Cohort 2.5

Alexander Dillabaugh

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Bio-Computational Approaches to Understanding Transition to Psychosis

My PhD project investigates the mechanistic pathways linking trauma to psychosis, using computational and data-driven approaches to better understand the biological, cognitive, and environmental processes underlying the development of psychotic disorders. Before beginning my PhD, I completed an MPhil in Clinical Psychology at the University of Cambridge and earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior and Spanish from the University of California, Davis. Outside academia, I worked in community mental health and psychiatric rehabilitation, supporting individuals experiencing severe mental illness and homelessness. My long-term goal is to bridge computational psychiatry and clinical psychology to develop more precise and equitable approaches to the prediction, prevention, and treatment of psychosis.

Emily Christine Gillibrand

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From Survivor Blood to Curing Cancer

In my Cancer Biology and Immunology MSci at the University of Bristol, I became fascinated by the intricacies of cancer development and its interaction with the immune system. I completed two projects: one focused on the effect of adenosine on T cell anti-tumour function, and the other on NK cells in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

After graduating I worked in an NHS lab while applying for PhD positions. I was delighted to finally secure a place on the GW4-DTP after interviewing two years in a row. Now my PhD project focuses on T-cells of expectational cancer survivors who have achieved complete remission, where I aim to understand what makes these T-cells so special, with a particular focus on HLA-agnostic ‘unconventional’ T-cells.

I am excited to investigate how these T-cells recognise cancer through functional assays, flow cytometry and whole-genome CRISPR-Cas9 screens, while continuing to grow as a scientist in a supportive environment.

Matthew Nathanial Handoko

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Transforming Obesity Care in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: A Person-Centred, Multidisciplinary Approach

My academic journey began in Indonesia, where I trained as a dietitian and developed an interest in nutrition research, particularly functional foods, food science, and their applications in health and disease. I later pursued an MSc in Obesity and Clinical Nutrition at University College London (UCL), graduating with Distinction and receiving Dean’s List recognition. I am also a Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr) in the UK.

My research interests have since expanded to nutritional epidemiology, evidence synthesis, and precision nutrition, alongside a growing curiosity about the complexities of obesity management.

I am now pursuing a PhD at the University of Bristol, exploring how we can improve obesity care for people living with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), a rare neurological condition. I am particularly excited to work alongside patients and healthcare professionals to develop more personalised, holistic, and effective approaches to weight management.

Olivia Camilleri

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Tuning the Innervation Capacity of Regenerative Biomaterials

I graduated from Cardiff University with an Integrated Master’s in Biomedical Sciences (MBiomed), including a Professional Training Year. For my placement, I joined the Armstrong group at the University of Bristol, where I worked on a tissue engineering project developing an injectable, high-density collagen hydrogel for the repair of nonunion fractures. I then returned to Cardiff to complete my master’s research project on osteoarthritis, investigating whether NFAT transcription factors play a degradative or protective role under mechanoinflammatory conditions. I am now undertaking my PhD back in Bristol under the supervision of Dr James Armstrong, where I am developing biomaterials to better support innervation. My work will focus on the impact of stress relaxation rate, a biomechanical property increasingly recognised as important in regulating the growth, morphology, and differentiation of neural cells.

Tirtha Parab

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Understanding the Molecular Basis of Altered Learning in Schizophrenia

I hold a BA (Hons) in Psychology from Sophia College for Women, India. I then went on to pursue my MSc in Psychiatric and Behavioural Genetics at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, where I developed a strong interest in the neurobiological mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders. Supervised by Prof. Francesca Happé, my dissertation, explored ageing, associated comorbidities and quality of life in older autistic adults.

As a researcher, I have worked on multiple projects, investigating how epigenetic dysregulation in Kdm5b-deficient mice shapes early neurodevelopmental phenotypes, as well as the impact of oxytocin modulation in Nlgn3 KI and Nrxn1 KO lines, assessing social communication, repetitive behaviours and aggression.

At the University of Exeter Medical School, my PhD will investigate the molecular mechanisms of schizophrenia genetic risk, using murine models of rare variants. My research integrates behavioural neuroscience, psychiatric genetics, functional genomics and electrophysiology to understand how genetic risk shapes memory circuits.