About
I am a postdoctoral scientist and research coordinator with expertise in translational cancer biology, specialising in patient-derived organoid and explant models. My research focuses on brain tumours, where I lead efforts to evaluate therapeutic responses to targeted agents, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). I have a particular interest in the Eph family of receptor tyrosine kinases, investigating their role in tumour heterogeneity and treatment resistance.
Alongside preclinical model development, I have experience in ethics governance, tissue biobanking, and cross-institutional collaboration. My work bridges clinical relevance with experimental innovation, with the goal of informing next-generation treatment strategies in oncology.
Research Skills
I have extensive experience in translational cancer research, with a focus on developing and applying patient-derived 3D organoid and explant models to evaluate therapeutic response in brain tumours. I have led the establishment and optimization of ex vivo systems for drug testing, enabling large-scale, clinically relevant assessments of treatment efficacy and resistance.
My work includes the functional validation of therapeutic targets, with a particular focus on Eph receptor tyrosine kinases. I have investigated the spatial and phenotypic heterogeneity of Eph receptor expression in glioblastoma and assessed their therapeutic relevance using targeted agents, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). This includes preclinical testing of ADCs in organoid models to determine specificity, efficacy, and resistance mechanisms. I have managed multi-institutional collaborations, overseen human tissue ethics and biobanking protocols, and contributed to student supervision and lab training. My research is driven by clinical relevance, rigorous methodology, and innovation, aiming to translate biological insights into therapeutic strategies.
Area of Interest
- Neuro-oncology
- Personalised medicine
- Organoid models
- Antibody drug conjugates
Research Projects
Current Research Projects
Patient-Derived Brain Cancer Explants for Functional Precision Medicine and Preclinical Drug Efficacy Testing
Publications
D’Souza RCJ*, Skarne N*, Mulay O et al. Ephrin A5 is a Novel Functional Astrocytic Lineage Target in Glioblastoma. Nature Cancer 2024; (Submitted)
Martins P, D’Souza RCJ, Skarne N et al. EphA3 CAR-T cells are effective against glioblastoma in preclinical models. Journal of ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. 2024. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009403.