Having qualified in Nottingham in 1997, Rakesh moved to the Newcastle to undertake his surgical training. During this time, he also completed a PhD (2006), which resulted in the EUA's Best Urological Paper Published in International Literature award (2008) and then went onto be awarded the prestigious Hunterian Professorship from Royal College of Surgeons of England (2010). He became one of the few surgeons awarded a CRUK Clinician Scientist Fellowship (2010), delivering pioneering research into prostate stem cell biology, and insights into the underpinning mechanisms that lead to cancer formation. Rakesh was the chief investigator leading NIHR’s PHOTO trial looking at surgical approaches to improve outcomes for patients with bladder cancer. He is also co-Chief Investigator for NIHR’s PARTIAL trial, studying partial vs radical nephrectomy for renal cancer. As a consultant urologist since 2011, he was central to establishing a robotic cystectomy program in one the highest volume urology centres in Europe. Rakesh also provides expert care for men with prostate cancer and has excellent outcomes for his prostatectomy surgery. He is a passionate surgical trainer and was co-Director for the annual UK cadaveric robotic course (2017-2019). As Chair of Urology (2020-), more recently at Imperial College London (2022), he pursues specialist clinical and research interests in prostate, kidney and bladder cancer. Rakesh has a number of National leadership roles, including NIHR HTA Programme Deputy Chair (2022-), NICE Clinical Guidelines Chairman (2021-), Chairman of the NCRI localised prostate cancer subgroup (2017-) and his NHS work has been recognised with a National Clinical Excellence award from the Department of Health (2021).