Clinical Academic & Vascular Surgeon

Dr Benjamin Thurston is a clinical academic and vascular surgeon whose work focuses on improving long-term outcomes for patients with vascular disease. He graduated with First Class Honours in Medicine from the University of Oxford and subsequently completed a Master of Arts in Medicine at Oxford, a Master of Science in Surgery from the University of Edinburgh, and a postgraduate qualification in Genomics and Genetics from Stanford University. He has been the visiting research fellow at Harvard University and visiting scholar at the University of Melbourne. He is currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Adelaide.

Dr Thurston’s research integrates clinical vascular surgery, advanced imaging, and molecular and epigenomic profiling to better understand vascular pathophysiology and to develop personalised risk prediction strategies. His work spans translational bench-to-bedside research, clinical cohort studies, and technology-driven innovation including artificial intelligence and precision lipid management.

Research Interests

• Risk prediction and outcome modelling in vascular surgery

• Epigenomic regulation of atherosclerotic plaque biology

• Imaging biomarkers and phenotype mapping (including photon-counting CT)

• Dyslipidaemia modification and systematic lipid management

• AI-assisted vascular perfusion assessment

• Fibromuscular dysplasia progression and risk mitigation

• High-resolution in-vivo plaque characterisation

Current Research Projects

• Photon-counting CT imaging in peripheral arterial disease

• Spatial transcriptomics and epigenomic profiling of atherosclerotic plaque (PhD thesis)

• Systematic lipid profiling and automated intervention and education

• Progression trajectories and risk modification in fibromuscular dysplasia

• AI-assisted perfusion assessment in limb ischaemia

• High-resolution intravascular/plaque imaging for phenotype–risk correlation

Selected Publications

1. Computer-Assisted Protocol-Adherent Blood Lipid Evaluation in Vascular Outpatients (CAPABLE-Vascular). J Clin Med. 2025;14(4):1321. PMID: 40004851. doi:10.3390/jcm14041321.

2. Intervention for Aortic Rupture After Prior Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: Is EVAR the Best Approach? Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2024; DOI:10.1016/j.ejvs.2024.01.086.

3. Long-term risk prediction after major lower limb amputation: 1-year results of the PERCEIVE study. BJS Open. 2024; PMID: 38266124. doi:10.1093/bjsopen/zrad135.

4. Short-term risk prediction after major lower limb amputation: PERCEIVE study. Br J Surg. 2022; PMID: 36065602. doi:10.1093/bjs/znac309.

5. Iliac artery tortuosity, calcification and abnormal shape augment aortic aneurysm anatomy in predicting complications after EVAR. SN Compr Clin Med. 2022; doi:10.1007/s42399-022-01230-0.

6. Low muscle mass determined by psoas area does not correlate with DEXA or total lumbar muscle mass in vascular patients. Vascular. 2022; PMID: 35104187. doi:10.1177/17085381211059404.

7. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery. Br J Surg. 2021; PMID: 33761533. doi:10.1093/bjs/znab101.

8. Effects of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications. Anaesthesia. 2021; PMID: 34371522. doi:10.1111/anae.15560.

9. SARS-CoV-2 infection and venous thromboembolism after surgery. Anaesthesia. 2021; PMID: 34428858. doi:10.1111/anae.15563.

10. Timing of surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Anaesthesia. 2021; PMID: 33690889. doi:10.1111/anae.15458.

11. Ankle Brachial Pressure Index: An update. Vascular. 2019; PMID: 30952202. doi:10.1177/1708538119842395.

12. Low total psoas area predicts midterm mortality after EVAR in male patients. J Vasc Surg. 2017; PMID: 28843791. doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2017.06.085.