My research into cholangiocarcinoma is generously funded by the Alan Morement Memorial Fund (AMMF) – UK's only cholangiocarcinoma charity. Founded in 2002, AMMF provides information and support to those in need, raises awareness and supports research into better diagnostic techniques and treatments of cholangiocarcinoma. Read more about AMMF at www.ammf.org.uk.

I am a DPhil student working under the supervision of Prof David Kerr and Dr Cai Shijie, investigating functional and molecular changes during cholangiocarcinoma development. I am currently in receipt of a 3-year scholarship curtesy of the AMMF, the UK's only cholangiocarcinoma charity, who raise awareness about cholangiocarcinoma and support specialised research into understanding the causes, finding ways to achieve earlier diagnosis, and effective treatments for this disease.

Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare cancer of the bile ducts, and we postulate that surrounding normal cholangiocyte cells can suppress tumour growth during the early onset of the disease, via a shift in metabolism and gene expression. 

During my undergraduate years at the University of Southampton, I undertook research into the inhibition of drug transport using potassium channel modulation in macrophages and microglial cells. Thereafter, I completed my MRes under the supervision of Dr Yihua Wang and Dr Rob Ewing, investigating oxidative stress and HIF1a signalling in Triple Negative Breast Cancer.