Disha Mehta is undertaking the iPhD programme at the Centre for Cancer Immunology working alongside Professor Sean Lim and Dr Owen Rackham.
Recent advances in single-cell and machine learning technologies are allowing us to further understand how cancer spreads and survives. One of these mechanisms is T cell exhaustion. This is when they lose their ability to kill certain cells.
Funded by UKRI MRC, Disha’s research is focusing on understanding T cell exhaustion in the context of immunotherapy to find new ways of overcoming it.
The results of this study are positioned to have a significant impact on clinical decision-making within the medical field.
She explained: “The primary objective of the research is to identify novel markers that indicate T cell exhaustion. A noteworthy aspect of the study is the establishment of a correlation between different populations of exhausted T cells and how patients respond to treatment. This differentiation between treatment responders and non-responders, particularly in the context of B cell lymphoma malignancies, holds substantial promise. It could potentially pave the way for the creation of strategies designed to obstruct the pathways controlled by the identified genes that drive T cell exhaustion.
“If these pathways and gene drivers of T cell exhaustion can be effectively targeted and controlled, it may lead to new and innovative avenues for intervening in the immune response. This could result in the optimization of immunotherapeutic approaches, which have become increasingly significant in treating various diseases, including cancer.”
Being an international student, I was eager to embark on a research career and secure a fully funded opportunity to support my endeavours.
Disha started her iPhD in Biomedical Sciences with a project in cancer immunology at University of Southampton in 2022. She chose to come to Southampton due to its international reputation as a Russell Group university and the encouragement to pursue cutting-edge and high-quality research.
Speaking about the Centre of Cancer Immunology, she added: “The Centre caught my attention due to its impressive track record of impactful publications. This aligns perfectly with my aspirations and interests in delving into the field of cancer immunology research.
“The results of my study are positioned to have a significant impact on clinical decision-making within the medical field.
“I found this project particularly intriguing due to its incorporation of bioinformatics methodologies. By utilizing innovative tools, the project aims to uncover novel drivers of T cell exhaustion. This approach not only contributes to advancing our understanding of exhaustion mechanisms but also provides an opportunity to delve deeper into the intricacies of biology and gain transferrable skills and an opportunity to learn new techniques.”
My ultimate ambition is to secure a post-doctoral position, a significant step in my long-term career trajectory.