
Professor Shelley Potter
BSc (Hons), M.B.Ch.B.(Hons), PhD, FHEA, FRCS
Expertise
Current positions
Professor of Surgical Oncology
Bristol Medical School (THS)
Contact
Press and media
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Research interests
My main research interest is improving outcomes for women undergoing breast cancer surgery.
I have a PhD in Health Services Research and my thesis used mixed methods to explore the feasibility of randomised clinical trials in breast reconstruction.
Following completion of my PhD, I was appointed as an Academic Clinical Lecturer and went on to develop a core outcome set for breast reconstruction as lead for the BRAVO (Breast Reconstruction and Valid Outcomes) Study funded by an Academy of Medical Sciences Clinical Lecturer Starter Grant. I co-led the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit funded iBRA (Implant Breast Reconstruction evAluation) study, a prospective multicentre cohort study to inform the feasibility, design and conduct of a pragmatic RCT comparing different approaches to implant-based breast reconstruction. I also led a number of large trainee collaborative projects in oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery including iBRA-2 which explored the impact of immediate breast reconstruction on time to adjuvant therapy and TeaM (funded by the Association of Breast Surgery) which aimed to determine the practice and short term outcomes of therapeutic mammaplasty.
I completed a highly prestigious Training Interface Group National Oncoplastic Fellowship in Liverpool where I learned a range of reconstructive and oncoplastic techniques and achieved my Certificate of Completion of Training in July 2017.
In my current role as Professor of Surgical Oncology, my projects include the Pre-BRA, ANTHEM, Best-BRA and Brighter studies all of which aim to build the evidence base for oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery and the FLAME study which aims to improve access and outcomes for women seeking flat symmetry after a single mastectomy for breast cancer.
I am increasingly interested in breast cancer treatment de-escalation to optimise outcomes for patients while reducing treatment associated morbidity. I am currently Chief Investigator for the NIHR HTA funded TADPOLE trial comparing targeted axillary dissection and axillary node clearance in patients with breast cancer and low volume nodal disease having primary surgery.
My national roles include Royal College of Surgeons of England Surgical Specialty Lead for Breast Surgery and Secretary to the British Breast Group. I am a member of the International St Gallen Consensus Panel.
I divide my time between the University and the Bristol Breast Care Centre at North Bristol NHS Trust where I aim to provide high quality, evidence-based patient care.
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
8072 ABS ANTHEM
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
12/02/2020 to 31/12/2021
IB 8072 Above & Beyond: ABL-2019-20-02: The ANTHEM study: Is A Novel THErapeutic mammaplasty procedure a safe and effective surgical alternative to Mastectomy for treatment of breast cancer
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
01/01/2020 to 31/07/2023
IB 8072 Association of Breast Surgery: Informing best practice in immediate implant-based breast reconstruction: Further analysis of the iBRA study cohort
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
01/07/2019 to 30/09/2022
Full Application: The BRIghteR study Breast Reconstruction: InvestigatinG long-term clinical and cost-effectiveness in tHe National MasTectomy and BrEast Reconstruction Audit cohort
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
01/04/2019 to 23/06/2022
8072 The Pre-BRA (Pre-pectoral Breast Reconstruction Evaluation) Study. An IDEAL 2a/2b prospective cohort study to determine the safety and effectiveness of pre-pectoral implant based breast reconstruction
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
14/08/2018 to 31/12/2022
Publications
Recent publications
01/03/2026Reducing locoregional treatments in low risk early invasive breast cancer
European Journal of Surgical Oncology
UK real-world evidence on pembrolizumab and neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer
ESMO Real World Data and Digital Oncology
A core outcome set for locoregional treatment reporting in neoadjuvant systemic breast cancer treatment trials
npj Breast Cancer
An international consensus process to support the safe and transparent introduction and evaluation of targeted axillary dissection in patients with node positive breast cancer having primary surgery
BJS Open
A systematic review of clinical outcome reporting for curative surgical treatment of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma
HPB




