Career Highlights

Mr Maxwell’s research work at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital during 1983-4 resulted in the first UK development of the technique of transabdominal chorion villus sampling. Since its inception transabdominal CVS has spread to become the majority technique for early prenatal diagnosis in all centres throughout the world.

Upon his consultant appointment at Guy’s Hospital, Mr Maxwell collaborated with Professors Allan and Tynan to develop the technique of ultrasound guided in utero fetal balloon valvoplasty. This entirely new technique for operating on the heart of a fetus while still in its mother’s womb represented the only hope for some fetuses with severe cardiac malformation. The news of the first successful operation captured the public imagination at the time and the technique went on to be successfully adopted by other groups working in the field. It remains a life giving operation for some fetuses.

After the amalgamation of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals, Mr. Maxwell became involved in a new research collaboration working on the novel application of 3 dimensional ultrasound in obstetrics. 3 and 4 dimensional ultrasound has benefitted from tremendous technological advance to become an exciting research and clinical application area in most centres where ultrasound is used in patient care, including The London Ultrasound Centre.

Mr Maxwell has trained numerous research colleagues, consultants and other subspecialist since 1988. All of his trainees have become consultants in charge of their own units either in the UK, Europe or Australia.