Mr Ben Abbotts MSc – BCPP Study Co-ordinator
Ben Abbotts received undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from the University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, respectively, before returning to Birmingham to work in Professor Paul Moss’s lab as part of the team investigating stem cell transplantation. As part of this work he was involved in a clinical trial aiming to elicit targeted T-cell responses in donors prior to transplantation, an experience that led him to join Mr Bryan’s team as the coordinator for the Bladder Cancer Prognosis Programme, the SELENIB clinical trial, and the POUT-T study. Ben is currently supporting both internal and external studies using the BCPP database of clinical information and samples collections, as well as maintaining the appropriate regulatory approvals for the studies.
Ms Naheema Gordon – Laboratory Technician (biomarkers and proteomics)
Naheema has provided 10 years of technical experience and expertise within the University, providing assistance to staff and students with multiple molecular biology techniques, from proteomics and mass spectrometry to genomics and deep sequencing. Her main work is sample library preparations for Illumina and Ion torrent next-generation sequencing, performing an integral role within the Centre.
Dr Anshita Goel PhD – Postdoctoral Research Assistant (genomics and bioinformatics)
After completing her PhD in the functional genomics of a non-model organism, Anshita has worked on interpreting genetic events in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and, more recently, has studied the bladder transcriptome for the presence of biomarkers in the form of novel transcripts such as gene fusions and circular RNAs. With her interest in deciphering the tumour genome by identifying recurrent genetic aberrations in next-generation sequencing datasets, Anshita uses clinical phenotype data to evaluate DNA- and RNA-based features that could stratify patients by risk of disease progression.
Dr Yao Jiang PhD - Postdoctoral Research Fellow (novel therapeutics)
Dr Yao Jiang graduated from Peking University in 2009 with a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences before moving to the Peking Union Medical College to undertake his PhD on targeting drug delivery construction for cancer therapy. He joined the University of Birmingham as a research fellow in 2016 and his research interests include: investigating redeployment drugs on different type of cancers, construction of drug delivery systems, and precision medicine. He is currently working on the development of novel therapeutics and screening platforms for bladder cancer.
Dr Naomi Green PhD - Postdoctoral Research Fellow (bio-medical engineering)
Dr Naomi Green is a Technical Officer for the AMTECAA (Advanced Manufacturing Technologies to Create, Activate & Automate) programme and supports SMEs in the design and manufacture of medical devices. Naomi graduated from the University of Birmingham with an MEng in Mechanical Engineering. Following time in industry Naomi return to Birmingham and completed a PhD in bio-medical engineering.
Ms Nada Humayun-Zakaria MRCS – Urology Trainee & PhD Student (biomarkers and bioinformatics)
Nada Humayun-Zakaria underwent urology-themed core surgical training in the East Midlands. Shortly after completion of a urology clinical fellow post, she joined the University of Birmingham in 2018 to pursue a PhD in exploring potential urinary biomarkers for early detection and surveillance of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Her work involves using bioinformatics and proteomics for biomarker discovery. Her clinical interests include pelvic malignancy (specifically bladder cancer), cystoscopic examination of the bladder, and stone disease. Following completion of her PhD, she will continue her career as a clinical academic in urology.