A University of Sheffield researcher has received one of the highest international honours in oral and maxillofacial pathology in recognition of pioneering research using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the diagnosis of oral and head and neck cancers.
Professor Ali Khurram, Dean of School of Clinical Dentistry, has been awarded the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologists (IAOP) President's Lecture, a biennial award recognising excellence and outstanding contribution in the science and practice of oral pathology.
Professor Khurram received the award in recognition of research applying AI to the diagnosis of oral lesions, with a particular focus on explainable AI — technology that helps clinicians understand how an AI system reaches its conclusions, rather than simply producing an answer without showing the reasoning behind it. By making AI's decision-making more transparent, these approaches can help pathologists interpret, trust and confidently use AI tools in clinical practice.
As part of the honour, Professor Khurram delivered the IAOP President's Lecture as a plenary presentation at the IAOP-SOBEP Joint Meeting in Santos, Brazil, where around 1,000 delegates from across the world attended.
Titled ‘From Pixels to Prognosis: Re-shaping Head and Neck Pathology through Explainable AI’, the lecture showcased research carried out by the NEOPATH research group based within the School of Clinical Dentistry. The team's work focuses on developing computational pathology tools for oral and head and neck cancer, including AI models that can predict disease risk and patient prognosis from digital pathology slides while providing transparent reasoning that pathologists can interpret and trust.
The research is helping to advance digital pathology from the laboratory towards routine clinical practice, with the aim of improving diagnosis, supporting clinical decision-making and ultimately delivering better outcomes for patients.
Professor Khurram said: "This award means a lot, not just to me but to the whole team behind this work, our research group NEOPATH and the School. It's recognition from peers across the international pathology community that what began as a research question has grown into something with real potential to change how we diagnose and manage oral and head and neck cancer and pre-cancer.
"What matters most to me is the patient centred nature of this, and through our work with patients, we're clear about why this matters: getting these digital tools out of the lab and into clinics, where they can start making a difference to patients."
Professor Khurram works closely with patient organisations, including The Swallows Head and Neck Cancer Charity (for which he is a Trustee as well), to ensure the research addresses clinical needs and supports the development of AI technologies that can be adopted safely and effectively in healthcare.
As one of the most prestigious honours in oral and maxillofacial pathology, the IAOP President's Lecture recognises not only the quality of Professor Khurram’s research but also its growing international impact and potential to transform patient care.