A surgeon who carried out a world-first kidney transplant, in Leicester, has been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours for his pioneering contribution to medicine.
Professor Michael Nicholson has been awarded an OBE after leading the first successful kidney transplant using a groundbreaking technique known as normothermic machine perfusion. The operation, carried out in Leicester in 2010, transformed the life of patient Deborah Bakewell and has since helped reshape transplant practice worldwide.
Picture credit: Kidney Research UK
The technique allows donor kidneys to be assessed using warm, oxygenated blood before transplantation. By mimicking the body’s natural conditions, surgeons can better judge organ function, enabling kidneys that were previously considered unsuitable to be safely used — significantly increasing the number of organs available for transplant.
Mrs Bakewell, now 70, had spent three years on intensive dialysis and feared she might never receive a transplant because of the shortage of viable donor kidneys. Fifteen years on, her transplanted kidney continues to function well. She was reunited with Professor Nicholson in Cambridge just two weeks ago, where the pair reflected on the life-changing impact of the surgery.
“I thought I was going to burst into tears as soon as I saw him again,” she said. “He is my hero.”
Professor Nicholson’s honour is among a number awarded to people connected with Leicester and Leicestershire in this year’s list. Others recognised include NHS staff for long service and innovation in patient care, community volunteers for decades of grassroots work, and educators who have made outstanding contributions to local schools and lifelong learning.
While currently based at the University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke’s Hospital, the renowned surgeon previously trained in Leicester and has ties to the University of Leicester. He is a leading expert in renal transplant and live donor programmes.
