Aglaia Skolariki
My DPhil research now focuses on leveraging cutting-edge technologies to unravel the complexities of the tumour immune microenvironment and tumour-host interactions in oesophageal cancer, a disease traditionally associated with poor patient outcomes. Under the supervision of Dr Isabela Pedroza-Pacheco and Associate Professor Eileen Parkes, I will use high-dimensional spectral flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing for immune cell phenotyping, with a focus on circulating myeloid cells, to investigate the relationship to chromosomal instability in matched samples of oesophageal cancer patients who underwent neoadjuvant treatment. By exploring these dynamics, I aim to uncover novel insights into immune cell populations and their role in treatment response, as well as identify promising biomarkers to optimise patient stratification to targeted therapies.
About Aglaia
I am a medical oncologist by training, passionate about translating scientific advancements into clinical practice, and committed to promoting open science and innovative research that is impactful, equitable, and inclusive. After earning my MD in Greece, I completed MSc studies in Medical Research Methodology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, followed by postgraduate studies in Precision Cancer Medicine at the University of Oxford. My dissertation focused on investigating immune responses and molecular drivers of cancer progression in a mouse model of lung tumourigenesis, utilising advanced bioinformatics for in silico neoantigen prediction to inform future lung cancer vaccine development.
In 2021, I began my fellowship at the Early Phase Clinical Trials Unit of the Department of Oncology, University of Oxford. I gained expertise in trial design and setup, protocol development and novel therapeutics, and fostered collaborations with industry partners while maintaining a strong commitment to patient care. This experience deepened my understanding of the unmet needs in oncology and the critical role of precision oncology and translational research in developing innovative therapeutic and prevention strategies.