Jafaru Abu

Dr. Jafaru Abu Consultant Gynecological Oncology Surgery


Years of Experience : 20

Nationality : United Kingdom

Languages Known : English

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Biography

Dr. Jafaru Abu is a Consultant Gynecological Oncology Surgeon who, before joining Burjeel Medical City, Burjeel Holdings, occupied a senior position at Nottingham University Hospitals in the United Kingdom. In a career span of nearly three decades, he worked in the field of obstetrics and Gynecology and as a consultant for almost 20 years in gynecological oncology. During his post graduate training years, he worked in a chain of leading Teaching hospitals in the United Kingdom. Following his general training in obstetrics and gynecology, Dr Abu decided to undergo a focused and highly specialised surgical training in gynecological oncology between 2003 to 2006 and worked as Subspecialty Fellow at the University Hospitals of Leicester, United Kingdom. He was also a visiting Fellow in Gyn Oncology to The Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital, Queensland, and The Royal Northshore Hospital, Sydney, Australia. Dr. Abu undertook all of his postgraduate training in Obstetrics and Gynecology in the UK and worked as a House Officer, Senior House Officer, Specialist Registrar,  Senior Registrar and Clinical Research Fellow. He was a brilliant academic performer throughout his undergraduate and postgraduate training, qualifying with excellent grades. After gaining his first degree in medicine (MBBS) from the University of Benin Medical School, Nigeria, Dr. Abu moved to the United Kingdom, where he undertook all his postgraduate medical training and qualified as a Member (and later a Fellow) of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, UK, (MRCOG, FRCOG) and gained Colposcopic accreditation from the British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (BSCCP). He also studied for and gained a Master’s degree in clinical sciences from the University of Leicester, United Kingdom and earned double qualifications during his Specialist training years initially in Obstetrics and Gynecology and later in Gynecological Oncology: the Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) in obstetrics and gynecology from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, UK, and the Certificate of Completion of Sub-specialty Training (CCST) in Gynecological Oncology, jointly from the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, UK. Following the completion of his sub-specialty training in gyn oncology, he was appointed as a Consultant Gynecological Oncology Surgeon in 2006 at Nottingham University Hospitals, one of UK’s largest teaching hospitals. Immediately following his appointment,  he began and led a significant transformation in the surgical management of gynecological malignancies in Nottingham and its surroundings by pioneering the introduction of several innovative surgical procedures. He was instrumental in the introduction of advanced laparoscopic procedures in the management of cancers of the uterus (womb), cervix (neck of the womb), and in carefully selected cases of ovarian cancer. He is well known for his exceptional ability to perform complex minimally invasive procedures, both laparoscopically and with the DaVinci robot. He became one of the first Gynecologists in the UK to perform single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS), a “scarless” procedure. He is also highly acknowledged in performing extensive cyto-reductive surgery for advanced stages of ovarian cancer and led the Department of Gynecological Oncology at Nottingham University Hospital, UK, to become an Accredited Advanced Ovarian Cancer Cytoreductive Surgical Centre by the European Society of Gynecological Oncologists (ESGO). He was the Head of Gynecological Oncology Department at Nottingham University Hospitals,  until he joined Burjeel Holdings in April 2022. Committed to the training of other consultants, he established the annual Nottingham Advanced Laparoscopic Training course for gynecology consultants across the United Kingdom in 2008, where he trained and mentored other consultant colleagues and Senior Trainees to acquire the skills needed to safely perform complex gynecological laparoscopic surgery. The masterclass course later became extremely popular across the United kingdom amongst many Gynecologists. He also teaches advanced laparoscopic surgical skills as a member of an international Faculty of experts in the IRCAD minimally invasive surgical Training Center in Strasbourg, France. In March 2023, Dr Abu was 1 of 114 Gynecological Oncologists in Europe that was granted the “Special Professional Recognition” for his contribution to the field of Gynecological Oncology by the European Society of Gynecological Oncology (ESGO). His areas of expertise include,

All diagnosed or suspected gynecological cancers

  • Ovarian masses
  • Postmenopausal bleeding
  • Abnormal uterine bleeding
  • Abnormal PAP smears
  • Suspicious vulvar lesions
  • Suspicious cervical lesions
  • Cervical abnormalities
  • Cervical cancers
  • Uterine or womb cancers
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Vaginal cancers
  • Vulvar cancers
  • Post coital bleeding
  • Irregular menstrual bleeding
  • Uterine fibroids
  • Keyhole hysterectomy (laparoscopic or robot assisted)
  • Abdominal hysterectomy
  • Cytoreductive surgery (ultraradical surgery) for advanced stages of ovarian cancer
  • Pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy (open/laparoscopic/robotic)
  • Radical hysterectomy (open/laparoscopic/robotic)
  • Pelvic exenterate surgery for locally recurrent gynecological cancers
  • Colposcopy
  • Hysteroscopy
  • Myomectomy (open/laparoscopic/robotic)
  • Vaginectomy (open/laparoscopic/robotic)
  • Fertility preservation surgery for cervical cancer (trachelectomy – simple or radical)
  • Laparoscopic cervical cerclage
  • Ovarian transposition procedures (laparoscopic or robotic)
  • Sentinel lymph nodes for cervical and endometrial cancers (laparoscopic or robotic)
  • Sentinel lymph nodes for vulvar cancer
  • Vulvectomy (radical or simple)
  • Groin nodes dissection

Awards & Achievements

  • Recipient of the RCOG Ethicon Travel Award in 2005
  • The Hospital Doctor Merit Award for the One-Stop Menstrual Clinic at University Hospitals of Leicester, UK
  • 1st Position Award from the Royal Society of Medicine, Registrars’ Prize Meeting in Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • 1st Prize for Joint RCOG and the Trinidad Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology Meeting
  • 2nd Prize from the Oxfordshire Regional Health Authority Forum in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the OXFOG Event
  • Named the Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare List in 2009

Research & Publications

  • Outcome following trachelectomy procedures (fertility preservation for early stages of cervical cancer): BGCS 7-8 July 2022
  • Morbidity outcome following extensive ovarian cancer cytoreductive surgery at Nottingham University Hospitals, UK: BGCS 7-8 July 2022
  • Lipidomic Biomarkers in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Endometrial Cancer. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020
  • An Unusual case of abdominal pain and weight loss – Clinical Vignette. Rheumatology. 2020
  • Sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP1) gene expression is similarly increased in polycystic ovary syndrome and endometrial cancer. Acta Obstetrica Et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 2017
  • Up-regulation of genes involved in the insulin signaling pathway (IGF1, PTEN and IGFBP1) in the endometrium may link polycystic ovarian syndrome and endometrial cancer. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2016
  • Preventing endometrial cancer risk in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) women: could metformin help? Gynecol Oncol. 2014
  • Reviewing the molecular mechanisms which increase endometrial cancer (EC) risk in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): Time for paradigm shift? Gynecologic Oncology 2013
  • Clinical outcomes of atypical endometrial hyperplasia diagnosed on an endometrial biopsy: Institutional experience and review of literature. The Am J Surg Path. 2012
  • Pelvic Actinomycosis, with secondary liver abscess; an unusual presentation. - European J Obstet Gynecol & Reprod Biol. 2012 The wellbeing of women following total laparoscopic hysterectomy versus total abdominal hysterectomy for endometrial cancer. Gynaecol Surg. 2012
  • Do Surgical Techniques Used in Groin Lymphadenectomy for Vulval Cancer Affect Morbidity Rates? Intl J Gyn Cancers2011
  • Expression of RAR beta2 gene by real-time RT-PCR: Differential expression in normal subjects compared to cervical cancer patients normalized against GAPDH as a housekeeping gene. Eur J Obstet Gynecol & Reprod Biol. 2008
  • Adenosarcoma of an endometrial polyp in a 27-yr old nulligravid. Is conservative management appropriate? J Reprod Med. 2007
  • Serum levels of retinol in patients with cervical cancer compared to normals. Measurement by HPLC. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2006
  • Should women with postcoital bleeding be referred for colposcopy? (The risk of significant pathology in patients presenting with postcoital bleeding at a major gynecological department in a UK Teaching Hospital). Journal of Obstet & Gynaecol 2006
  • Endometrial cancer in a 35-yr old woman with levonorgestrel intrauterine contraceptive device in-situ. Int J Gyn Cancers. 2006
  • Mesovarian hemangioma associated with massive ascites and elevated CA125. Int J Gyn Cancers. 2006
  • Aggressive angiomyxoma of the perineum. Int J Gyn Cancers. 2005
  • Retinoic acid and retinoid receptors: potential chemo preventive and/or therapeutic role in cancer of the uterine cervix. Lancet Oncology 2005
  • Endocervical Curettage at the time of colposcopy assessment of the uterine cervix. The Obstetrician and Gynecologist. 2005
  • The Current Management of Invasive Cervical Cancer. The Obstetrician and Gynecologist. 2004
  • Imaging techniques in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. ObGyn Women’s Health. 2004
  • Malignant progression through borderline changes in recurrent Mullerian papilloma of the vagina. Journal of Histopathology. 2003
  • Ectopic pregnancy in the levonorgestrel releasing intrauterine system user. J Obst Gyn. 2002
  • Quantitative and Qualitative assessment of women’s experience of a one-stop menstrual clinic. BJOG 2001
  • Leukotrienes in gynecology: the hypothetical value of anti-leukotrienes in dysmenorrhea and endometriosis. Human Reproduction Update (European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology) two thousand
  • The Brace suture technique for the control of massive postpartum hemorrhage: an alternative to hysterectomy. Five cases reported. British J of Obst Gyn. 1997
  • Gynecological Malignancies: Textbook of Pre-conceptual Medicine and Management. P399-410. Sapiens Publishing Ltd. 2012
  • Incongruous pathological and radiological response in a case of a mucin secreting adenocarcinoma of the cervix: 21st European Congress on Gynecological Oncology. 2019
  • Surgical outcome of cytoreductive surgery in metastatic ovarian cancer: IGCS, Kyoto, Japan. 2018
  • Morbidity associated with extensive cytoreductive surgery for advanced stages of ovarian cancer: IGCS, Kyoto, Japan. 2018
  • Outcomes of fertility preserving surgery with trachelectomy for early stage of cervical cancer at a major UK cancer centre: IGCS, Kyoto, Japan. 2018
  • Laparoscopic radical hysterectomy with vaginectomy for a primary malignant melanoma of uterine cervix with isolated lower vaginal metastasis. IVW, Prague. 2018
  • Outcome of advanced ovarian cancer, Nottingham Cancer Centre Experience. IGCS, Lisbon, Portugal. 2016
  • Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy in morbidly obese women with endometrial cancer/hyperplasia: Nottingham University Hospital Experience. ESGO, Nice, France. 2015
  • A review on the Initial Management of Ovarian Cancer in Nottingham. BGCS, Newcastle, UK. 2015
  • Surgical and Quality of life outcomes in patients with stage 1a1 cervical carcinoma. IGCS, Melbourne, Australia. 2014
  • A review of post operative outcomes following extensive radical debulking surgery for advanced stage ovarian cancer. IGCS, Melbourne, Australia. 2014
  • A review of surgically managed endometrial cancer at Nottingham University Hospitals. BGCS, UK. 2014
  • The management of cervical cancer in pregnancy; a case report and literature review. BGCS, UK. 2014
  • Type 2 Endometrial Cancer. What is the optimal management? IGCS meeting, Liverpool, UK, 2013
  • Comparing the Urological Outcome of standard Type 3 Total Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy vs Type C1 (nerve-sparing) Total Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy. IGCS, Liverpool, UK. 2013
  • Single Institution initial experience outcome following Total Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy (TLRH) and Open Radical Hysterectomy for Early-Stage Cervical Cancer. IGCS Meeting in Vancouver, Canada. 2012
  • Total Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy vs Open Radical Hysterectomy. BGCS Meeting in London. 2012
  • An unusual method of extracting the uterus intact following a difficult total laparoscopic hysterectomy for endometrial cancer in an obese woman with large uterine fibroids. IJGS 2012

Education & Training

  • MBBS
  • MRCOG
  • FRCOG
  • BSCCP
  • PMETB

Membership

  • Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG)
  • British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (BSCCP)
  • British Gynecological Cancer Society (BGCS)
  • Formerly a Member of the Subspecialty Training Council of the BGCS
  • International Gynecological Cancer Society (IGCS)
  • European Society of Gynecological Oncologists (ESGO)
  • European Society of Gynecological Endoscopists (ESGE)
  • British and Irish Association of Robotic Gynecologists (BIARGS)
  • British Medical Association (BMA)
  • Medical Staffing Research Committee, Nottingham University Hospital (MSRC)

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