Issy Schiavi
Following my undergraduate degree of a BSc in Biomedical Science from Aston University I worked in a
busy NHS hospital laboratory as a Biomedical Scientist for two years. At the beginning of October I began
working on my ICVI funded PhD with Dr Mark Bodman-Smith and Dr Laura Ridgley who are part of the ICVI
team at St George’s University of London (SGUL). This project will collaborate with Professor Tim Bull’s
team who are also based at SGUL.
My project also follows on from Joe Fenn’s work. I am aiming to take apart the BCG bacterium and isolate
the different components so that I can assess how a variety of bacteria and their components activate
gamma-delta T cells. These T cells are of a particular interest due to their tumour-killing abilities. We
believe this deeper knowledge will help inform and further the understanding of the current mechanisms
underlying gamma-delta T cell activation and their anti-cancer properties.
I would like to thank the ICVI and all of its supporters for donating towards my PhD project. I am delighted
to be part of the ICVI’s team, all of whom are working so hard to ensure that our understanding of how
immunotherapy causes the destruction of tumours.
