Melissa Barlow
PhD Student and Graduate Research Assistant
M.Barlow@exeter.ac.uk
Smeall building
Smeall Building, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK
Overview
Melissa is a PhD student and Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Exeter Medical School. For her PhD, she is evaluating the diagnostic value of pre-diagnostic thrombocytosis in lung cancer patients and exploring the underlying molecular mechanisms of this relationship. She is supervised by Professor Sarah Bailey, Professor Willie Hamilton, Professor Chris Scotton and Dr Giordano Pula.
She also works as a Graduate Research Assistant for the EPIC (Ethnic differences in Platelet count and other blood tests In the diagnosis of Cancer) study, led by Professor Sarah Bailey and Dr Tani Martins.
Qualifications
- BSc (Hons) Medical Science (Pharmacology & Therapeutics) – University of Exeter
Research group links
Research
Research interests
- The use of blood tests to help detect cancer in primary care
- The impact of ethnicity on cancer diagnosis in primary care
- The molecular mechanisms underlying the platelet-cancer relationship
Research Skills
- Management, preparation and analyses of large datasets using Stata
- Regression modelling
- Systematic reviews and meta-analysis
- In-vitro cell culture
Research projects
Current Projects:
- Exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying pre-diagnostic thrombocytosis in lung cancer patients and evaluating its diagnostic value
- Investigating ethnic differences in blood test results for suspected cancer in primary care
Grants/Funding:
- Investigating ethnic differences in blood test results for suspected cancer in primary care. Co-Applicant. Cancer Research UK Early Detection and Diagnosis Project Grant. £136,365. 2021 - 2024
- Exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying pre-diagnostic thrombocytosis in lung cancer patients and evaluating its diagnostic value. PhD student. GW4 BioMed MRC Doctoral Training Partnership. £75,000. 2019 - 2028
Publications
Journal articles
External Engagement and Impact
Awards
Postgraduate awards:
- Best poster presentation at the College of Medicine and Health Postgraduate Conference, Penryn, 2022
Undergraduate awards:
- Deans’ Commendation (first year)
- Special Commendation for Scientific Research & Communication (second year)
- Deans’ Commendation (final year)