Today marks a major milestone and massive cause for celebration for Dr. Fawziah Asiri, who has successfully defended her PhD thesis! Her work was on the molecular mechanisms through which LaNt alpha 31 acts in breast cancer and has provided deep insight into this laminin-related protein. She also introduced new methodologies to our lab, expanding not only our knowledge but also our capabilities. Awesome work all round.
From 3D spheroid models of cancer invasion to RNA sequencing, signalling analysis, and electrical impedance monitoring, Fawziah mastered a diverse set of techniques to uncover the role of LaNt a31 in breast cancer progression.
Beyond the science, what stands out most is Fawziah’s relentless drive, creativity, and ability to think ahead, consistently generating fresh ideas to propel her project forward. Every week she would bring exciting new data fully processed and ready for discussion, plus new ideas on where to go next. A real joy for me as a supervisor. I’m super proud of her achievements.
Every PhD journey comes with challenges, but Fawziah met them with unwavering determination, turning obstacles into opportunities for deeper understanding. Her work has laid the foundation for future studies in tumour biology and extracellular matrix interactions.
Today’s viva was conducted over by Drs Joan Chang from Uni of Manchester and David Wilkinson from UoL. Both absolute experts in the field of ECM biology. Many many thanks to them both for their time and their valuable insights into this project.
As she now moves forward into an exciting faculty position in Saudi Arabia, I have no doubt that she will continue to inspire, innovate, and make an impact. While this chapter closes, I truly hope this is just the beginning of a lasting collaboration—one where we continue to learn, challenge ideas, and push scientific boundaries together.
Congratulations, Fawziah! You’ve earned every bit of this success, and we can’t wait to see what you achieve next.
LaNts and Laminins 