Professor Ali Khurram
BDS, MSc, PhD, MFDS RCS (Edinburgh), CiLT, FHEA, FRC Path.
School of Clinical Dentistry
Dean of School of Clinical Dentistry, Faculty of Health
Professor and Honorary Consultant Pathologist
+44 114 215 9378
Full contact details
School of Clinical Dentistry
19 Claremont Crescent
Sheffield
S10 2TA
- Profile
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I am the Dean of the School of Clinical Dentistry, a Professor of Pathology, and an Honorary Consultant in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. Previously, I served as a Senior Clinical Lecturer (2016–2022) and as an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Specialist Registrar (2011–2016) at the University of Sheffield.
My expertise spans research, teaching (undergraduate, postgraduate, and clinical), and diagnostic pathology in oral, maxillofacial, and head and neck diseases. I am the founder and lead of the NEOPATH Research Group, where I work with a team of researchers and clinicians to advance the diagnosis and prognosis prediction of head and neck cancers. Our group collaborates with a diverse network of global researchers and funding bodies on various projects.
I am deeply committed to enhancing the reputation of the Dental School in Sheffield by engaging closely with students and staff. Additionally, I am passionate about raising awareness of head and neck cancers. I actively work with patient groups and charities and serve as a Trustee for The Swallows Head and Neck Cancer Charity.
- Research interests
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One of my primary research interests is the application of Artificial Intelligence in Pathology. I am actively involved in several national and international collaborative projects exploring novel digital biomarkers in cancers and pre-cancers. My group’s work in this area has been supported by Cancer Research UK, the British Council, LifeArc, NIHR, GCRF, and BSOMP.
My main clinical research focus is on metastasis and extranodal extension (ENE) in head and neck cancer, a key factor that reduces five-year patient survival by 80%. Specifically, I investigate the role of the tumour microenvironment (TME), stromal interactions, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer progression, bone invasion, metastasis, and ENE. Additionally, I have a strong interest in salivary gland tumour diagnosis and pathobiology, as well as the identification and evaluation of biomarkers for improved diagnosis and prognosis prediction.
- Publications
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Books
Journal articles
- A true malignant mixed tumour of the parotid gland. Advances in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 17, 100521-100521.
- Update on the dataset for histopathological reporting of salivary gland carcinomas: current concepts and controversies in salivary gland pathology. Diagnostic Histopathology.
- Profiling genetic mutations in the DNA damage repair genes of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients from Pakistan. Scientific Reports, 15(1).
- A Rare Case of Intraosseous Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Left Hemi‐Mandible, Masquerading as an Odontogenic Tumour. Oral Surgery.
- A head‐to‐head comparison of four grading systems for oral epithelial dysplasia. Histopathology.
- A novel AI-based score for assessing the prognostic value of intra-epithelial lymphocytes in oral epithelial dysplasia. British Journal of Cancer.
Chapters
- A true malignant mixed tumour of the parotid gland. Advances in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 17, 100521-100521.
- Research group
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I am the head and founder of the NEOPATH Research Group
PhD students
- Hanya Mahmood (NIHR-funded Doctoral Training Fellow)
- Ibrahim Alsanie (PhD student, funded by King Saud University, Saudi Arabia)
- Paul Hankinson (NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology)
- Mariem Elsharief and Fatima Elalawy (co-supervisor)
Finished PhD students
- Areeg Elmusrati
- Alice Pilborough
- Amir Zaki Abdullah Zubir
- Teaching activities
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Module Lead (MMedSci) - ORP611- Advanced Oral Histopathology
- Professional activities and memberships
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- National Institute for Health Research Academic Training Lead for Sheffield Dental Academic Trainees, March 2023 - present
- Member of Translational Research Committee, Head and Neck Cancer International Group (HNCIG), March 2023 - present
- Deputy Chair, NCRI Salivary Gland Cancer Working Group, November 2022 - present
- Training Programme Director for Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Yorkshire and the Humber, June 2022 - present
- Webmaster, British Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (BSOMP)
- Member, British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists (BAHNO)
- Member, European Society of Pathology (ESP)
- Member, IADR and BSODR
Clinical
I am the Clinical Lead for the diagnostic Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Service the Unit provides. This includes the macroscopic description and reporting of routine biopsies and major head and neck cancer resection cases alongside other colleagues.
My role as the lead involves working closely with the histopathology lab team, maintaining and updating SOPs, undertaking and evaluating relevant clinical audits and quality improvement activities as well as risk assessment and reporting.
The department works closely with the Maxillofacial Surgery department and cases are discussed at weekly Regional Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Meetings. I am also involved in training Dental Core Trainees (DCTs), Specialist Registrars (StRs), and the Training Programme Director for Yorkshire.
I am passionate about engaging and involving patients in research as well as raising awareness about Head and Neck Cancers and am a Patron of The Swallows Head and Neck Cancer Charity
Podcasts, lectures and press releases
Virtuathon for Mouth Cancer Action Month 2020
The Swallows Head and Neck Cancer Podcast 2022: Role of the pathologist
Salivary Gland Cancer UK Podcast: Complexities in Diagnosis