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Anjum Aktar
BSc (Hons), MSc (Oxon)
DPhil Student
I completed my BSc (Hons) in Microbiology at the University of Surrey, where I developed an interest in the intricate workings of microbial interactions and immune responses. During my undergraduate studies, I interned under Dr. Fernando Martinez Estrada, focusing on optimising ELISA techniques. My research project, in the lab of Dr Chinyere Okoro, explored the molecular epidemiology of extended spectrum beta-lactamase genes in Enterobacteriaceae. I also gained valuable experience working in the Learning Support Team at a secondary school, where I supported students with special educational needs, ensuring the science curriculum was accessible to all.
I furthered my studies at the University of Oxford, earning an MSc in Integrated Immunology. My research project at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology was under the supervision of Associate Professor Jelena Bezbradica Mircovic and Dr. Eirini Pantazi and in collaboration with Dr. Anita Milicic at the Jenner Institute. I explored how the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway contributes to the efficacy of four adjuvants. My research demonstrated how a mechanistic understanding of the immune responses could be harnessed for vaccine design.
Following my Master's, I honed my scientific communication skills as a Science Writer at Frontline Genomics, where I wrote and edited articles and blog posts on emerging scientific topics in genomics. I then joined the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency as a Higher Scientist in the Polysaccharide and Conjugate Vaccines Group. I investigated mucosal immunity in Group B Streptococcus vaccination, evaluating immune responses to a novel panel of recombinant antigens and exploring how various parameters including different adjuvant systems, dosages, and immunisation routes effect the immune response.
My diverse experiences have fuelled my keen interest in deciphering the complexities of protective immunity, particularly the pathways leading to effective responses.
My DPhil project is in the lab of Professor Sarah Rowland Jones, supervised by Professor Jones and Dr. Ester Gea-Mallorquí. My project focuses on understanding how interactions between HIV and dendritic cells can lead to distinct pathways of antigen delivery and presentation, aiming to advance our knowledge of immune mechanisms in the context of viral infections.