prof. Gabrielle van Ramshorst (MD, PhD)

Patients with recurrent rectal cancer and gynaecological malignancies can be suitable for a curative approach by pelvic exenteration. This often requires multicompartmental pelvic resection with reconstructive techniques for creation of stomas, ileal conduits or flaps for neovaginas. We are collaborating internationally by performing multicenter research with expert centers focusing on pelvic exenteration (PelvEx Collaborative, COREPEX).
We are also performing clinical and translational studies in patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas and perform prospective data collection for the TransAtlantic RetroPeritoneal Sarcoma Working Group (TARPSWG) and locally with Dr. Stefanie Gijsels, Prof. Gwen Sys en Prof. Olivier De Wever.
General complications such as wound infections can have serious impact on a patient’s quality of life, therefore we are co-principal leads on the European Society of Coloproctology WOLVERINE studies. Our aim is to offer patients the highest standard of surgical care whilst preserving quality of life.

Methods: Subprojects include:

• to study prospectively collected quality of life data;
• to study needs of female pelvic exenteration patients with regard to neovaginal reconstruction;
• to study effects of minimally invasive surgery on surgical outcomes in a highly selected patient group;
• to study the perioperative information needs of patients;
• to study the relationship between abdominal wound closure and wound failure
   

Before surgical training, I performed three years of fulltime clinical research at Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. I finished surgical training at Amsterdam UMC in 2016 and I am registered as a gastrointestinal surgeon and surgical oncologist in the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. My clinical fellowship was sponsored by the Dutch Cancer Society and consisted of dedicated training in colorectal surgery, including pelvic exenteration, gynaecological oncology and urological oncology at the Dutch Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam UMC and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Australië (Top 100 best hospitals Newsweek 2019). In 2019 I worked as a locum surgical oncologist at Glasgow Royal Infirmary Hospital in Scotland (also Top 100 best hospitals Newsweek 2019) before accepting my position as consultant surgical oncologist at Ghent University Hospital.

My main interests include pelvic exenteration surgery, locally advanced and recurrent rectal cancer, high sacrectomies, gynaecological oncology (ovarian, cervical and recurrent vaginal cancer), peritoneal carcinomatosis and retroperitoneal sarcomas.

Scientific interests include pelvic exenteration, neovaginal reconstruction, peritoneal and lymphogenic metastases and complications. I am associate editor at Colorectal Disease and I regularly join (international) guideline committees, Delphi consensus studies, and international scientific advisory boards.

Memberships

• Surgical Society for Oncology (Chair of the International Committee 2025-2027)
• European Society of Coloproctology (steering group member Cohort Studies Working Group)
• European Society for Gynaecological Oncology 
• European Network of Young Gynaeco-Oncologists (member Education Committee)
• European Society for Surgical Oncology (Research Academy Advisory Board 2025-2027)
• European Hernia Society
• Belgian Surgical Society
• Belgian Society for Surgical Oncology
• Belgian Chapter for Colorectal Surgery
• Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland
• Dutch Surgical Society
• Dutch Society for Surgical Oncology
• Dutch Society for Gastrointestinal surgery
• Dutch Hernia Society
      

• dr. Eva Pape (PhD) - postdoctoral fellow 
• dr. Stefanie Gijsels (MD, PhD) - postdoctoral fellow 
• dr. Andreas Denys (MD) - doctoral fellow
• dr. Muhammed Elhadi (MD) - doctoral fellow
   

• A living biobank of sarcoma patient-derived cell cultures reveals multi-omic and functional insights that capture disease heterogeneity. O.Clin Transl Med. 2026 Jul;16(7):e70722. doi: 10.1002/ctm2.70722.PMID: 42333717 Free article.
• Preserving potential: Surgeons as key partners in establishing a living sarcoma biobank for translational research purposes. Surg Oncol. 2025 Apr;59:102209. doi: 10.1016/j.suronc.2025.102209. Epub 2025 Mar 5.PMID: 40058119
• Perceptions and attitudes of healthcare professionals on discussing sexuality with cancer patients, including sexual minority groups - a mixed-methods study. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2026 Feb;80:103100. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2026.103100. Epub 2026 Jan 10.PMID: 41534120
• Development and Content Validation of a Belgian Patient Decision Aid for Surgical Decision-making in Rectal Cancer: A Double-modified Delphi Study. Semin Oncol Nurs. 2026 Sep 12:152356. doi: 10.1016/j.soncn.2026.152356. Online ahead of print.PMID: 42731930
• Sexual health of LGBTQ+ patients undergoing colorectal surgery for benign disease and their experience with healthcare: A scoping review. Colorectal Dis. 2025 Dec;27(12):e70327. doi: 10.1111/codi.70327.PMID: 41685645
• Experiences of LGB patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery: A focus on sexuality. Colorectal Dis. 2026 Feb;28(2):e70375. doi: 10.1111/codi.70375.PMID: 41606667
• A stepped nurse-led LARS clinic: A qualitative evaluation. Colorectal Dis. 2026 Feb;28(2):e70379. doi: 10.1111/codi.70379.PMID: 41601238
• Oncological and functional outcomes after sacrectomy for colorectal cancer: A systematic review. Colorectal Dis. 2025 Apr;27(4):e70083. doi: 10.1111/codi.70083.PMID: 40185644
• 30-day postoperative mortality and the effects of hospital preparedness during the COVID-19 pandemic: a pooled analysis of prospective international cohort studies. NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery.Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2026 Jan 29;62:101566. doi: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2025.101566. eCollection 2026 Mar.PMID: 41648988 Free PMC article.
• A prognostic model for use before elective surgery to estimate the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications (GSU-Pulmonary Score): a development and validation study in three international cohorts. NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery; STARSurg Collaborative.Lancet Digit Health. 2024 Jul;6(7):e507-e519. doi: 10.1016/S2589-7500(24)00065-7.PMID: 38906616 Free PMC article.
   

• Lab address: campus UZ Gent, Department of Gastrointestinal surgery; route 1275, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
• Linkedin 
• Twitter 
• Google scholar 
• member of the Consortium for Sarcoma Research Ghent (ConSaRGhent)
• prof. van Ramshorst is interested to receive funding for the patient-centered research: UGent IBAN BE26 3900 9658 0329 mentioning “GE_01170”
• prof. van Ramshorst is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks