Gold award for endoscopy research project

Prestigious award for medical illustrations

A transformative cross-faculty LJMU project to enhance endoscopy research and training has earned a prestigious award for medical illustration.

The Transforming Polypectomy Education project has been awarded a gold award in the 2024 Institute of Medical Illustrators Awards for its creation of innovative digital training tools for colonoscopists.

The work to develop digital 3D polyp models is a collaboration between digital medical artists (LJMU’s Liverpool School of Art and Design), advanced allied health practitioners (LJMU’s School of Nursing and Advanced Practice) and endoscopists (North West Endoscopy Academy) and enables endoscopy trainees to visualise complex anatomical structures of colorectal polyps in unprecedented detail.

The project has been led by Professor Dr Paul O’Toole, consultant gastroenterologist, endoscopist and adjunct professor within the School of Nursing and Advanced Practice. 

Paul provided images and videos of patient pathology and worked with Anna Roberts (School of Nursing and Advanced Practice) and Mark Roughley (Liverpool School of Art and Design) to create 3D models with normal and abnormal pathology which were subsequently validated by medical experts within the field of endoscopy.

Medical artist, Anna Roberts, has been working between the simulation facility in the School of Nursing and Liverpool School of Art and Design’s Fab Lab said: “We are delighted to have won a gold award from the Institute of Medical Illustrators. It is a testament to the outstanding multi-disciplinary collaboration across LJMU and with our health partners.

“The project delivers an innovative solution to the need for more realistic training tools for colonoscopists. This approach not only improves the technical skills of allied health professionals studying in the UK’s endoscopy academies but also boosts their diagnostic accuracy, ultimately enhancing patient care.”

Mark Roughley, a medical artist from LJMU’s Liverpool School of Art and Design said: “The challenge was to advance from using static, low resolution endoscopic images to something far more realistic to help students develop colorectal polyp assessment skills.

“This partnership between the School of Nursing and Advanced Practice, the Liverpool School of Art and Design and the North West Endoscopy Academy combines scientific precision with artistic creativity. Together, we have created innovative digital models that enhance the realism and effectiveness of endoscopy training.” 

See the 3D models on Sketchfab. Rotate, zoom in and click on hotspots to learn more.

The next step for the project is the development of more advanced training packages. Anna Roberts  is working with Professor O’Toole and John-Paul Mills, a Senior Lecturer in Simulation in the School of Nursing and Advanced Practice, to bring these to life. 

The Transforming Polypectomy Education team includes:

• Professor Paul O’Toole – Consultant Gastroenterologist and Adjunct Professor (North West Endoscopy Academy, and NAP))
• Chris Edwards - Business Development Manager (RIS)
• Dr Amy Whitehead (Reader, School of Sports and Exercise Sciences)
• Mark Roughley – Reader and Medical Artist (LSA)
• Anna Roberts – Medical Artist (NAP & LSA)
• Sue Baker - Senior Lecturer (NAP)
• Mel Rankin – Research Fellow (NAP)
• John-Paul Mills – Senior Lecturer (NAP)
• Scott Hambleton – Lecturer Practitioner (NAP) 
• Chris Brown – Clinical Technician (NAP)