Dr Sandra Fitzgerald
Sandra is a Research Fellow in Professor Cris Print’s laboratory at the University of Auckland. Her PhD was completed in 2021 and focused on developing highly sensitive technologies for the detection of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in the blood of cancer patients. She has continued this research in conjunction with the National Sciences Challenge Healthier Lives initiative. The key aim of this project is to develop rapid and sensitive testing modalities for monitoring cancer treatment in a variety of clinical settings, including the potential for using ctDNA technology to improve access to care for patients in rural areas by developing a new community-based method for monitoring cancer treatment. In addition to her research studies, Sandra assisted with COVID testing at the University of Auckland and Auckland City Hospital. Sandra hopes that the expertise achieved in a clinical diagnostic laboratory as a Medical Laboratory Scientist can be utilised to translate minimally invasive liquid biopsy technologies into clinical implementation.