Final year Warwick medical student Theodora Vatopoulou has been awarded the Tim Chard Case History Prize 2007. The award is one of the prestigious Medical Student prizes handed out by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).

Theodora submitted the case history of a pregnant woman who was being treated for fetomaternal alloimmune thrombocytopenia at Warwick Hospital. The condition occurs when the mother produces antibodies which can attack platelets which circulate in the baby's blood. This can result in bleeding whilst in the womb or shortly after birth.

Theodora, who is originally from Athens, Greece, said: "Having done a Genetics degree, I found this case very interesting and academically stimulating. However, I did not know whether it was appropriate for this competition. I was surprised and thrilled to win it.”

She received a cheque for £500 and presented her winning application at the RCOG's annual Medical Students and Young Doctors evening on January 25.

A total of 48 students from across the UK submitted entries for the prize. Second place went to Richard Downey from National Maternity Hospital, Dublin and third place went to Greg Pearson from St Anne's College, University of Oxford.