Professor Hugh Barr

MD, FRCS, ChM, United Kingdom

Professor Hugh Barr is a distinguished expert in upper gastrointestinal surgery and Barrett’s esophagus, known for his significant contributions to gastrointestinal oncology and early cancer detection. His innovative approaches have established him as a leading figure in esophageal health. 

He holds prestigious qualifications, including Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) from both the Royal College of Surgeons of England and Edinburgh, awarded in 1982 when he received the Primary FRCS prize for excellence. In 1990, he completed his MD with distinction from the University of Liverpool, with a thesis that garnered the University of London Rogers Prize for Advances in Medicine. He also holds a ChM (Master of Surgery) from the University of Liverpool, attained in 1996. 

Professor Barr’s career is marked by numerous honours, including his roles as Lister Professor at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Hunterian Professor at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He was designated an NIHR Senior Investigator in 2012 and received the NHS Platinum Award in 2013. 

As Chief Investigator of the BOSS (Barrett’s Oesophagus Surveillance Study), he leads a £1.7 million NIHR HTA-funded trial that assesses various surveillance strategies for Barrett’s esophagus. Additionally, he co-applied for the CRUK AspECT trial (2003-2013), focusing on chemoprevention strategies. 

With over 170 peer-reviewed publications and an h-index of 43, his work on innovative diagnostic technologies is pivotal in early esophageal cancer detection, further advancing patient management and treatment strategies.