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Professor Bhaskar Dasgupta
Professor Dasgupta is the Head of the Rheumatology and Clinical Director of Research & Audit at Southend University Hospital and holds a Honorary Professorship at Essex University and a Visiting Professorship at Anglia Ruskin University.

Professor Dasgupta has had a longstanding interest in musculoskeletal and temporal artery ultrasonography. He has lectured on the topic at international meetings and regularly hosts national and regional courses. He is a lead investigator for a UK multicentre Study comparing the diagnostic accuracy of temporal artery ultrasound versus temporal artery biopsy in patients with suspected Giant Cell Arteritis.

He has had a lifelong interest in Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) and Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) and has published numerous articles on these topics. As Convenor he developed the British Society of Rheumatology guidelines on PMR and GCA which have now been adopted by GP’s in the United Kingdom. He is the lead for multi-disciplinary work group, represented by members from BSR, RCGP, RCO and the Department of Health tasked with the ‘roll out’ of a fast track pathway for GCA across the United Kingdom.

Professor Dasgupta was a lead Investigator for the development of EULAR and ACR classification criteria for PMR. This prospective study has also led to validation of patient reported outcome measures for the assessment of PMR. Professor Dasgupta leads on several new clinical trials in both PMR and GCA. He is currently leading the development of EULAR ACR guidelines for PMR.

He has pioneered the fast track pathway for GCA which not only saves sight but also sight – since a cost effectiveness analysis done by NHS England showed this pathway to be very cost effective. He has helped found the PMRGCAUK – first national charity dedicated to PMR and GCA. He has published over 100 original articles and reviews on PMR.GCA,RA. He was the first to clinically describe sacral fractures and also leads the fracture prevention service. He has organised several international symposia and imaging workshops dedicated to PMR GCA large vessel vasculitis and development of MSK ultrasound to study RA and other disease