The CRIS Cancer Postdoctoral Clinical Fellowships aim to support the next generation of clinician-scientists at the interface of cancer research and clinical practice.
Over the course of their three-year fellowships, Rebecca and Casmir will advance two distinct projects focused on childhood cancer. Both fellows will be hosted by leading research groups at the University of Oxford, receiving not only funding but also mentorship, training, and access to world-class facilities to accelerate their journey towards independent research careers.
Dr Rebecca Ling (Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford) will focus on improving outcomes for children with high-risk acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Her research will explore how the developmental stage influences the biology of infant and paediatric KMT2A-rearranged AML, and she will develop and test novel “off-the-shelf” CAR iNKT immunotherapies as potential new treatment options for these aggressive leukaemias.
Dr Casmir Turnquist (Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford) will lead a pioneering project to transform cancer diagnostics for children, teenagers, and young adults. By integrating long-read sequencing and advanced single-cell technologies into NHS pathology services, her work aims to deliver rapid, accurate molecular diagnoses for rare fusion-driven cancers, laying the groundwork for personalised therapies and improved outcomes.