research fellow at RAFT (1995 to 1997) where he carried out research to identify an antibody for use in the detection and treatment of melanoma skin cancer. In 1998, he was awarded an MD from the University of London for this work. Following his time at RAFT, he trained in plastic surgery in London from 1998 to 2002 spending time at St George's Hospital, Wexham Park Hospital, Mount Vernon Hospital, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, the Hand Clinic in Windsor and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore. He is interested in all aspects of hand surgery, but has particular research interests in rheumatoid arthritis and prosthetic reconstruction of the upper limb after traumatic injury. His research into rheumatoid arthritis is carried out in collaboration with the Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology in Hammersmith investigating the role of hypoxia in rheumatoid hand disease.
Mr Marc D Pacifico BSc (Hons) MB BS MD FRCS (Plast.)
Mr Marc Pacifico is a consultant plastic & reconstructive surgeon at The Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead. His links with RAFT pre-dated his formal specialist plastic surgery training when he undertook a two-year research project at RAFT investigating strategies to improve the outcome in melanoma. His work was based on both clinical and laboratory research and he was awarded his doctorate in medicine from the University of London shortly after submitting his thesis. Mr Pacifico has published extensively in international peer-reviewed journals on topics including melanoma, plastic surgery breast reconstruction and general plastic surgery. He is a peer reviewer for several international journals and is himself involved in research projects in East Grinstead, including investigating how to optimise outcomes for patients in complex breast reconstruction. Mr Pacifico’s clinical interests are principally in breast cancer reconstruction and developmental breast abnormalities.
Mr Bruce Philp MA(Cantab) BMBch((Oxon) FRCS
Mr Bruce Philp is a consultant plastic & burns surgeon at St Andrews Centre for Plastic Surgery and Burns. His clinic site is at Broomfield, St Margarets Hospital - Epping. His links with RAFT pre-dated his formal specialist plastic surgery training when he undertook a two-year research project at RAFT. Mr Philp's areas of expertise are burns, burns reconstruction, laser for skin conditions, plastic surgery, skin cancer, aesthetic surgery, teaching & education (currently Training Program Director for Plastic Surgery for London Deanery).
