Usha Menon

Usha Menon is Professor of Gynaecological Oncology and Lead for Training and Capacity Strengthening at the MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, UK.

She is a clinical trialist with a focus on early detection of ovarian cancer. Her research includes the largest ovarian cancer screening trials to date in the general (UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening) and high-risk populations (UK Familial Ovarian Cancer Screening Study) that are the evidence base of current guidelines and large cohort studies exploring ovarian cancer risk factors. She is involved in several collaborations with industry and other research organisations exploring novel early detection biomarkers and natural history of cancer. Usha has authored over 400 publications – research papers, editorials, reviews and book chapters – and given over 100 invited talks nationally and internationally.

Usha trained in medicine at Christian Medical College, Vellore, India and completed her Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology specialist training in London. She obtained her research degree from UCL. Since 2004, she is an honorary consultant gynaecologist at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

She is an experienced supervisor and examiner, having supervised 15 PhD and MD(Res) students, tutored several Masters and medical students. She has mentored several early career researchers. For the last five years she has led the Unit’s efforts to strengthen clinical trials capability in partner countries. Her particular focus has been India where she continues to mentor clinical trialists and support formal Masters programmes in clinical research.