Overview
I am a Doctoral Researcher at Cardiff University’s School of Medicine (Division of Cancer and Genetics), investigating the enzymatic regulation of disialoganglioside (GD2) biosynthesis in human breast cancer. My research focuses on the clinical and prognostic significance of GD2-associated sialyltransferases and glycosyltransferases, defining how their dysregulation drives aggressive tumour phenotypes and cancer stemness.
International Recognition: Recipient of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) Basic Science Scholar Award, awarded by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) for high-impact contributions to breast cancer biology and translational oncology.
Funding & Grants: Awarded a competitive fully funded PhD studentship from Breast Cancer Hope, alongside ME Williams and WM Thomas Bursaries recognising excellence in medical research and scientific advancement.
Research Output: First-author publications in cancer biology, with additional peer-reviewed co-authorship and conference proceedings.
Global Mobility & International Collaboration: Awarded the Welsh Government Taith Mobility Fund (2025) for high-level research exchange and invited lectures at Jilin and Shandong Universities, China.
Academic Leadership: Accredited Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA) and elected Postgraduate Research Representative for Cardiff School of Medicine and Division of Cancer and Genetics.
Publication
2026
- O’Neill, N. et al. 2026. SRS359 - A novel association between disialoganglioside (GD2), GD2 synthesising enzymes and the Angiomotin family in breast cancer [Abstract]. British Journal of Surgery 113 (S2) znag018.318. (10.1093/bjs/znag018.318)
2025
- O’Neill, N. S. et al. 2025. Correlation of GD2 biosynthesis enzymes with cancer stem cell markers in human breast cancer. Cancer Genomics & Proteomics 22 (2), pp.231-246. (10.21873/cgp.20498)
2023
Articles
- O’Neill, N. et al. 2026. SRS359 - A novel association between disialoganglioside (GD2), GD2 synthesising enzymes and the Angiomotin family in breast cancer [Abstract]. British Journal of Surgery 113 (S2) znag018.318. (10.1093/bjs/znag018.318)
- O’Neill, N. S. et al. 2025. Correlation of GD2 biosynthesis enzymes with cancer stem cell markers in human breast cancer. Cancer Genomics & Proteomics 22 (2), pp.231-246. (10.21873/cgp.20498)
- Rastogi, N. et al. 2023. Nuclear factor I-C overexpression promotes monocytic development and cell survival in acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia 37 , pp.276-287. (10.1038/s41375-022-01801-z)
Research
Thesis
Funding sources
Breast Cancer Hope PhD studentship (2024-2027)
Teaching
Accredited Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA) (2023)
Biography
2024 BSc Biomedical Science (With Professional Training Year), Cardiff University
2023 AFHEA - Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Honours and awards
2025 - Awarded Welsh Government Taith Mobility Fund for high-level research exchange and invited lectures at Jilin and Shandong Universities, China
2024 - San Antonio Breast Cancer Research Symposium (SABCS) Basic Science Scholar Award, sponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
2024 - ME Williams Bursary, Cardiff University School of Medicine
2024 - WM Thomas Bursary, Cardiff University School of Medicine
2024 - Breast Cancer Hope PhD Studentship
Academic positions
Postgraduate Research (PGR) Representitive for School of Medicine and Division of Cancer and Genetics (2025/6)
Speaking engagements
2025 – Sino-British Young Scholars Academic Salon, SDUTCM, Jinan Shandong, China
2025 - Third Bethune Hospital of Jilin University (China-Japan Union Hospital), Changchun Jilin, China
2025 – Fujian University Summer School, School of Medicine, Cardiff University
2025 – Division of Cancer and Genetics PGR Symposium, Cardiff University
2025 – Jilin University Winter School, School of Medicine, Cardiff University
2026 – Surgical Research Society, Royal College of Surgeons, London
2026 – CSC (Jilin and Fujian University), School of Medicine, Cardiff University
Supervisors
Contact Details
Henry Wellcome Building for Biomedical Research, Room GF21, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN
Research themes
Specialisms
- Cancer cell biology
- Novel cancer treatments
- Cancer genetics
- Metastatic disease