Four consultants at the Royal Free London have confirmed their world class credentials after being named as professors in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at UCL.

Sanjay Bhagani is an infectious diseases consultant at the RFH.  He has forged influential international collaborations in research in HIV/hepatitis co-infection, and more recently, led the RFL’s in-patient clinical trials for COVID-19 treatments, which featured in the award- winning BBC 2 documentary series, Hospital.  

Sanjay’s team continue to be research active, now looking to preparedness for the next pandemic.   He is the immediate past-president of the European AIDS Clinical Society (EACS), where as president he delivered London’s first major international HIV Conference (EACS 2021, Excel London).  At EACS he co-directs the annual EACS HIV summer school and led an initiative to develop the European Diploma in HIV Medicine. He has contributed to a number of national/international guidelines on HIV/viral hepatitis management and is the chair of the European Commission’s Joint Antiviral Advisory Mechanism for the EU-funded platform trials and a member of the trials coordination board for the European Coordination Mechanism for clinical trials in infectious disease. Sanjay has been named professor in clinical infectious disease/HIV medicine.

Dr Banwari Agarwal is a consultant in intensive care medicine at the RFH. His clinical and research interests are primarily focused in the area of liver failure, including liver coagulopathy, prognostication modelling and organ system support.

As chief investigator Banwari recently led a multi-centre European trial of the safety and performance of a novel liver dialysis device, DIALIVE, in patients with liver failure. The story  featured across our channels and was widely reported in the media. Banwari has been named professor of liver intensive care medicine.

Dr Keith Gomez trained at St Thomas' Hospital Medical School, University of London, and graduated in 1992. After studying haematology in the North London training programme he joined the Haemostasis Research Group at the Medical Research Council in London. The primary area of research for his doctoral thesis was the development of models of tissue factor-initiated coagulation.

After award of his PhD Keith took up his current post as consultant in haemostasis in the Haemophilia Centre and Thrombosis Unit at the RFH in London in 2007. His main research interests include the genetic basis of heritable disorders of coagulation, the diagnosis and management of heritable platelet disorders and the clinical management of mild bleeding disorders. Keith holds a number of roles in professional organisations including Chair of the Haemostasis and Thrombosis Task Force for the British Society for Haematology and Chair of the UK Haemophilia Centres Doctors’ Organisation Genetics Working Party. He is also a past president of the British Society for Haemostasis and Thrombosis. Keith has been named professor of haematology.

Dr Stephen Walsh is a nephrology consultant and clinical senior lecturer in experimental medicine at UCL. His research focusses on epithelial transport physiology and of inherited and acquired diseases of the renal tubule. He has published more than 150 original papers, reviews and book chapters in the fields of nephrology and physiology. Stephen has been named professor of nephrology.

Gillian Smith, interim chief medical officer of the Royal Free London, said: “I’d like to congratulate Sanjay, Banwari, Keith and Stephen on their fantastic achievement of attaining their professorships. We regard research and excellent teaching as a fundamental part of what we do as a trust as we know this provides patients with the very best possible outcomes. We aim to nurture the best talent from around the world to work alongside our patients, providing world class expertise for the latest national and international clinical trials.”

The promotions are effective from 1 October.

Pictured clockwise: Sanjay Baghani, Dr Banwari Agarwal, Dr Keith Gomez and Dr Stephen Walsh