Isobel Gordon

I am a second year DPhil student with the Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, working under the supervision of Prof. Sally Collins and Prof. Sir Michael Brady. I am also an Imaging Scientist at Perspectum Ltd. and an Industrial Fellow of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851. My work aims to develop non-contrast multi-parametric MRI methodologies to improve the detection and diagnosis of breast cancer.

One in every eight British women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Mammography is typically employed in breast cancer screening but this is not effective for pre-menopausal women and misses half of all tumours in so-called 'dense' breasts. MRI may be used as an alternative imaging modality but this currently relies on the injection of a contrast agent and the conventional assessment of results is qualitative, relying on clinicians' experience. My project will develop quantitative, non-contrast MRI methodologies which will be applied to the breast parenchyma. This could enable earlier detection of breast cancer with higher specificity, remove operator variability and improve patient comfort.

I was awarded an Industrial Fellowship by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 to enable me to carry out this work. Further details on my project can be found on their website, linked below in the 'Website' section.

I hold a Master’s degree in Physics from the University of Oxford and through my degree completed research placements at Perspectum Ltd and the Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. I have since worked full-time at Perspectum, where my work has included setting up MR sequences at clinical sites across Europe and developing quantitative MRI methodologies for the diagnosis of liver disease. I now hope to combine my experience in MRI with my passion for empowering women to tackle the ever-growing challenge in breast cancer diagnosis.