I'm a Smart Medical Imaging CDT student currently pursuing a master's in healthcare technologies to gain a deep understanding of imaging chemistry and the translation of innovative technologies into the clinic. With a master's in medicinal chemistry, this course bridges the gap between my previous experience and my PhD research. During my PhD I want to establish a novel smart imaging probe for prostate cancer detection. It will combine PSMA-PET tracers with bioharmonophores, promising improved sensitivity and specificity, crucial for more accurate prostate cancer diagnosis, staging, and treatment follow-up.

Oesophageal cancer is the sixth most common cause of cancer death worldwide. I will develop a new approach to treat oesophageal cancer using bioharmonophores, polymer-encapsulated, self-assembling peptides that are biodegradable. They have the potential to radically improve photodynamic therapy in terms of depth of treatment field and effectiveness. As an aspiring general surgeon, I hope to improve the quality of life of cancer patients in the future using this novel approach.

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Without mechanical force, human development cannot take place. Discovering how cellular mechanics come to play during cardiac development gives me hope that one day we can heal a broken heart! Expanding from my biology roots, I am exploring the application of bioengineering tools to help answer fundamental physiological questions. Prior to joining Pantazis lab, I completed my MSc in Translational Neuroscience at Imperial College London, researching the pathology of dementia.

Metastatic breast cancer is currently incurable due to the near inevitability that some cancer cells will become resistant during the course of treatment. As an aspiring oncologist, I am interested in how competitive interactions between cancerous and healthy cells shape tumour growth and resistance. Using advanced cell labelling and tracking techniques as well as cutting-edge microscopy, I aim to catch malignant cells in the act of killing their peaceful neighbours. Hopefully, insights into this process will expose cancer’s set of tricks and reveal potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited to drive complete responses to treatment in more women.