Seek and Destroy

Bacteria that cause common infections to us are largely kept at bay by antibiotics. Unfortunately, we are in a situation where we have misused antibiotics and now many bacteria are resistant to them. This may result in us dying from what previously would have been a trivial infection. Luckily, help is at hand in the form of bacteriophages, naturally occurring viruses that infect and kill bacteria. I shall explain how bacteriophage technology - pioneered 100 years ago by Russian and Georgian scientists - but largely neglected by Western Scientists, could be key for our future survival.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a hot topic in cancer science. Similarly, early detection and monitoring of cancer using a simple blood test (termed the “liquid biopsy”) instead of invasive biopsies could revolutionise cancer diagnostics. If we can catch cancer early, and detect if it is coming back before any obvious symptoms appear, we can potentially halt it in its tracks. My research and the topic of my talk is focused on combining the two disciplines of AI and liquid biopsies in the hope of improving diagnostics, detecting relapse or progression earlier and improving cancer outcomes.