Mr Malcolm West
MD PhD FRCS(Ed) FRCS(Eng)
Associate Professor of Colorectal Surgery and Prehabilitation Medicine
Consultant Colorectal and Complex Cancer Surgeon
Profile page(s)
Malcolm is an academic surgeon specialising in complex cancers. He completed a NIHR funded PhD in exercise physiology, perioperative risk stratification, prehabilitation and mitochondrial energetics.
He aims to improve outcomes in patients undergoing major cancer surgery utilising personalised risk stratification and tailored multimodal prehabilitation interventions. His research interests include interrogating the pathophysiological mechanisms of changing fitness, nutrition, and body composition with cancer therapies, whilst using prehabilitation interventions to improve physiological resilience, patient-reported and cancer outcomes.
Malcolm is a core member of the NIHR Global Health Research Unit with an interest in global surgery and cancer outcomes. He is a selection committee member for NIHR RfPB Southeast and Central and is Surgical Specialty Lead at the Wessex CRN.
Landmark publications:
1. Sarcopenia and myosteatosis predict adverse outcomes after emergency laparotomy: a multi-centre observational cohort study
Annals of Surgery 2022;275(6):1103-1111
2. Influence of hospital facilities on patient outcomes following cancer surgery: an international, prospective observational study
Lancet Global Health 2022;10(7):e1003-1011
3. Global variation in postoperative mortality and complications after cancer surgery: a multicentre, prospective cohort study in 82 countries
Lancet 2021; 397(10272):387-397
4. Myosteatosis is associated with poor physical fitness in patients undergoing hepatopancreatobiliary surgery
Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle 2019;10(4):860-871
Major grants:
The SafeFit Study - Virtual clinics to deliver universal interventions to maintain and improve mental and physical health in people with cancer who are following social distancing guidance: A COVID-19 targeted trial
Co-Investigator and Data Management Lead; March 2020 – March 2023
Joint National Lottery Community Fund and Macmillan Award - £100,000
Frailty and Sarcopenia Outcomes in Emergency General Surgery
Chief Investigator; September 2018 – April 2021
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) – Personal award
The WesFit Study - A multimodal prehabilitation programme in patients undergoing elective major cancer surgery across Wessex.
Co-Investigator and Data Management Lead; September 2017 – September 2022
NHS Sustainability and Transformation Project Grant - £2,600,000
A pilot study to investigate improvements in physical fitness and quality of life resulting from a 9-week structured responsive endurance training programme (SRETP) following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy prior to elective rectal cancer surgery
Co-Applicant and Study Coordinator; October 2013 – 2016
National Institute for Health Research, Research for Patient Benefit Grant, (PB-PG-0711-25093) - £249,763
The effect of beta-blockade on cardiorespiratory performance
Chief Investigator; February 2012 – February 2013
Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Vascular and Endovascular Charitable Funding - £18,000
The effect of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy on exercise capacity and outcome following upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery
Co-Applicant and Study Coordinator; August 2011 – August 2015
National Institute for Health Research, Research for Patient Benefit Grant, (PB-PG-06-09-18262) - £249,652