Elysia Traynor

My research applies multiomic analysis techniques to investigate predictors of response to neo-adjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer, part of an international collaboration with the University of Copenhagen and the Wellcome Sanger Institute.

 Although rectal cancer accounts for approximately 38% of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases, it is responsible for nearly 60% of CRC related deaths, highlighting its disproportionate clinical impact. Radiotherapy, a standard component of neo-adjuvant treatment, induces significant changes in the local tumour microenvironment (TME), which plays a crucial role in tumour progression and treatment response.

 This translational project explores changes in the composition and dynamics of the TME in rectal cancer in response to neoadjuvant therapy, with a particular focus on tumour immunity. By characterising these changes at a molecular and cellular level, my work aims to identify novel therapeutic targets that could improve outcomes for patients with rectal cancer.

I gained my MSc by Research in Oncology at University of Oxford in 2018, then worked as a Research Assistant within the Department of Oncology for a further two years before relocating to Bristol.

 At the University of Bristol, I worked as a Specialist Technician investigating multiomic signatures in extracellular vesicles as predictors of response to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Following this, I completed my PhD, where I investigated the role of Prostaglandin E2-EP4 signalling in colorectal tumour metabolism.