Jamie D’Costa

I use a “multi-omic” data driven approach to decipher the role of the immune system of patients with liver disease who subsequently develop liver cancer compared to those that don’t. Initially I will perform high dimensional analysis of spectral flow cytometry using bioinformatic analysis. Based on this we plan to use a variety of bulk, single cell and spatial technologies to further study the role of the immune system in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Following this initial approach, I will investigate any hypothesis with wet laboratory techniques. Principal techniques will be T-Cell activation assays, flow cytometry and ELISpot assays.  Subsequently I intend to collaborate with colleagues who conduct murine research to either create better models to understand Liver Cancer or test novel immunotherapeutics.

How could your research ultimately benefit patients?

By understanding the differences in the immune system of patients with liver disease who go on to develop liver cancer and those  with liver disease who don’t develop cancer; we may be able to detect liver cancer earlier. We may also be able to develop therapeutics to reduce the risk of developing cancer in patients at high risk of liver cancer.

About Jamie 

I am a DPhil student in the Galvez-Cancino Lab studying T-cell reactivities in Hepatocellular Carcinoma(HCC). In addition, I hold an Honorary Specialist Registrar position in the Oxford University Hospitals NHS trust. 

I initially completed a Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (BMEDSc) gaining a First-Class honours at the University of Birmingham in 2016. I subsequently graduated from my Medical Degree with a Distinction in Research and multiple prizes in 2018. During my undergraduate studies I presented at several national and international conferences. 

I completed initial foundation training in the West Midlands Deanery. Subsequently I was awarded a NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship at the University of Oxford and a National training Number in Medical Oncology in the Thames Valley region. 

Clinically I have worked as a Sub-Investigator on several early and late phase clinical trials, which has led to multiple publications in high Impact journals in the Lancet, Lancet Oncology and JAMA Network open. During my academic year, I secured additional funding to research novel immunotherapeutic in metastatic pleural effusions under the tutelage of the Seymour Laboratory at the University of Oxford. 

I gained Membership of the Royal College of Physicians [MRCP(UK)] and a Post graduate Diploma of Healthcare Research at the University of Oxford in 2022. I subsequently started higher specialist training in Medical Oncology in 2023, and in 2025 I was awarded a CRUK doctoral training fellowship for my DPhil.