Dissertation defence (Molecular Biotechnology and Diagnostics): MSc Shruti Jain
Time
5.12.2024 at 12.00 - 16.00
MSc Shruti Jain defends the dissertation in Molecular Biotechnology and Diagnostics titled “Novel Circulatory Biomarkers for Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis - Nanoparticle based glycovariant assays” at the University of Turku on 5 December 2024 at 12.00 (University of Turku, Natura, Lecture Hall IX, Turku).
Opponent: Professor Steven J Skates (Harvard University, USA)
Custos: Professor Janne Leivo (University of Turku)
Doctoral Dissertation at UTUPub: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-29-9954-5
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Summary of the Doctoral Dissertation:
Shruti Jain, a doctoral researcher at the Biotechnology unit at University of Turku, is set to defend her PhD on December 5, 2024. Her work focuses on developing nanoparticle-based glycovariant assays to improve diagnosis and early detection of ovarian cancer.
Why Early Detection Matters
Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal gynecological cancers, often diagnosed too late for effective treatment. Current methods, like the CA125 blood test, have low sensitivity and specificity, leading to frequently missed cases. Shruti’s research addresses this critical gap by identifying more reliable biomarkers for early detection.
The Role of Glycans in Cancer
Shrutis work explores glycan biology, sugar molecules attached to proteins undergo changes in cancer, known as aberrant protein glycosylation. These changes offer opportunities to identify more accurate biomarkers.
Major Findings
1. Novel Biomarkers: Shruti discovered glycovariant biomarkers like MUC16STn and MUC1STn, which outperform traditional markers like CA125 and HE4. In a study of 1600 women, the new biomarkers in combination showed a significant 15% increase in detection for early stage cancers.
2. Nanotechnology-Enhanced Sensitivity: Incorporating europium-labeled nanoparticles, her assays achieved higher sensitivity and required minimal sample preparation, making them effective for detecting cancer signatures in blood and biofluids.
3. Broad Validation: The assays were validated across clinical cohorts in Finland and Sweden, demonstrating robustness for diverse healthcare settings.
Impact Beyond Diagnostics
Shruti’s work could enable more accessible and cost-effective screening, especially for under-served populations. Early detection reduces the emotional and financial burden on patients, with her biomarkers paving the way for simple blood tests to identify ovarian cancer earlier.
Future Potential
Beyond ovarian cancer, the nanoparticle-based methods hold promise for diagnosing other cancers, showcasing their versatility.
Opponent: Professor Steven J Skates (Harvard University, USA)
Custos: Professor Janne Leivo (University of Turku)
Doctoral Dissertation at UTUPub: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-29-9954-5
***
Summary of the Doctoral Dissertation:
Shruti Jain, a doctoral researcher at the Biotechnology unit at University of Turku, is set to defend her PhD on December 5, 2024. Her work focuses on developing nanoparticle-based glycovariant assays to improve diagnosis and early detection of ovarian cancer.
Why Early Detection Matters
Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal gynecological cancers, often diagnosed too late for effective treatment. Current methods, like the CA125 blood test, have low sensitivity and specificity, leading to frequently missed cases. Shruti’s research addresses this critical gap by identifying more reliable biomarkers for early detection.
The Role of Glycans in Cancer
Shrutis work explores glycan biology, sugar molecules attached to proteins undergo changes in cancer, known as aberrant protein glycosylation. These changes offer opportunities to identify more accurate biomarkers.
Major Findings
1. Novel Biomarkers: Shruti discovered glycovariant biomarkers like MUC16STn and MUC1STn, which outperform traditional markers like CA125 and HE4. In a study of 1600 women, the new biomarkers in combination showed a significant 15% increase in detection for early stage cancers.
2. Nanotechnology-Enhanced Sensitivity: Incorporating europium-labeled nanoparticles, her assays achieved higher sensitivity and required minimal sample preparation, making them effective for detecting cancer signatures in blood and biofluids.
3. Broad Validation: The assays were validated across clinical cohorts in Finland and Sweden, demonstrating robustness for diverse healthcare settings.
Impact Beyond Diagnostics
Shruti’s work could enable more accessible and cost-effective screening, especially for under-served populations. Early detection reduces the emotional and financial burden on patients, with her biomarkers paving the way for simple blood tests to identify ovarian cancer earlier.
Future Potential
Beyond ovarian cancer, the nanoparticle-based methods hold promise for diagnosing other cancers, showcasing their versatility.
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