Over 30 students have graduated from the MRC DTP programme to date.
Our graduates have successfully gained employment in a wide range of careers. These include work in academic research, science communication, industry and business.
Alves Martins, Rosa (University of Southampton, MRC funded PhD)
Cohort: 2020
PhD project: Understanding the myeloid compartment within the tumour microenvironment
Current position: Research Fellow in Cancer Sciences at University of Southampton
Balderstone, Michaela (QMUL, MRC funded MRes+PhD)
Cohort: 2018
PhD project: Characterisation of a novel therapeutic peptide derived from Syndecan-2
Current position: Medical Writer at Wizzard
Bañas, Chiara (University of Southampton, MRC funded PhD)
Cohort: 2016
PhD project: Role of IL-33 on Human Mast Cell Responses to Rhinovirus Infection in Asthma
Current position: Proposals Writer II at ICON plc
Barasa, Sheila (QMUL, MRC funded MRes+PhD)
Cohort: 2017
PhD project: Characterisation of disease associated long Noncoding RNAs in High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
Current position: Investment Banking Analyst at J.P. Morgan
Beck, Matthew (QMUL, MRC funded MRes+PhD)
Cohort: 2019
PhD project: Enhancing oncolytic adenovirus efficacy for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer through combination with BET protein inhibitors (embargo until 2025-12-16)
Carr, Louise (University of Southampton, MRC funded PhD)
Cohort: 2019
PhD project: The clinical utility of (epi)genomic biomarkers in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Chouhan, Joe (University of Southampton, iCASE)
Cohort: 2016
PhD project: Targeting tumour necrosis factor alpha during chronic neurodegeneration using enhanced delivery of biologics across the blood-brain barrier
Current position: Senior Scientist at AstraZeneca
Clayton, Kalum (University of Southampton, iCASE)
Cohort: 2016
PhD project: Investigating the crosstalk between structural and immune components of human skin to understand pathogen sensing in cutaneous health and inflammation
Current position: Research Fellow at the University of Southampton working on computational approaches to understand atopic and inflammatory diseases.
Cutmore, Lauren (QMUL, MRC funded MRes+PhD)
Cohort: 2016
PhD project: Role of oncofetal glycosaminoglycans (OFGAG) for the immune privilege of pancreatic cancer
Current position: Visiting Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The National Institutes of Health
Davies, Caitlin (QMUL, MRC funded MRes+PhD)
Cohort: 2017
PhD project: Application of circulation tumour cell (CTC) analysis in docetaxel treatment response prediction/monitoring and investigation of resistance mechanisms
Current position: Higher Scientific Officer at The Institute of Cancer Research
Davies, James (University of Southampton, MRC funded PhD)
Cohort: 2016
PhD project: A system immunology approach to understanding human langerhans cell tolerogenic function
Current position: Business Development Manager at Zetta Genomics Ltd
Elder, George (QMUL, MRC funded PhD)
Cohort: 2018
PhD project: Evaluating Symbolic AI as a Tool to Understand Cell Signalling
Current position:
Farag, Sahar (University of Southampton, iCASE)
Cohort: 2018
Phd project: The functional effect of CD1c responsive T cells in human Tuberculosis (TB)
Current position:
Ferri, Sara (University of Southampton, MRC funded PhD)
Cohort: 2017
PhD project: Bubbles for bone: Acoustic stimulation for drug delivery in fracture repair
Current position: Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs Specialist at Empatica
Fisher, Jack (University of Southampton, MRC funded PhD)
Cohort: 2020
PhD project: Investigation into the immunomodulatory activity of XPO1 inhibitors
Current position: Research Scientist (Autoimmunity) at Immunocore
Gerdes, Henry (QMUL, iCASE)
Cohort: 2018
PhD project: Characterising patient responses to aurora kinase inhibitors in acute myeloid leukaemia
Current position: Director of Bioinformed Ltd.
Gonzalez Garcia, Alba Isabel (University of Southampton, MRC funded PhD)
Cohort: 2020
PhD project: Investigating the agonistic requirements of anti-human 4-1BB monoclonal antibodies for cancer immunotherapy
Current position: Scientist (Drug Discovery) at Nucleome Therapeutics
Guscott, Molly (QMUL, MRC funded MRes+PhD)
Cohort: 2019
PhD project: Understanding the impact of chromosome instability on genome evolution and chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer
Heckel, Franziska (University of Southampton, iCASE)
Cohort: 2018
PhD project: Characterisation of novel human CD27-specific monoclonal antibodies for cancer therapy
Current position: Scientist TCR Delivery and Validation at Immatics
Hindle, Sarah (QMUL, iCASE)
Cohort: 2019
PhD project: Understanding dynamic immune responses within a fluidic 3D skin equivalent model
Current position: Science Consultant at QinetiQ
Short (née Jawahar), Cinderella (University of Southampton, MRC funded iPhD)
Cohort: 2016
PhD project: Vaccine and immunomodulatory strategies to target the cancer mutanome
Current position: Scientist at Charles River Laboratories
Johnson, Sarah (QMUL, MRC funded MRes+PhD)
Cohort: 2016
PhD project: ZFP64: a novel protein in centromere regulation, and chromosomal instability in cancer
Current position: Postdoctoral Researcher at Barts Cancer Institute
Kuerten, Timo (University of Southampton, iCASE)
Cohort: 2019
PhD project: Identifying cell surface targets for antibody treatment of cancer
Current position: Medical Student at Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS)
Lawson, Matthew (University of Southampton, iCASE)
Cohort: 2016
PhD project: Characterisation of 3D tissue microstructures and cell distributions in human lung tissue using correlative micro-CT and immunofluorescence
Current position: Senior Technical Specialist (NXCT) at The University of Manchester
Look, Alex (University of Southampton, MRC funded iPhD)
Cohort: 2020
PhD project: Precision targeting of human iNKT cells for cancer immunotherapy (embargo until March 2028)
Current position: Senior Research Assistant, Cancer Sciences at The University of Southampton
Maguire, Shaun (University of Southampton, MRC funded iPhD)
Cohort: 2018
PhD project: Investigating the therapeutic potential of monoclonal antibodies targeting human GITR
Current position: Research Associate at Milner Therapeutics Institute
Milton, Matthew (University of Southampton, MRC funded iPhD)
Cohort: 2020
PhD project: Dissecting the role of CD1c-autoreactive T cells in mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (embargo until July 2026)
Minton, Annabel (University of Southampton, MRC funded PhD)
Cohort: 2017
PhD project: B-cell receptor induced autophagy and phagocytosis in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Current position: Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute
Muntslag, Tim (University of Southampton, MRC funded PhD)
Cohort: 2017
PhD project: Characterization of microglial heterogeneity in the CNS by singlecell RNA sequencing
Current position: Strategic Account Partner at Revvity
Murtough, Stephen (QMUL, MRC funded MRes+PhD)
Cohort: 2017
PhD project: An Exploration of the Transcriptome in Tylosis with Oesophageal Cancer (Embargo until 26 Oct 2025)
Current position: Research Fellow at UCL
Nilsson-Takeuchi, Anna (University of Southampton, iCASE)
Cohort: 2019
PhD project: Characterising the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia methylome; a focus on an epigenetically-determined mitotic clock (embargo until 20 June 2028)
Nimmo, Jacqui (University of Southampton, MRC funded PhD)
Cohort: 2017
PhD project: Immunotherapy in synucleinopathies
Current position: Researcher at UK Dementia Research Institute, Cardiff
O’Sullivan, Emily (QMUL, MRC funded MRes+PhD)
Cohort: 2019
PhD project: Investigating the Effect of Ribosomal-stress Induced Senescence on Basal-like Breast Cancer
Papagregoriou, Charys (University of Southampton, MRC funded PhD)
Cohort: 2017
PhD project: Investigating the function and therapeutic potential of a novel human myeloid checkpoint receptor, LILRB3 (ILT5)
Current position: Marie Curie Postdoctoral Researcher at The Center for the Study of Hematological and other Malignancies (CSHM)
Patel, Minal (QMUL, MRC funded MRes+PhD)
Cohort: 2016
PhD project: The identification and interpretation of pathogenic non-coding mutations in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Current position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow at National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Popat, Dillon (QMUL, iCASE)
Cohort: 2020
PhD project: Molecular Characterisation of the MC2R/MRAP Complex For the Development of Antagonists to Treat Conditions of ACTH Excess
Current position: Senior Scientist I at OMass Therapeutics
Reid, Laura (University of Southampton, MRC funded iPhD)
Cohort: 2018
PhD project: The role of extracellular vesicle miRNA released in response to influenza A virus.
Current position: Portfolio Administrator at Atkins Bland Limited
Roozitalab, Reza (QMUL, MRC funded MRes+PhD)
Cohort: 2018
PhD project: The effect of DCIS-associated myoepithelial cells on macrophage phenotype – drivers of DCIS progression
Current position: Biobank Data Officer at Breast Cancer Now
Roth, Nicolas (QMUL, MRC funded MRes+PhD)
Cohort: 2018
PhD project: The consequences of cannabinoid receptor 2 expression in HER2+ breast cancer
Current position: Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow at The National Institutes of Health
Sarmin, Atiya (QMUL, MRC funded MRes+PhD)
Cohort: 2017
PhD project: Development of extracellular matrix-based bioinks for advanced 3d bioprinted models of wound healing
Current position:
Smith, Charlotte (QMUL, iCASE)
Cohort: 2016
PhD project: Identification of DNA mismatch repair molecular signatures that predict response to immune checkpoint blockade.
Current position: Research Scientist at Alethiomics
Stafford, Amanda (QMUL, MRC funded MRes+PhD)
Cohort: 2019
PhD project: The interrelationship between chromosomal instability, chromatin architecture, and the microbiome in colorectal cancer
Current Position: Senior Data Scientist at BioCorteX
Swinyard, Ottilie (QMUL, MRC funded MRes+PhD)
Cohort: 2018
PhD project: Study of genetic and immunological events in Lynch syndrome progression to colorectal cancer
Taylor, Joe (University of Southampton, MRC funded iPhD)
Cohort: 2017
PhD project: Investigating the regulation, function, and clinical significance of PDCD4 in B-cell neoplasms
Current Position: Postdoctoral Training Fellow at The Institute of Cancer Research
Then, Justina (QMUL, MRC funded PhD)
Cohort: 2017
PhD project: Evaluating novel therapeutic approaches for treating rheumatoid arthritis.
Current Position: Senior Scientist – Toxicology at CN Bio
Tomas-Bort, Elena (QMUL, iCASE)
Cohort: 2019
PhD project: Targeting Purinergic Signalling in Pancreatic Cancer
Current position: Centre Lead at CTP Millars, Spain
Trimby-Smith, Patrick (University of Southampton, iCASE)
Cohort: 2019
PhD project: Exploring the molecular mechanisms that underpin M. tuberculosis and dendritic cell interactions
Current position: Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Oxford (CAMS Oxford Institute)
Virdzekova, Gabriela (University of Southampton, MRC funded PhD)
Cohort: 2019
PhD project: Analysis of the function of Akt in CD8+ T cells using single-cell RNA sequencing (Embargo until 31/08/25)
Current position: Post-doctoral Research Fellow at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Willis, Anna (University of Southampton, MRC funded PhD)
Cohort: 2020
PhD project: Investigating a role for activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein in the mast cell response to hydrogen peroxide and rhinovirus infection (embargo until 1 June 2026)
Current position: Postdoctoral Research Assistant – (Cell & Molecular Immunology) at QMUL