Chloe Patterson
Non-Clinical PhD Student
Meet Chloe Patterson. She’s doing a non-clinical PhD which is funded by Cancer Research UK, and the aim of her project is to investigate NK cell control of tumour growth dependent upon the inflammatory environment.
What is your background?
I’m Chloe Patterson and I received a first-class degree in Medical Sciences from the University of Leeds in 2019, during which I worked for one year as an industrial placement student within the immuno-oncology research group at Kymab Ltd. in Cambridge. I then moved to Manchester and began my PhD with CRUK.
What is the aim of your research?
My overall aim is to investigate the effects of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-mediated inflammation on the human NK cell anti-tumour immune response.
I aim to understand how tumour-derived Prostaglandin-E₂ effects the dynamics of NK cell-tumour cell interactions and how this impacts the overall anti-tumour immune response. This is important in allowing us to enhance the way in which we treat COX-2 positive tumours and in improving the efficacy of NK cell-directed anti-cancer therapies.
Who do you work / collaborate with?
I work in Dan Davis’s lab within the Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation and collaborate with Santiago Zelenay, my co-supervisor, who leads the cancer inflammation and immunity group in the Cancer Research Manchester Institute.
Who is your PhD funded by?
My PhD is funded by Cancer Research UK.
Where is your PhD based?
I am based within the Core Technology Facility on the University of Manchester main campus.
My team is made up of 15 people who all work in different areas of NK cell research and it provides a supportive, communicative network which I enjoy being a part of. My supervisor’s research group is well-established within the immunology research field and therefore I feel that there are always numerous opportunities that I made aware of and encouraged to be a part of.
Chloe Patterson
Non-Clinical PhD Student
Why did you apply to the MCRC PhD scheme?
The project that I applied for was well suited to my previous experiences and it excited me to continue with immuno-oncology research. I also felt that CRUK was a great charity that I would feel proud to work on behalf of.
What have been your proudest moments so far?
I am proud of how I have progressed as a researcher so far. I feel I have really enhanced my ability to both work independently within the lab and collaborate with my colleagues when necessary. It’s great to be able to sit down with my supervisors and present to them data from experiments that I have planned, performed and analysed independently.
What opportunities has the MCRC provided you with?
I was able to spend the day in London in October at a CRUK First Year PhD student’s Welcome event which allowed me to meet and network with other students both from Manchester and across the UK on the same PhD scheme as me. I was also able to find out lots of great information about CRUK itself and the opportunities which it provides.
What is it like working with your supervisor and team?
My team is made up of 15 people who all work in different areas of NK cell research and it provides a supportive, communicative network which I enjoy being a part of. My supervisor’s research group is well-established within the immunology research field and therefore I feel that there are always numerous opportunities that I made aware of and encouraged to be a part of.
What do you hope to achieve whilst at the MCRC?
I hope to finish my PhD project feeling like I have truly contributed something novel to the immuno-oncology field and therefore made a difference within the UK’s cancer research network.
I also would like to feel that I have learned a multitude of new skills and really progressed personally as a researcher.
