Emer Curley
Emer is a fourth-year student under the supervision of David Lewis (CRUK Scotland Institute/ University of Glasgow) and Anthony Chalmers (SCS, University of Glasgow). Her project aims to overcome radiotherapy resistance by focusing on diverse metabolic signals at the tumour site to develop local radiotherapy strategies. She is using multiplex and non-invasive PET probes to identify regions within the tumour for targeted, dose delivery that is directed to improving outcome in the clinic.
Elena Mandrou
Elena is a fourth-year PhD student working with Rob Insall Insall (University of Glasgow/ CRUK Scotland Institute) and Laura Machesky (CRUK Scotland Institute/ SCS, University of Glasgow). Her project focuses on a fundamental mechanism of cell steering called self-generated gradients, in which cells create cues by changing the concentration of chemical attractants around themselves. She is using a range of microscopy techniques – developed in collaboration with the University’s Physics department – to visualise gradients in different models.
Christopher Walsh
Chris is a fourth-year PhD student with Rob Insall (University of Glasgow/ CRUK Scotland Institute) and Joanne Edwards (SCS, University of Glasgow). His project uses deep learning to investigate how the patterns of cells at the edges of tumours allow us to understand whether tumours are spreading or benign. This work will help patients by making cancer pathology faster and more efficient. He also uses artificial intelligence to discern how cells communicate with one another, the surrounding tissues and the immune system.
Francesco Amato
Francesco is a third-year student with Chiara Braconi (SCS, University of Glasgow) and Owen Sansom (CRUK Scotland Institute/University of Glasgow). His project studies the crosstalk of biliary tract cancer and the surrounding micro-environment. He uses co-cultures of patient-derived monocytes and cancer cell organoids to investigate the role of miRNAs involved in the conversion of monocytes to myeloid derived suppressor cells, a type of immune cell involved in the suppression of the immune system in cancer.
Lorna Stillie
Lorna is a third-year MB-PhD student under the supervision of Charlie Gourley (CRUK Scotland Centre) and Gareth Inman (CRUK Scotland Institute/University of Glasgow). Her project focuses on the most common form of epithelial ovarian cancer. She is investigating the link between clinical outcomes and the activation of the MAPK pathway; often defect in cancers, this pathway can lead to uncontrolled growth.
Teena Thakur
Teena is a third-year PhD student in the labs of Ross Cagan (SCS, University of Glasgow) and Owen Sansom (CRUK Scotland Institute/University of Glasgow). Her project aims to understand the development of drug resistance in colorectal cancer and how it is linked to genetic mutations present within tumours. She is developing new approaches to integrate tumour studies from mice, flies and organ-on-a-chip models.