Gemma Owens

Overview

Gemma is a MCRC Clinical Research Training Fellow based between St Mary's Hospital, Manchester and the Manchester Cancer Research Centre. Gemma has a research interest in gynaecological cancers.

Biography

Gemma studied medicine at Queen's University Belfast. During her medical studies, she was awarded a Wolfson Award and undertook an intercalated BSc in pathology. She awarded her degree with first class Honours in 2007. In 2007/2008, Gemma was the sabbatical president of Medsin-UK, a national student-led global health charity. She graduated from her medical degree in 2010, ranked in the top quartile. Gemma completed her foundation training at the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust. During this time, she completed a 4-month research project investigating the potential role of blood based infrared spectroscopy in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer at the University of Lancaster. In 2012, Gemma secured a competitive NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) which enabled her to continue pursuing her research interests alongside run-through training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. During her ACF, Gemma successfully competed for a Wellbeing of Women Entry Level Scholarship, which funded her research into the role of urocortin in endometrial cancer.

Gemma is currently taking time out of her clinical training to complete a PhD within the Institute of Cancer Sciences at the University of Manchester. This is funded by a competitive Fellowship awarded by the Manchester Cancer Research Centre. Gemma's current research focuses on developing tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) as a therapeutic strategy in ovarian cancer. Ultimately, Gemma aspires to be an academic gynaecological oncologist.