Scales Prize Winner 2019-20: Helen Seaman MSc student from UCL, RNOH Sarcoma Unit and Therapies department

Huge congratulations to Helen Seaman (MSc Physical Therapy in Musculoskeletal Healthcare & Rehabilitation, 2019-20), who has been awarded the Scales Prize for her MSc Project: 'Physical function following limb-sparing resections and reconstruction for pelvic primary bone sarcoma – A systematic review and meta-analysis!'  Congratulations also to Helen’s supervisory team: Dr Sherron Furtado, Senior Sarcoma Research Therapist (Lead Academic and Clinical supervisor), Mr Craig Gerrand, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon (Clinical supervisor), Mr Will Aston, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon (Clinical supervisor) and Ms Abby McCarthy, Orthopaedic Oncology Physiotherapist (Clinical supervisor) who are part of the London Sarcoma Service and have been instrumental in supporting Helen develop this exciting project.

Helen’s project provides an important insight about functional and quality of life outcomes after pelvic sarcoma surgeries and compares pelvic resection versus reconstruction in particular. This project forms an evidence-base for informing clinical care in the field of musculoskeletal oncology and has stimulated future research in this area of work.

Helen presented her prize-winning work at the British Orthopaedic Oncology conference 2020, RNOH Research and Audit Forum 2020 and British Sarcoma Group 2021. The project team have also recently compiled the manuscript on this topic and are aiming to submit it shortly in a good quality peer-reviewed journal to maximise national and international visibility and impact.

The prize is awarded as part of the legacy of Professor John Scales, who founded the Centre for Biomedical Engineering in Stanmore, 1949.  He was Head of Department from 1949-1987 and was responsible for developing Elastoplast dressings, low air loss beds for treating patients with burns, the Stanmore range of total joint replacements and he also pioneered the use of endoprostheses for treating bone tumours.

The Scales Prize is awarded Annually within UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Science to the best overall Individual Research Project by a Postgraduate Taught Student within the field of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science. The prestigious award consists of a medal, certificate and cash prize. This year, the winner was officially announced at the closing webinar and prizegiving of the DSIS Student Research Symposium, which took place on Friday 11th June 2021.