Professor Sashi Kommu

Professional Peer Endorsements :

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“I trained, and is always the case when you have a brilliant trainee, trained with Prof Kommu. He is the most dedicated and focused surgeon I have ever worked with…….”

Mr. Declan Cahill (Consultant Urological Surgeon, Royal Marsden Hospital)

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“Sashi Kommu is a rare combination of an enquiring, innovative and incisive mind and an extremely skilful surgeon. He will go far……...”

Professor Chris Eden (Consultant Urological Surgeon, Santis & HCA London Bridge)

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Professional Profile of Surgeon:

Professor Sashi Kommu is a Consultant Pelvic Cancer Urological Surgeon and Professor of Urology at The School of Biosciences, University of Kent & East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. His subspecialty interest is in minimally invasive urological cancer management including robotic urological surgery (Prostate Cancer).

His primary research interests include minimally invasive approaches to urological cancer management, surgical robotics, molecular biology of urological cancers, cancer biomarkers, artificial intelligence, and intelligent diagnostic probes, with a particular focus on prostate cancer and prostatic diseases. He carried out official research with the Translational Cancer Genetics Team at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, under the leadership of Professor Ros Eeles, whose team is renowned for work on the BRCA2 gene in prostate cancer. During this time, he honed his scientific methodology through advanced laboratory work, focusing on cancer genetics, proteomics and genomics.

As a trainee, he earned international recognition from the Endourological Society for his research and contributions to improving laparoscopic and robotic skill acquisition and delivery. He Founded STILUS - a surgical training initiative for laparoscopic & robotic urological skills -, a transformative platform designed to facilitate Travelling Educational Scholarships, enabling trainees to gain hands-on experience at global centres of excellence.

Sashi is credited with developing health economic models for costing minimally invasive urological procedures. He originated Factor Modelling®, an innovative analytical system that aided evalution and implemention of cost-effective robotic urological platforms. His work has helped with business planning for integration of da Vinci Robotic Surgical Systems into several NHS Trusts at a time when the robot was introduced in the U.K. He presented his work at major international meetings including the World Congress of Endourology, the European Association of Urology, and the Royal Society of Medicine.

He spearheaded and led the presentation of over 150 scientific abstracts focused on advancing techniques in minimally invasive surgery, with a strong emphasis on enhancing skill acquisition and optimizing surgical training. His efforts are further strengthened by mentorship under Dr. Vipul Patel, the world's highest-volume robotic prostatectomy surgeon, who serves as one of the senior mentors to STILUS.

He completed his Higher Surgical Training in Urology as a Specialist Registrar within the London Deanery. As Resident/Specialist Registrar, he undertook advanced training in robotic prostatectomy at Guy’s Hospital, London, as Prostate Fellow under the mentorship of Mr. Declan Cahill, an internationally recognised high-volume surgeon. In addition, he received further dedicated mentorship and training in robotic prostatectomy from Professor Chris Eden, a pioneer and leading figure in the field. This was followed by a formal Post-CCT Fellowship in East Sussex Healthcare, where he underwent intensive training in both robotic prostatectomy and cystectomy under the guidance of Mr. Peter Rimington, the Fellowship Programme Director and a recognised global expert in robotic cystectomy and prostatectomy.  Following this, he was immediately appointed as Consultant to his current post.

He served as Prostate Cancer Lead for the Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance Network. He also served as Urology Cancer and MDT Lead at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. He led the National Institute for Health & Care Research (NIHR) for all 14 major surgical specialties in Kent, Surrey, and Sussex from 2018 - 2024 during which time he successfully improved the national ranking from 13 in 2018 to top 5 in 2024.

He was part of the team that pioneered single site urological laparoscopic surgery in the U.K. and published the first series in 2009.

His work includes pioneering image augmentation techniques that integrate MRI data into real-time 3D guidance during surgery, currently being expanded to a large scale multi-centre study called IMAROP (Image Augmentation in Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy) Study. This programme also aims to generate large, high-quality datasets to integrate with artificial intelligence platforms for enhanced intraoperative decision support.

He has developed and applied novel intraoperative technologies, including ultra-mini Doppler ultrasound probes for real-time vascular mapping to support nerve-sparing, and is advancing the use of miniature mass spectrometry pen probes for real-time tissue characterisation during surgery. In addition, his work on tissue planar fluid dissection techniques has further refined nerve-sparing approaches.

Beyond technical innovation, he has made significant contributions to outcomes research. His team developed practical continence definitions that were awarded second prize at the European Robotic Urological Symposium, and more recently introduced the IMPACT scoring system for assessing erectile function recovery following nerve-sparing robotic prostatectomy presented at the European Urological Association 2026 London. Together, these innovations position him and his team as leaders in shaping the future of robotic prostatectomy, with a clear focus on delivering optimal cancer control alongside improved quality-of-life outcomes.

He was awarded 3* Point Clinical Excellence Awards (CEAs) twice within 5 years of appointment as Consultant in the NHS. The initial Award was bestowed after his first year of appointment as Consultant. (*NHS Awards given to Consultants who contribute most to delivery of safe and high-quality care and improvement of NHS Services).

Sashi has more than 100 peer-reviewed papers in prestigious scientific and medical journals such as The Lancet. In addition, he has over 400 Scientific Presentations, as well as various book chapters and books. He has numerous academic awards including The Olympus Award at The 25th World Congress of Endourology in Cleveland U.S.A. He developed a cost-effective Telerounding Kit for Remote Teleconsultations, which was presented at The House of Commons (Hosted by The British Parliament) in 2006 as part of the British Science Week.

His ability to blend medical science with engineering and technology has earned him two NASA Ames Research Center collaborative scientific commendations. Among several novel concepts described by Professor Kommu, include ‘suppressor screening in urological cancer screening' and ‘the supplementary biomarker approach' for detecting cancers.

He is involved with large scale clinical trials and has advanced research laboratory tools with supervision of several PhD Students in various aspects of Urological Cancer Reseach particularly Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases.

More recently, his Innovative approach to clinical practice coupled with philanthropic work led him to be elected to The New European Surgical Academy in March 2023.

Robot Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP/RALP) Surgical Outcomes: Soon to be published.

ORCID ID:0000-0003-4257-2157

Professor Sashi Kommu - Biosciences at Kent - University of Kent

Professor Sashi S. Kommu | LinkedIn