My research is looking for genetic markers that may act as new drug targets for treating glioma, a type of brain cancer. I use established statistical methods on large datasets to try to determine if there are potential causal associations between an individual’s genetics and their risk of developing glioma. The idea is that we can then target these genetic markers using drugs to manipulate the risk of an individual developing glioma.

Research in glioma is quite a small, niche field of work. The majority of glioma research takes place in the lab, using cell lines and animal models, whereas I focus on using large-scale datasets. When I go to conferences, a lot of people aren’t aware of this type of research and I find it really exciting getting to explain the different methods I employ in my work. Glioma is one type of cancer where sometimes the best-case scenario can be to use standard care, typically surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This can be really unpleasant for the patient, so the thought of contributing to the field in order to try to help improve the clinical approach for patients is an amazing feeling.

Cancer is something that effects everyone in one way or another. My Nan was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2013 and, whilst she initially responded well to chemotherapy, unfortunately the cancer spread to her brain and she died in May 2014. I spent a lot of my childhood living with her and my Grandad. She always encouraged me to work hard at school and I think I owe it to her for my evolving interest in science. Whilst it was never intentional that I ended up studying brain tumours, I think it seems fitting that this is the field of work I have ended up in.