Prof. James Catto

James Catto FMedSci is a world leading Urological Surgeon and recent NIHR Research Professor. He has made important contributions to the understanding and treatment of urological cancer and has been instrumental in bringing randomised surgical trials into this discipline. His work identified better treatments for many prostate and bladder cancers, the benefits of robotic surgery and led to global changes in treatment of these malignancies.

His research runs from the bench to the bedside and spans all disease stages. He is Chief Investigator on multiple global phase 3 trials testing new oncological approaches to this common cancer, he ran the world’s largest screening study for Bladder Cancer, the largest quality of life study in this disease, and the first trial to use genomic profiles to personalise care. He has specific expertise in conducting difficult to undertake trials comparing surgical treatments and in bringing novel in vitro diagnostic tests into clinical care. He edited the leading surgical specialty journal for ten years and has trained the next generation of Academic Surgeons.

In recognition of his work and contribution to patients, in 2025 he was awarded a Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences: https://www.sth.nhs.uk/news/2025/06/05/professor-jim-catto-named-as-2025-academy-of-medical-sciences-fellows/

His work has been cited by 70 national and international guidelines, governmental policy documents, and covered in many national newspapers.

Examples include:

1. Benefits of Robotic surgery in:

The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/may/15/robot-assisted-surgery-can-cut-blood-clot-risk-and-speed-recovery-study-finds

The Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10818675/Study-shows-robotic-surgery-leads-quicker-recovery-time-hospital.html

2. Benefits of immune treatment for bladder cancer in:

The BBC: https://feeds.bbci.co.uk/news/articles/c626w976w4po

The Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/patients-university-of-sheffield-queen-mary-university-of-london-sheffield-nhs-b2678284.html

The Independent on bladder cancer: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/immunotherapy-drug-bladder-cancer-patients-b2678415.html

The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/13/lung-cancer-drug-available-nhs-cut-bladder-deaths/

3. Using DNA to individualise cancer treatment for each patient in:

The Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12738541/Pioneering-trial-test-DNA-TUMOURS-patients-advanced-bladder-cancer-allowing-doctor-prescribe-personalised-drug-treatments.html

4. Meeting Rishi Sunak to plan prostate cancer screening:https://www.yorkshirecancerresearch.org.uk/news/former-pms-charity-shop-visit-shines-spotlight-on-regional-cancer-inequalities

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/thousands-men-yorkshire-take-part-new-prostate-screening-trial

5. Lifetime achievement award for bladder and prostate cancer research in:

Sheffield Star: https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/professor-receives-lifetime-achievement-award-for-bladder-and-prostate-cancer-research-4108898

‍