International award win for King’s research partnership
08 April 2026 - King’s College London Men’s Health Group wins highest scientific award at World Meeting on Sexual Medicine
The King’s College London Men’s Health Group, a collaborative research partnership between King’s and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trusts, has been awarded the prestigious Tanagho Prize at the World Meeting on Sexual Medicine 2026 in recognition of their work to develop a training model.
The Tanagho Prize, named after pioneering urologist Dr Emil Tanagho, is presented in recognition of the most innovative research abstract, and is the highest scientific recognition presented at the congress.
The award recognised the Men’s Health Group’s work to develop a surgical training model to help treat Peyronie’s disease (PD) and congenital penile curvature (CPC), two conditions which can lead to penile curvature.
The engineering development was carried out by the King’s College London Biomedical Engineering Group, led by Antonia Pontiki, with two dedicated research engineers — Andrea Nunez Rubio (first author) and Zixi Wang who designed and built the model.
The clinical validation and refinement were overseen by Mr Fabio Castiglione and supported by a senior consultant team at King’s College Hospital, including Mr Nicholas Raison, Ms Maria Satchi and Mr Onur Cakir. The wider academic collaboration also involved Professor Yap, Professor at King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
Mr Fabio Castiglione, Academic Lead for Urology at King’s College Hospital and King’s College London Reader, said: “This remarkable achievement is the result of a truly multidisciplinary initiative, bringing together clinical leadership, surgical expertise, and biomedical engineering innovation across a number of organisations. We are extremely proud to have developed a model that provides a realistic platform for complex reconstructive and andrological procedures, and has the potential to improve outcomes for patients worldwide.
“Receiving the Tanagho Prize — the most prestigious award of the congress — represents a major international recognition of the strength of collaboration between King’s and Guy’s, and reflects the rapid academic growth of the King’s College London Men’s Health Group over the past two years.
“This award reinforces our ambition and commitment to continue to find new and innovative ways to improve patients’ lives, here at King’s and internationally.”
Ms Maria Satchi, Lead for Andrology and Male Fertility at King’s, was able to use the award-winning, anatomically accurate model with students taking part in a recent London Deanery Andrology Simulation Training Day at King’s College Hospital, allowing them to practise operative techniques in a realistic environment, just days after the Tanagho Prize presentation.
The session was delivered by a faculty of consultants and registrars, including Mr Shyaw Ahmed, Mr Sam Folkard and Mr Nicholas Raison.
Ms Maria Satchi said: “It was fantastic to have the opportunity to introduce this award-winning educational innovation directly into trainee education. Trainees have now had the chance to try out surgical techniques before performing procedures in theatre, developing their skills, knowledge and expertise.”