The MAHSC (Manchester Academic Health Science Centre) inaugural lecture series celebrates the remarkable contributions of our honorary MAHSC clinical chairs. These prestigious honors, awarded by the University of Manchester’s Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, recognise distinguished individuals across Greater Manchester who have demonstrated excellence in research, education, and clinical practice.

Health Innovation Manchester was pleased to welcome Prof Konstantina (Tina) Karabatsou, Consultant Neurosurgeon at Salford Royal Hospital and Honorary Clinical Chair at Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, for her inaugural lecture as part of the 2026 MAHSC Inaugural Lecture Series.

The lecture was introduced by Professor Catherine McBain, who spoke warmly of Prof Karabatsou’s transformational impact on neuro-oncology across Greater Manchester, particularly through the long-standing partnership between Salford Royal Hospital (part of Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust) and The Christie NHS FT Trust. She highlighted Prof Karabatsou’s exceptional surgical expertise, her pioneering introduction of techniques such as awake craniotomy in Manchester, and her tireless commitment to research, education and service development. Professor McBain also reflected on Prof Karabatsou’s ability to bring multidisciplinary teams together across organisations, mentor the next generation of clinicians, and ensure that patients and families remain at the very centre of care.

In a deeply personal and inspiring talk, Prof Karabatsou reflected on her professional journey, her leadership in neuro-oncology, and the values that underpin her clinical, academic and educational work – describing neurosurgery as a balance between “the beauty and the beast”: the beauty of the brain, and the beast of the brain tumour.

From Greece to Greater Manchester

Prof Karabatsou shared her early life and training, growing up in Greece before studying medicine at the University of Athens and embarking on neurosurgical training. As one of the first female adult neurosurgeons to train in Greece, her early career was shaped by academic excellence, determination and a deep fascination with neuroanatomy and neuroscience research.

In 1998, she moved to the UK to continue her training, arriving with a single suitcase and facing the challenge of adapting to a new healthcare system while working in a second language. She spoke openly about the resilience this period required and credited the mentorship she received in Newcastle, Liverpool and later Toronto,Canada as pivotal in shaping not only her surgical practice, but also her compassionate, patient-focused approach to care.

Building a World-Leading Neuro-Oncology Service

Appointed as a consultant neurosurgeon in Manchester in 2007, Prof Karabatsou went on to become Clinical Lead for Neuro-Oncology in 2009. Since then, she has played a central role in developing one of the UK’s leading neuro-oncology services, now managing around 2,000 referrals and more than 400 operations each year across a complex and highly specialised pathway.

She described this period as transformational – establishing clear care pathways, strengthening multidisciplinary working across Salford Royal, The Christie and wider partners, and embedding a holistic, patient-centred approach to care. A particular focus has been the expansion of specialist nurse roles, ensuring patients receive tailored support throughout diagnosis, treatment and long-term follow-up.

Under her leadership the service was awarded a designated Neurooncology center of Excellence status by the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission in 2020 and 2025.

Listening to Patients and Leading with Compassion

A recurring theme throughout the lecture was the importance of listening – to patients, colleagues and trainees alike. Prof Karabatsou spoke candidly about the complexity of caring for people living with brain tumours, many of whom face life-changing diagnoses, and the responsibility clinicians carry to support both patients and families through uncertainty.

She highlighted the development of low-grade glioma patient information and support days, which bring patients and families together with clinicians, researchers and allied health professionals. These events focus not only on treatment, but also on wider quality-of-life issues such as memory, sleep, employment, driving and independence – reflecting her commitment to treating the whole person, not just the disease.

Championing Women and Diversity in Neurosurgery

Prof Karabatsou also reflected candidly on her experience as a woman in neurosurgery – a specialty that has historically been male‑dominated both in the UK and internationally. When she was appointed as a consultant neurosurgeon in 2007, she was just the seventh female consultant neurosurgeon in the UK, a statistic that underscored the lack of representation and mentorship available at the time.

She spoke openly about the challenges this presented, from balancing the intensity of surgical training with personal life, to navigating a career where female role models were scarce. However, she also highlighted how the landscape is gradually changing. Today, there are significantly more women entering and progressing through neurosurgical training, and Prof Karabatsou is proud to have played a role in fostering a more supportive and inclusive environment – particularly in Manchester.

She emphasised the importance of diversity in neurosurgery, not only to better reflect the populations served, but to bring different perspectives, leadership styles and approaches to patient care. Central to this has been her commitment to mentorship, career flexibility and creating opportunities for both women and men to thrive within demanding clinical and academic careers.

Research, Education and the Future of Neuro-Oncology

Research and education form core pillars of Prof Karabatsou’s work. She has led and contributed to numerous clinical trials, collaborated closely with The Christie and The University of Manchester, and played an active role in national and international research networks aimed at improving outcomes for people affected by brain tumours.

Looking ahead, she described a future shaped by precision medicine, improved integration of complex datasets, and AI-enabled analysis, alongside stronger collaboration between clinicians, researchers, patients and charities. She emphasised that meaningful progress in neuro-oncology will depend on collective effort and sustained investment in research and innovation.

Looking Ahead

As she approaches the next chapter of her career, Prof Karabatsou’s ambitions remain focused on improving outcomes for patients and families, advancing brain tumour research, supporting fundraising and awareness initiatives, and continuing to mentor future generations of clinicians and scientists both in the UK and internationally.

She closed her lecture with a powerful reminder that encapsulated her approach to care: