Sophie Dusoswa

Indication: Solid tumors, tumor agnostic

Responsibilities:
- in depth understanding and strategic decision support in the Dutch precision oncology ecosystem including diagnostics and treatment
- shaping the healthcare ecosystem to become a more favorable environment for tumor-agnostic (histology-independent) indications in collaboration with policy colleagues
- supporting access colleagues in obtaining market access
- translation and implementation of global medical strategy to the Dutch healthcare system
- follow-up and analyses of scientific publications, evaluation of IIS proposals, medical review of documents, organization of advisory boards, medical education and congress participation
- providing medical input for disease area and brand strategy in collaboration with marketing colleagues
- establishing relationships with relevant external stakeholder, including HCPs, for adequate delivery of medical information and establishment of collaborations
- driving uptake of comprehensive genomic profiling through strong collaborations with Foundation Medicine and Roche Diagnostics
- end-to-end launch readiness of our tumor agnostic indications in The Netherlands

Indication: Renal cell carcinoma

During this rotation, I had the opportunity to spend 3 months in Roche Product Development Oncology and Hematology (PDOH), to work with the Principal Medical Lead GU. We successfully co-developed a solid business case and clinical development plan of a new combination treatment strategy with the aim to collect internal approval and funding. I contributed significantly to the description of preclinical evidence supporting the rationale of the treatment strategy and clinical trial designs.

Indication: Multiple myeloma

During this rotation I worked on early development of a molecule for multiple myeloma. Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED) is the organization where Roche scientists discover and translate cutting-edge science in the pursuit of delivering life-changing benefits to patients.

Contributions:
- study design (scientific rationales for combination partners and definition of eligible population)
- protocol writing and training
- review of regulatory documents (IB, ICF, NDA)
- clinical data review
- combined preclinical and clinical safety data analysis
- indirect comparison with competitor data
- responses to PI questions

As a resident in neurosurgery I
- assisted in neurosurgical operations such as tumor resections, shunt placements and revisions, neurotrauma surgery, spine surgery.
- took care of patients (mainly glioblastoma, neurotrauma, spinal cord injury, intracranial hemorrhages, hydrocephalus and refractory epilepsy) at the ward, in the emergency room and in the intensive care unit

Brain tumors are among the most lethal and the most feared of all human cancers. The general aim of this PhD thesis was to study glioblastoma immune evasion with a special focus on glioblastoma-associated glycans and their importance in immune modulation. To this end, we studied brain infiltration by glioblastoma cells, the localization and phenotype of tumor infiltrating immune cells, various aspects of glioblastoma-induced immune suppression, vaccine design and immunomonitoring tools in order to advance future designs of glioblastoma-specific immunotherapy.

Promotor: Prof. Y. van Kooyk
Copromotors: Dr. Juan J. Garcia-Vallejo, Prof. T. Würdinger

Number of publications: 10

I was invited to perform part of the research for my PhD thesis in the lab of prof. Breakefield, at the dept. of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School.

As a resident in neurosurgery I
- assisted in neurosurgical operations such as tumor resections, shunt placements and revisions, neurotrauma surgery, spine surgery.
- took care of patients (mainly glioblastoma, neurotrauma, spinal cord injury, intracranial hemorrhages, hydrocephalus and refractory epilepsy) at the ward, in the emergency room and in the intensive care unit