Mr Muti Abulafi

Chief Investigator

Muti Abulafi is a consultant colorectal surgeon since 1996. He leads the colorectal cancer multi-disciplinary team at Croydon University Hospital (CUH) and chaired the Colorectal Cancer Pathway Group of the London Cancer Alliance (LCA), a partnership of 17 hospitals in South and West London. 

Mr Abulafi has a research interest in and has published on colorectal cancer and cancer genetics. As a co-founder of the Croydon Colorectal Research Fellowship Programme, he has supervised over 20 trainees to achieve MD and PhDs. He is a founder and co-convener of the annual M25 Colorectal Course funded by the Pelican Cancer Foundation, which teaches young trainee surgeons on all aspects of colorectal surgery. 

Mr nigel D'Souza

Co-investigator

Nigel D'Souza is a specialist registrar in general surgery, and a colorectal research fellow at Croydon University Hospital.

After a BA from Dartmouth College in the USA, he attended medical school at UCL. He is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, and has a master's in Surgical Education from Imperial College.

Under the supervision of Mr Abulafi, Nigel conducted the initial FIT pilot study. He subsequently designed the current NICE FIT study, and led the successful application for transformation funding from NHS England.

When not working on the NICE FIT study, Nigel is carrying out a research MD at the Royal Marsden under Professor Gina Brown. His research interests are in colorectal cancer, and trauma surgery which he has published in peer-reviewed journals, and presented at conferences across the USA, Europe and Africa. He also likes to see his 2 young children if he gets home in time!

sally benton

FIT expert

Sally Benton is Sally Benton is a Consultant Biochemist for Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services and Director of the Bowel Cancer Screening Hub in Guildford. Sally has supported the study since the pilot, and has brought her global expertise in FIT. She also chairs the International Working Group on FIT for the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine.

Dr michelle Chen

Senior R+D Manager

Michelle Chen is the senior R+D manager at Royal Marsden Partners. Michelle came on board the study team after the successful application for funding, and has supported the design and delivery of the research project.

NICE FIT steering committee

The steering committee is formed academic colorectal surgeons from Royal Marsden Partner Sites, and meets quarterly to analyse project performance and ensure the study is conducted to the highest standards. The study team members include

Mr Arun Shanmuganandan - Croydon University Hospital

Mr Ian Bloom - Kingston Hospital

Mr Nick West - Epsom and St Helier's Hospital

Mr Oliver Warren - Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

Mr Andrew Ramwell - St George's Hospital

Mr Alasdair Myers - Hillingdon Hospital

Mr Paul Ziprin - Imperial College

Professor Stan Kaye - Head of Research, Royal Marsden Partners

Mr Nigel D'Souza

Mr Muti Abulafi

Dr Sally Benton

Dr Michelle Chen