Alexandra Sanchez Martinez
PhD Student
I am a PhD student in Biosciences and Medicine, supervised by Prof. Christine Rollier at the University of Surrey and Prof. Anita Milicic at the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford. My research aims to explore vaccine adjuvants that elicit the desired immune response in the ageing immune system, with potential applications to vaccines against several infectious diseases. This study utilises in vivo mouse models and ex vivo assays from cells derived from both human and mouse models. My research is funded by the Equal Opportunities Foundation (Hong Kong) and the Braithwaite Family Foundation (UK).
My academic journey began with an undergraduate degree in Biology, followed by an MSc in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Antioquia in Colombia. Subsequently, I joined the Erasmus Master's program in Leading International Vaccinology Education, a two-year multidisciplinary program in vaccinology coordinated by Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 in France. As part of this program, I joined the Vaccine Formulation and Adjuvants Group, led by Professor Anita Milicic, at the Jenner Institute. There, I initiated my research on vaccine adjuvants by investigating vaccine-immune responses through various formulations and adjuvants using in vivo mouse models.
From that research experience, my primary interest has been to understand the mechanistic pathways of adjuvants in the innate and adaptive immune systems. My goal is to contribute to the rational development of vaccines, particularly those tailored to vulnerable populations.
Alexandra Sanchez Martinez @ University of Surrey Website
