Overview
I'm a Reader in Medical Education in the Centre for Medical Education. My research career has focused on cancers caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV). HPV causes cervical cancer in women, and oropharyngeal cancers primarily in men. My research covers epidemiology, molecular biology and clinical trials related to HPV-driven cancers. This research made a major contribution to the recent decision to change UK vaccination policy to immunise boys against HPV.
SSC Director
I am the Director of the Student Selected Components (SSC) programme that comprises around 15% of the Medical Degree. I also deliver lectures, tutorials, and case-based-learning. I have a strong interest in reducing the carbon footprint of Healthcare and in Sustainable Healthcare.
I really enjoy interacting with our bright and motivated students, and helping them learn about subjects that are both important and fascinating.
Publication
2023
- Hassoulas, A., Powell, N., Roberts, L. and Umla-Runge, K. 2023. Investigating marker accuracy in differentiating between student scripts and those produced using ChatGPT. Presented at: AI in Education, Cardiff University, 29 June 2023. Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching, (10.37074/jalt.2023.6.2.13)
- Hassoulas, A., Powell, N., Roberts, L., Umla-Runge, K., Gray, L. and Coffey, M. 2023. Investigating marker accuracy in differentiating between university scripts written by students and those produced using ChatGPT. Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching 6(2) (10.37074/jalt.2023.6.2.13)
2022
- Hurt, C. N., Nedjai, B., Alvarez-Mendoza, C., Powell, N., Tristram, A. and Jones, S. 2022. Combined HPV 16 E2 and L1 methylation predict response to treatment with cidofovir and imiquimod in patients with vulval intraepithelial neoplasia. Cancer Biomarkers 35, pp. 143-153. (10.3233/CBM-210448)
2020
- Holzhauser, S. et al. 2020. Sensitivity of human papillomavirus-positive and -negative oropharyngeal cancer cell lines to ionizing irradiation. Oncology Reports (10.3892/or.2020.7709)
2018
- Pirotte, E. F. et al. 2018. Sensitivity to inhibition of DNA repair by Olaparib in novel oropharyngeal cancer cell lines infected with Human Papillomavirus. PLoS ONE 13(12), pp. -., article number: e0207934. (10.1371/journal.pone.0207934)
- Hurt, C. N. et al. 2018. Recurrence of vulval intraepithelial neoplasia following treatment with cidofovir or imiquimod: results from a multi-centre, randomised, phase II trial (RT3VIN). BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 125(9), pp. 1171-1177. (10.1111/1471-0528.15124)
2017
- Jones, S. E. F., Hibbitts, S., Hurt, C. N., Bryant, D., Fiander, A. N., Powell, N. and Tristram, A. J. 2017. Human Papillomavirus DNA methylation predicts response to treatment using cidofovir and imiquimod in Vulval Intraepithelial Neoplasia 3. Clinical Cancer Research 23(18), pp. 5460-5468. (10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-17-0040)
2016
- Schache, A. G. et al. 2016. HPV-related oropharynx cancer in the United Kingdom: An evolution in the understanding of disease etiology. Cancer Research 76(22), pp. 6598-6606. (10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-16-0633)
- Mehanna, H. et al. 2016. PET-CT Surveillance versus Neck Dissection in Advanced Head and Neck Cancer. New England Journal of Medicine 374(15), pp. 1444-1454. (10.1056/NEJMoa1514493)
- Sacco, J. J., Evans, M., Harrington, K. J., Man, S., Powell, N., Shaw, R. J. and Jones, T. M. 2016. Systemic listeriosis following vaccination with the attenuatedListeria monocytogenestherapeutic vaccine, ADXS11-001. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics 12(4), pp. 1085-1086. (10.1080/21645515.2015.1121338)
- Hibbitts, S., Powell, N., Newton, Z., Patel, S. and Hart, K. 2016. Student selected project opportunities with C21 MB BCh. Presented at: C4ME Educator Development Day, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK, 2016.
2015
- Holl, K. et al. 2015. Human papillomavirus prevalence and type-distribution in cervical glandular neoplasias: results from a European multinational epidemiological study. International Journal of Cancer 137(12), pp. 2858-2868. (10.1002/ijc.29651)
- Owadally, W. et al. 2015. PATHOS: a phase II/III trial of risk-stratified, reduced intensity adjuvant treatment in patients undergoing transoral surgery for Human papillomavirus (HPV) positive oropharyngeal cancer. BMC Cancer 15, article number: 602. (10.1186/s12885-015-1598-x)
- Bryant, D., Hibbitts, S. J., Almonte, M., Tristram, A. J., Fiander, A. N. and Powell, N. G. 2015. Human papillomavirus type 16 L1/L2 DNA methylation shows weak association with cervical disease grade in young women. Journal of Clinical Virology 66, pp. 66-71. (10.1016/j.jcv.2015.03.001)
- Powell, N. G. and Evans, M. 2015. Human papillomavirus-associated head and neck cancer: oncogenic mechanisms, epidemiology and clinical behaviour. Diagnostic Histopathology 21(2), pp. 49-64. (10.1016/j.mpdhp.2015.02.003)
2014
- Tristram, A. et al. 2014. Activity, safety, and feasibility of cidofovir and imiquimod for treatment of vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (RT³VIN): a multicentre, open-label, randomised, phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncology 15(12), pp. 1361-1368. (10.1016/S1470-2045(14)70456-5)
- Palmer, E. et al. 2014. Human papillomavirus infection is rare in nonmalignant tonsil tissue in the UK: implications for tonsil cancer precursor lesions. International Journal of Cancer 135(10), pp. 2437-2443. (10.1002/ijc.28886)
- Bryant, D. et al. 2014. Increased methylation of Human Papillomavirus type 16 DNA correlates with viral integration in Vulval Intraepithelial Neoplasia. Journal of Clinical Virology 61(3), pp. 393-399. (10.1016/j.jcv.2014.08.006)
- Evans, M. and Powell, N. 2014. Sexual health in oral oncology: breaking the news to patients with human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer. Head and Neck 36(11), pp. 1529-1533. (10.1002/hed.23792)
- Bryant, D. et al. 2014. mRNA sequencing of novel cell lines from human papillomavirus type-16 related vulval intraepithelial neoplasia: Consequences of expression of HPV16 E4 and E5. Journal of Medical Virology 86(9), pp. 1534-1541. (10.1002/jmv.23994)
- Pertusati, F., Hinsinger, K., Flynn, ?. S., Powell, N. G., Tristram, A. J., Balzarini, J. and McGuigan, C. 2014. PMPA and PMEA prodrugs for the treatment of HIV infections and human papillomavirus (HPV) associated neoplasia and cancer. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 78, pp. 259-268. (10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.03.051)
- Caley, A. et al. 2014. Multicentric human papillomavirus-associated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck 37(2), pp. 202-208. (10.1002/hed.23584)
- Bryant, D., Tristram, A., Liloglou, T., Hibbitts, S., Fiander, A. and Powell, N. 2014. Quantitative measurement of Human Papillomavirus type 16 L1/L2 DNA methylation correlates with cervical disease grade. Journal of Clinical Virology 59(1), pp. 24-29. (10.1016/j.jcv.2013.10.029)
2013
- Al-Taei, S., Banner, R., Powell, N. G., Evans, M., Palaniappan, N., Tabi, Z. and Man, S. T. 2013. Decreased HPV-specific T cell responses and accumulation of immunosuppressive influences in oropharyngeal cancer patients following radical therapy. Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy 62(12), pp. 1821-1830. (10.1007/s00262-013-1488-5)
- Powell, N. G. et al. 2013. Cervical cancers associated with human papillomavirus types 16, 18 and 45 are diagnosed in younger women than cancers associated with other types: A cross-sectional observational study in Wales and Scotland (UK). Journal of Clinical Virology 58(3), pp. 571-574. (10.1016/j.jcv.2013.08.020)
- Lorincz, A. T. et al. 2013. HPV16 L1 and L2 DNA methylation predicts high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in women with mildly abnormal cervical cytology. International Journal of Cancer 133(3), pp. 637-644. (10.1002/ijc.28050)
- Borst, G. et al. 2013. Targeted radiosensitization by the Chk1 inhibitor SAR-020106. International Journal of Radiation Oncology - Biology - Physics 85(4), pp. 1110-1118. (10.1016/j.ijrobp.2012.08.006)
2011
- Bryant, D. et al. 2011. Human papillomavirus type distribution in vulval intraepithelial neoplasia determined using PapilloCheck DNA Microarray. Journal of Medical Virology 83(8), pp. 1358-1361. (10.1002/jmv.22107)
- Powell, N. G., Hibbitts, S. J., Boyde, A., Newcombe, R. G., Tristram, A. J. and Fiander, A. N. 2011. The risk of cervical cancer associated with specific types of human papillomavirus: a case-control study in a UK population. International Journal of Cancer 128(7), pp. 1676-1682. (10.1002/ijc.25485)
- Jones, J. et al. 2011. Human papillomavirus genotype testing combined with cytology as a 'test of cure' post treatment: the importance of a persistent viral infection. Journal of Clinical Virology 52(2), pp. 88-92. (10.1016/j.jcv.2011.06.021)
2010
- Jones, J. et al. 2010. Human papillomavirus prevalence in women treated for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) [Abstract]. Acta Cytologica 54(3), pp. 429-429.
- Jones, J. et al. 2010. P1-023 Human papillomavirus prevalence in women treated for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) [Abstract]. Acta Cytologica 54(3), pp. 429.
- Powell, N. G. 2010. Single HPV test not useful for predicting CIN2 or worse or for guiding choice of further investigations for women aged 20-59 presenting to NHS Cervical Screening Programme with borderline abnormalities or mild dyskaryosis. Evidence-Based Medicine 15(6), pp. 182-183. (10.1136/ebm1111)
- Evans, M. and Powell, N. G. 2010. The changing aetiology of head and neck cancer: the role of human papillomavirus. Clinical Oncology 22(7), pp. 538-546. (10.1016/j.clon.2010.05.024)
2009
- Jones, J., Powell, N. G., Tristram, A. J., Fiander, A. N. and Hibbitts, S. J. 2009. Comparison of the PapilloCheck® DNA micro-array human papillomavirus detection assay with hybrid capture II and PCR-enzyme immunoassay using the GP5/6+ primer set. Journal of Clinical Virology 45(2), pp. 100-104. (10.1016/j.jcv.2009.02.013)
- Powell, N. G., Boyde, A. M., Tristram, A. J., Hibbitts, S. J. and Fiander, A. N. 2009. The potential impact of human papillomavirus vaccination in contemporary cytologically screened populations may be underestimated: an observational retrospective analysis of invasive cervical cancers. International Journal of Cancer 125(10), pp. 2425-2427. (10.1002/ijc.24571)
2008
- Rai, N., Jenkins, G. J. S., McAdam, E., Hibbitts, S. J., Fiander, A. N. and Powell, N. G. 2008. Human papillomavirus infection in Barrett's oesophagus in the UK: an infrequent event. Journal of Clinical Virology 43(2), pp. 250-252. (10.1016/j.jcv.2008.07.004)
- Hughes, D. S., Powell, N. G. and Fiander, A. N. 2008. Will vaccination against human papillomavirus prevent eye disease? A review of the evidence. British Journal of Ophthalmology 92(4), pp. 460-465. (10.1136/bjo.2007.135038)
2006
- Powell, N. G., Smith, K. and Fiander, A. N. 2006. Recovery of human papillomavirus nucleic acids from liquid-based cytology media. Journal of Virological Methods 137(1), pp. 58-62. (10.1016/j.jviromet.2006.05.033)
- Hibbits, S. J., Hart, K. W., Rieck, G. C., Powell, N. G., Hauke, A. and Fiander, A. N. 2006. Human papillomavirus infection: an Anonymous Prevalence Study in South Wales, UK. British Journal of Cancer 95(2), pp. 226-32. (10.1038/sj.bjc.6603245)
- Ferreiro, J. A., Powell, N. G., Karabetsou, N., Mellor, J. and Waters, R. 2006. Roles for Gcn5p and Ada2p in transcription and nucleotide excision repair at the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MAET16 gene. Nucleic Acids Research 34(3), pp. 976-985. (10.1093/nar/gkj501)
2004
- Ferreiro, A., Powell, N. G., Karabetsou, N., Kent, N. A., Mellor, J. and Waters, R. 2004. Cbf1p modulates chromatin structure, transcription and repair at the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MET16 locus. Nucleic Acids Research 32(5), pp. 1617-1626. (10.1093/nar/gkh324)
Articles
- Hassoulas, A., Powell, N., Roberts, L., Umla-Runge, K., Gray, L. and Coffey, M. 2023. Investigating marker accuracy in differentiating between university scripts written by students and those produced using ChatGPT. Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching 6(2) (10.37074/jalt.2023.6.2.13)
- Hurt, C. N., Nedjai, B., Alvarez-Mendoza, C., Powell, N., Tristram, A. and Jones, S. 2022. Combined HPV 16 E2 and L1 methylation predict response to treatment with cidofovir and imiquimod in patients with vulval intraepithelial neoplasia. Cancer Biomarkers 35, pp. 143-153. (10.3233/CBM-210448)
- Holzhauser, S. et al. 2020. Sensitivity of human papillomavirus-positive and -negative oropharyngeal cancer cell lines to ionizing irradiation. Oncology Reports (10.3892/or.2020.7709)
- Pirotte, E. F. et al. 2018. Sensitivity to inhibition of DNA repair by Olaparib in novel oropharyngeal cancer cell lines infected with Human Papillomavirus. PLoS ONE 13(12), pp. -., article number: e0207934. (10.1371/journal.pone.0207934)
- Hurt, C. N. et al. 2018. Recurrence of vulval intraepithelial neoplasia following treatment with cidofovir or imiquimod: results from a multi-centre, randomised, phase II trial (RT3VIN). BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 125(9), pp. 1171-1177. (10.1111/1471-0528.15124)
- Jones, S. E. F., Hibbitts, S., Hurt, C. N., Bryant, D., Fiander, A. N., Powell, N. and Tristram, A. J. 2017. Human Papillomavirus DNA methylation predicts response to treatment using cidofovir and imiquimod in Vulval Intraepithelial Neoplasia 3. Clinical Cancer Research 23(18), pp. 5460-5468. (10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-17-0040)
- Schache, A. G. et al. 2016. HPV-related oropharynx cancer in the United Kingdom: An evolution in the understanding of disease etiology. Cancer Research 76(22), pp. 6598-6606. (10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-16-0633)
- Mehanna, H. et al. 2016. PET-CT Surveillance versus Neck Dissection in Advanced Head and Neck Cancer. New England Journal of Medicine 374(15), pp. 1444-1454. (10.1056/NEJMoa1514493)
- Sacco, J. J., Evans, M., Harrington, K. J., Man, S., Powell, N., Shaw, R. J. and Jones, T. M. 2016. Systemic listeriosis following vaccination with the attenuatedListeria monocytogenestherapeutic vaccine, ADXS11-001. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics 12(4), pp. 1085-1086. (10.1080/21645515.2015.1121338)
- Holl, K. et al. 2015. Human papillomavirus prevalence and type-distribution in cervical glandular neoplasias: results from a European multinational epidemiological study. International Journal of Cancer 137(12), pp. 2858-2868. (10.1002/ijc.29651)
- Owadally, W. et al. 2015. PATHOS: a phase II/III trial of risk-stratified, reduced intensity adjuvant treatment in patients undergoing transoral surgery for Human papillomavirus (HPV) positive oropharyngeal cancer. BMC Cancer 15, article number: 602. (10.1186/s12885-015-1598-x)
- Bryant, D., Hibbitts, S. J., Almonte, M., Tristram, A. J., Fiander, A. N. and Powell, N. G. 2015. Human papillomavirus type 16 L1/L2 DNA methylation shows weak association with cervical disease grade in young women. Journal of Clinical Virology 66, pp. 66-71. (10.1016/j.jcv.2015.03.001)
- Powell, N. G. and Evans, M. 2015. Human papillomavirus-associated head and neck cancer: oncogenic mechanisms, epidemiology and clinical behaviour. Diagnostic Histopathology 21(2), pp. 49-64. (10.1016/j.mpdhp.2015.02.003)
- Tristram, A. et al. 2014. Activity, safety, and feasibility of cidofovir and imiquimod for treatment of vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (RT³VIN): a multicentre, open-label, randomised, phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncology 15(12), pp. 1361-1368. (10.1016/S1470-2045(14)70456-5)
- Palmer, E. et al. 2014. Human papillomavirus infection is rare in nonmalignant tonsil tissue in the UK: implications for tonsil cancer precursor lesions. International Journal of Cancer 135(10), pp. 2437-2443. (10.1002/ijc.28886)
- Bryant, D. et al. 2014. Increased methylation of Human Papillomavirus type 16 DNA correlates with viral integration in Vulval Intraepithelial Neoplasia. Journal of Clinical Virology 61(3), pp. 393-399. (10.1016/j.jcv.2014.08.006)
- Evans, M. and Powell, N. 2014. Sexual health in oral oncology: breaking the news to patients with human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer. Head and Neck 36(11), pp. 1529-1533. (10.1002/hed.23792)
- Bryant, D. et al. 2014. mRNA sequencing of novel cell lines from human papillomavirus type-16 related vulval intraepithelial neoplasia: Consequences of expression of HPV16 E4 and E5. Journal of Medical Virology 86(9), pp. 1534-1541. (10.1002/jmv.23994)
- Pertusati, F., Hinsinger, K., Flynn, ?. S., Powell, N. G., Tristram, A. J., Balzarini, J. and McGuigan, C. 2014. PMPA and PMEA prodrugs for the treatment of HIV infections and human papillomavirus (HPV) associated neoplasia and cancer. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 78, pp. 259-268. (10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.03.051)
- Caley, A. et al. 2014. Multicentric human papillomavirus-associated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck 37(2), pp. 202-208. (10.1002/hed.23584)
- Bryant, D., Tristram, A., Liloglou, T., Hibbitts, S., Fiander, A. and Powell, N. 2014. Quantitative measurement of Human Papillomavirus type 16 L1/L2 DNA methylation correlates with cervical disease grade. Journal of Clinical Virology 59(1), pp. 24-29. (10.1016/j.jcv.2013.10.029)
- Al-Taei, S., Banner, R., Powell, N. G., Evans, M., Palaniappan, N., Tabi, Z. and Man, S. T. 2013. Decreased HPV-specific T cell responses and accumulation of immunosuppressive influences in oropharyngeal cancer patients following radical therapy. Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy 62(12), pp. 1821-1830. (10.1007/s00262-013-1488-5)
- Powell, N. G. et al. 2013. Cervical cancers associated with human papillomavirus types 16, 18 and 45 are diagnosed in younger women than cancers associated with other types: A cross-sectional observational study in Wales and Scotland (UK). Journal of Clinical Virology 58(3), pp. 571-574. (10.1016/j.jcv.2013.08.020)
- Lorincz, A. T. et al. 2013. HPV16 L1 and L2 DNA methylation predicts high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in women with mildly abnormal cervical cytology. International Journal of Cancer 133(3), pp. 637-644. (10.1002/ijc.28050)
- Borst, G. et al. 2013. Targeted radiosensitization by the Chk1 inhibitor SAR-020106. International Journal of Radiation Oncology - Biology - Physics 85(4), pp. 1110-1118. (10.1016/j.ijrobp.2012.08.006)
- Bryant, D. et al. 2011. Human papillomavirus type distribution in vulval intraepithelial neoplasia determined using PapilloCheck DNA Microarray. Journal of Medical Virology 83(8), pp. 1358-1361. (10.1002/jmv.22107)
- Powell, N. G., Hibbitts, S. J., Boyde, A., Newcombe, R. G., Tristram, A. J. and Fiander, A. N. 2011. The risk of cervical cancer associated with specific types of human papillomavirus: a case-control study in a UK population. International Journal of Cancer 128(7), pp. 1676-1682. (10.1002/ijc.25485)
- Jones, J. et al. 2011. Human papillomavirus genotype testing combined with cytology as a 'test of cure' post treatment: the importance of a persistent viral infection. Journal of Clinical Virology 52(2), pp. 88-92. (10.1016/j.jcv.2011.06.021)
- Jones, J. et al. 2010. Human papillomavirus prevalence in women treated for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) [Abstract]. Acta Cytologica 54(3), pp. 429-429.
- Jones, J. et al. 2010. P1-023 Human papillomavirus prevalence in women treated for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) [Abstract]. Acta Cytologica 54(3), pp. 429.
- Powell, N. G. 2010. Single HPV test not useful for predicting CIN2 or worse or for guiding choice of further investigations for women aged 20-59 presenting to NHS Cervical Screening Programme with borderline abnormalities or mild dyskaryosis. Evidence-Based Medicine 15(6), pp. 182-183. (10.1136/ebm1111)
- Evans, M. and Powell, N. G. 2010. The changing aetiology of head and neck cancer: the role of human papillomavirus. Clinical Oncology 22(7), pp. 538-546. (10.1016/j.clon.2010.05.024)
- Jones, J., Powell, N. G., Tristram, A. J., Fiander, A. N. and Hibbitts, S. J. 2009. Comparison of the PapilloCheck® DNA micro-array human papillomavirus detection assay with hybrid capture II and PCR-enzyme immunoassay using the GP5/6+ primer set. Journal of Clinical Virology 45(2), pp. 100-104. (10.1016/j.jcv.2009.02.013)
- Powell, N. G., Boyde, A. M., Tristram, A. J., Hibbitts, S. J. and Fiander, A. N. 2009. The potential impact of human papillomavirus vaccination in contemporary cytologically screened populations may be underestimated: an observational retrospective analysis of invasive cervical cancers. International Journal of Cancer 125(10), pp. 2425-2427. (10.1002/ijc.24571)
- Rai, N., Jenkins, G. J. S., McAdam, E., Hibbitts, S. J., Fiander, A. N. and Powell, N. G. 2008. Human papillomavirus infection in Barrett's oesophagus in the UK: an infrequent event. Journal of Clinical Virology 43(2), pp. 250-252. (10.1016/j.jcv.2008.07.004)
- Hughes, D. S., Powell, N. G. and Fiander, A. N. 2008. Will vaccination against human papillomavirus prevent eye disease? A review of the evidence. British Journal of Ophthalmology 92(4), pp. 460-465. (10.1136/bjo.2007.135038)
- Powell, N. G., Smith, K. and Fiander, A. N. 2006. Recovery of human papillomavirus nucleic acids from liquid-based cytology media. Journal of Virological Methods 137(1), pp. 58-62. (10.1016/j.jviromet.2006.05.033)
- Hibbits, S. J., Hart, K. W., Rieck, G. C., Powell, N. G., Hauke, A. and Fiander, A. N. 2006. Human papillomavirus infection: an Anonymous Prevalence Study in South Wales, UK. British Journal of Cancer 95(2), pp. 226-32. (10.1038/sj.bjc.6603245)
- Ferreiro, J. A., Powell, N. G., Karabetsou, N., Mellor, J. and Waters, R. 2006. Roles for Gcn5p and Ada2p in transcription and nucleotide excision repair at the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MAET16 gene. Nucleic Acids Research 34(3), pp. 976-985. (10.1093/nar/gkj501)
- Ferreiro, A., Powell, N. G., Karabetsou, N., Kent, N. A., Mellor, J. and Waters, R. 2004. Cbf1p modulates chromatin structure, transcription and repair at the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MET16 locus. Nucleic Acids Research 32(5), pp. 1617-1626. (10.1093/nar/gkh324)
Conferences
- Hassoulas, A., Powell, N., Roberts, L. and Umla-Runge, K. 2023. Investigating marker accuracy in differentiating between student scripts and those produced using ChatGPT. Presented at: AI in Education, Cardiff University, 29 June 2023. Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching, (10.37074/jalt.2023.6.2.13)
- Hibbitts, S., Powell, N., Newton, Z., Patel, S. and Hart, K. 2016. Student selected project opportunities with C21 MB BCh. Presented at: C4ME Educator Development Day, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK, 2016.
Research
My current research focuses on oropharyngeal (primarily tonsil) cancers (OPC). Incidence of OPC is increasing at the fastest rate of any cancer in the UK.
HPV vaccination is now underway but it will be many years before this translates into reduced numbers of cancers. In the meantime, there is an urgent need to improve treatment for this relatively new disease.
We have recently obtained funding (£2.2 million from CRUK) to extend an ongoing clinical trial (called PATHOS) to optimise treatment of OPC. We are currently rolling this trial out across Europe and beyond.
Teaching
I am the Director of the Student Selected Components (SSC) programme that comprises around 15% of the Medical Degree. I deliver lectures, tutorials, and case-based-learning to Undergrad medical students. I'm also the Yr2 SSC Academic Lead.
I'm a strong believer in evidence based medicine, and see SSCs as a great opportunity for our students to learn how the evidence that supports their future practise is derived. SSCs also provide a great sandbox to experiment with novel teaching methods.
I lecture on cell biology and molecular oncology. I also enjoy supporting tutorials and Case Based Learning (CBL) sessions, during which our students establish the fundamental knowledge that will support future learning.
Biography
My first degree was in Medical Microbiology, I then worked a Clinical Scientist, before undertaking a Phd, cloning antiobiotic biosynthetic genes with Pfizer. Postdoctoral positions investigating DNA repair lead to an interest in cancer, especially cancers caused by viruses.
HPV united my interests in prokaryotic biology, DNA repair and cancer, and I spent several very happy years with the HPV group, developing a particular interest in oropharyngeal cancers.
In 2016 I took on the role of Deputy SSC Director in the Centre for Medical Education, and my teaching activities have expanded since then.
Outside work, I enjoy spending time with my family, generally while sailing.
Professional memberships
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy