“Standing in front of leading experts and sharing my work was a little nerve-wracking but an incredible honour,” says Caitlin MacDonald, a University of Dundee PhD researcher based at the School of Medicine.
Caitlin recently delivered a keynote presentation at the invitation-only Molecular Determinants of Cancer Therapy Resistance conference in Barcelona — an event that brings together some of the brightest minds tackling treatment resistance in cancer.
Caitlin, supervised by Dr Gillian Smith and consultant Dr Michelle Ferguson, presented findings from her research on ovarian cancer treatment resistance. Her project, part of an MRC iCASE studentship funded in partnership with pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, focuses on understanding why some patients stop responding to PARP inhibitor drugs, an important therapy in ovarian cancer.
Caitlin’s work has helped uncover a specific transporter protein, ABCG2, that can prevent the drug from entering cancer cells, reducing its effectiveness.
PhD student, Caitlin said, “This research has been a huge focus of my PhD, and it was amazing to have the chance to showcase our findings.”
“The feedback and discussions at the conference gave me fresh ideas for moving the project forward.” she added.
Caitlin’s achievement was one of only two PhD students selected to deliver a talk at the conference. Most early-career researchers typically present posters, making this a standout opportunity to highlight her expertise on an international stage.
PhD Supervisor, Dr Gillian Smith, said, “Caitlin’s dedication and hard work have been critical to this project. Her selection to speak at such a prestigious event reflects the quality and impact of her research.”