Non-clinical PhD 2022 Cohort

 

Sadiya

Sadiya Quazi

Project title - Development of novel dual-target agents to treat neuroblastoma that combine selective protein degradation with synergistic inhibition. 


What were you doing before you joined the CSC Programme?

I had gotten my Master of Chemistry degree at Newcastle University and was doing an Erasmus postgraduate internship on biological lab techniques at Greifswald University in Germany.


What inspired you to choose this project?

 I wanted to do this PhD because I loved the idea of combining my experience in chemistry and biology to design and synthesise a drug and then test it, in the hopes of being able to help with cancer research.


Interesting fact about yourself

I love animals and will be volunteering at my local mini zoo!


 

 

Germaine

Saverio Charalambous

Project title - An explant-in-chip platform to study immune-cancer cell interactions and enhance tumour immunogenicity ex vivo: A focus on radiotherapy.


What were you doing before you joined the CSC Programme?

MEng Biochemical Engineering with Regenerative Medicine Minor. Development Associate (CMC) at Evox Therapeutics

 

What inspired you to choose this project?

The prospect of creating an organ-in-chip platform that could enable timely investigation of immune and tumour responses and interactions for pre-clinical or clinical discovery of novel immunotherapies, using tumour biopsies was extremely interesting as its key for advancement of highly promising personalised medicines in the oncology field.

 

Interesting fact about yourself

When I am not a work you will most likely find me practicing or dancing Salsa. I do up to 12 hrs a week.

 

 

 

Brian

Brian Cunningham

Project title - Unravelling the role of cancer associated fibroblasts in cancer evolution and drug resistance using microfluidics.


What were you doing before you joined the CSC Programme?

BEng in Biomedical Engineering - University of Limerick (2017-2021) - Thesis Title: Detection of Bacteria Growth within Microfluidic Droplets

MRes in Cancer Technology - Imperial College London (2021-2022) - Thesis Title: Development of a Capillary Network-on-Chip to Investigate Circulating Tumour Cell Behaviour during Metastatic Dissemination


What inspired you to choose this project?

 

My project is looking at the role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in cancer evolution and drug resistance using microfluidics, with a focus on pancreatic cancer. The project employs various systems, such as droplet microfluidic, CRISPR and other fluid handling systems, to explore the interaction between CAFs and PDAC cells

 

Interesting fact about yourself

I love getting out into the outdoors, whether it's hiking through the hills, pitching a tent, or setting sail on open water.