As a 2024 Schmidt Science Fellow, Ashwin will investigate a common and aggressive brain cancer-glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), research that could lead to the development of novel targeted therapies.
During his PhD at Oxford, he specialized in immunology, focusing on characterizing particles released into the immunological synapse – a nano-scale gap between T-cells and antigen-presenting cells. Leveraging this expertise, he engineered cytotoxic T-cells to release synthetic extracellular particles that specifically target and kill cancer cells.
Ashwin aims to leverage these skills alongside cutting-edge neuroscience techniques in investigating treatment strategies for GBM particularly, by harnessing neurotransmitter activity in the tumour microenvironment.