Pioneering work by Professor Ali Khurram at the University of Sheffield is helping to transform how head and neck cancers are detected, diagnosed, and treated, with the potential to save lives through earlier intervention and more personalised care.
Head and neck cancers are among the fastest growing cancer types worldwide, yet survival outcomes have changed little in recent decades. Many cases are still diagnosed at a late stage, when treatment options are limited and prognosis is poor.
Professor Ali Khurram, Dean of the School of Clinical Dentistry said: “Our goal is to detect head and neck cancers earlier, predict which pre-cancerous oral lesions are most likely to progress and understand why some cancers are more resistant to treatment.
“By combining digital pathology, artificial intelligence, and molecular biology, we’re aiming to make diagnosis faster, more accurate, and more consistent.â€
Professor Khurram’s research team integrates advanced computational and laboratory-based methods, including artificial intelligence, digital pathology, immunohistochemistry, multiplex staining, spatial transcriptomics, whole exome sequencing, and bioinformatics - to gain deeper insight into tumour biology and disease progression.
Recent studies from the Sheffield group have identified novel tissue and digital biomarkers that can help predict which oral lesions are most likely to become cancerous, and which cancers may behave more aggressively or resist treatment. The team has also developed AI models to support histopathological diagnosis and risk assessment, a significant step towards integrating AI safely and transparently into clinical practice.
This work directly benefits patients with head and neck cancer or potentially pre-cancerous oral lesions, as well as the clinicians who diagnose and manage them. In the longer term, it will also inform healthcare policy, supporting efforts to improve early detection and deliver more personalised treatment strategies.
Professor Khurram said: “By combining computational models and molecular profiling, we hope to make diagnosis more reproducible and rapid, predict cancer risk and treatment response, and ultimately save lives.â€
The work is highly collaborative with Professor Khurram partnering with Sheffield’s Dr Hanya Mahmood, Dr Hannah Crane, Professor Dan Lambert, and Dr Bilal Tahir, alongside colleagues across pathology, computational biology, and clinical disciplines. International collaborations further strengthen the research, connecting Sheffield’s expertise to global networks focused on improving outcomes for head and neck cancer patients.
Professor Khurram added: “Ultimately, we want to empower clinicians with better tools, give patients more personalised care, and change outcomes for a cancer type that has long been overlooked.â€
With head and neck cancer rates continuing to rise globally, this research offers renewed hope for earlier detection, improved risk prediction, and more effective treatment pathways.