Shafiq Ahmed  

Dr Shafiq Ahmed

Senior Lecturer in Medicine

What area does your research focus on?

My research focuses on a type of brain tumour called Glioblastoma.  Glioblastomas are the most common form of brain tumour in adults.  Unfortunately, these cancers are incurable despite best effort with existing therapies.  My research group is interested in understanding why these tumours are resistant to therapies in order to identify and develop new therapeutics for the treatment of this incurable cancer. 

What are the other key aspects of your role?

I teach mainly on the MBChB Medicine programme which includes supervising project students.  In addition, I lead my lab-based research group which includes supervision of post-doctoral researchers as well as PhD students.  I am also the postgraduate research student manager for the School of Medicine, and the deputy admission lead for the undergraduate Medicine programme. 

What do you like to do outside of work?

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my children and wife.  I particularly like walks on the beach, cooking and travelling. 

What do you think you could particularly offer mentoring support with?

• Coping with the demands and pressure of research. 
• Helping you to deal with the unexpected; because our lives are complex and you will face a myriad of challenges that need to be navigated. 
• For me mentoring is empowering you; to make you think about the journey and not simply the destination, because the route you take and the decisions you make governs who you become as a person.  It is those experiences that shape you as an individual.