This thesis examines cytokine release storm, where the immune system becomes dangerously overactive. Using rat models, mathematical modelling, science and coding, she maps how corticosteroids move through organs and control inflammation. The goal is to optimise treatment for CRS during cancer therapy, COVID or future pandemics.

This research investigates salivary gland damage caused by radiation therapy, disease and ageing. Focusing on cellular regulation, she identifies XBP1 as a key “manager” maintaining gland structure, cell survival and saliva production. Understanding this mechanism could guide future therapies for patients living with painful, incurable salivary gland dysfunction.

This research develops “nanozymes,” nanoparticle-based catalysts that activate cancer drugs directly at tumor sites. Instead of carrying large amounts of chemotherapy drugs, nanozymes locally trigger inactive drugs into their active form only within cancer tissue. Early mouse studies show effective tumor destruction with significantly reduced side effects compared to conventional chemotherapy.

This research investigates taste alterations experienced by cancer patients during chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Using electrogustometry and flavour profile analysis, the study measures and categorizes changes in taste perception to guide the development of tailored food products that improve nutrition, comfort, and quality of life for people undergoing cancer treatment.

This research investigates how melanoma switches between two gene states—one fast-growing and treatable, the other slow but highly invasive and responsible for brain metastases. By identifying genes that control this transition, the study aims to force melanoma into a more treatable form, improving therapeutic options and patient outcomes.

This research engineers immune T cells to better fight ovarian cancer. By modifying them to recognize tumor-specific proteins and resist cancer’s suppressive signals, the project strengthens the body’s natural defenses. The goal is to improve immunotherapy effectiveness, overcome tumor resistance, and increase survival rates for women facing this deadly disease.

Cancer often becomes resistant to treatment due to the protein CDK8, which helps reprogram cancer cells. Traditional inhibitors fail because CDK8 still acts as a structural scaffold. This research develops targeted degraders that use the cell’s recycling system to eliminate CDK8 entirely, preventing resistance and improving future cancer therapies.

Body motion during radiotherapy can misalign radiation delivery, risking tumor underdosing and healthy tissue damage. This research introduces real-time dose calculation software that tracks motion during treatment, enabling immediate corrections. Clinical testing shows one in five treatments benefit from adjustment, significantly improving radiotherapy safety and effectiveness.

This research investigates how cells repair dangerous DNA double-strand breaks through the non-homologous end joining pathway. By identifying key proteins involved in this error-prone repair process, the work reveals new opportunities to sensitise cancer cells to radiation and chemotherapy, potentially improving treatment outcomes for aggressive cancers.

Brain surgeons struggle to distinguish tumor from healthy tissue in real time, risking life-altering surgical mistakes. This research uses polarimetric imaging and machine-learning algorithms to reveal tumor borders instantly by analysing subtle differences in tissue structure. Faster, clearer, real-time imaging could revolutionise brain surgery and dramatically improve patient outcomes.