Isobel Gordon

I am a fourth 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 a recent alumna of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851. My work aims to develop non-contrast, quantitative MRI methodologies to improve the detection and diagnosis of breast cancer.

One in every seven british women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Mammography is widely employed in breast cancer imaging but is not effective for pre-menopausal women or post-menopausal women with 'dense' breasts. MRI may be used as an alternative imaging modality but is currently reliant on the injection of a contrast agent, and conventional image assessment is qualitative, relying on clinicians' experience. My project will develop quantitative, non-contrast MRI methodologies which will be applied to the breast. These methodologies could improve the characterisation of breast disease whilst reducing operator variability and improving 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 'Websites' section.

I hold a Master’s degree in Physics from the University of Oxford. Throughout my degree I 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 hope to combine my experience in MRI with my passion for empowering women to tackle the ever-growing challenge in breast cancer diagnosis.