An electrical approach to sensing cancer

What is your PhD about?

We are developing a sensor that can be used to assess breast tumours in real time in patients. At the moment, if a tumour shows up on examination or a scan, the patient often undergoes a procedure where a biopsy or small part of the tumour is taken out and examined under the microscope.

This is invasive for the patient, there are risks of infection and takes a while to get the results. So we wanted to develop a smart probe that can sense changes in the tumour tissue directly, to tell you more about it.

What do you look at in the tumour tissue?

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We use bioimpedance sensors to differentiate diseased from healthy breast tissue, which is based on the changes in the electrical properties of each tissue type. The sensors are fabricated on the bevelled needle surface, which is more challenging than developing the sensor on a flat surface.

But it means the needle could be used to assess tumours directly in the patient. So far we have been able to test the sensor on “ex vivo” tissue, which is tissue that was removed from patients with their consent during biopsies.

I have been really happily surprised at how patients want to help with research – they want to bring the technology forward for other people who will develop cancer in the future.

How did you develop an interest in breast cancer research?

When I was growing up in Nigeria, many of my father's friends lost their wives to breast cancer. I was terrified that my mother was going to be next. So I was very aware of it. My father wanted me to study medicine, but I don't like blood, and I wanted to study engineering. In the end, I studied chemistry and I worked in the oil industry.

I moved to Ireland do to a masters in analytical chemistry at UCC and I heard Dr Eric Moore from the Sensing and Separation Group School of Chemistry & Life Science Interface Group in Tyndall give a talk about the sensor he was developing.

I did an internship with him for a year and then we got funding for my PhD through an Irish Research Council Enterprise Partnership and the Cork Academy of Regional Anaesthesia. Eric didn't look at my age or skin colour, it was about what could I bring to the table, and I love that this project combines engineering and medicine through chemistry.

What’s next for you and for the smart needle?

I am almost finished my PhD now – I got a four-month extension because of the pandemic – and we are looking for funding to spin out a company to bring the technology forward. I would like to be involved with that.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of doing a PhD for you?

Apart from wanting to help patients who have cancer, I just love finding learning new things and adding to knowledge. I enjoy going to conferences to learn from others, and it pushed me forward that sometimes when I would walk into a conference I would be the only woman of colour. That made me even more determined to be there.

You are busy writing up your PhD, what do you like to do to unwind?

I have three kids so it’s always busy, but when I get the chance I love to read novels, particularly stories that involve conspiracy and spies. That’s my escape!