Dr Dorota Scibior-Bentkowska

Profile

I joined the Molecular Epidemiology Lab (MEL) after completing my PhD in Medical Sciences at the Medical University of Warsaw (Poland). My work as Postdoctoral Research Assistant in MEL focuses mainly on DNA methylation analyses to better understand progression to cancer, and to find biomarkers that may be clinically useful in screening and patient management.

My primary research focus is cervical cancer caused by persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), and prevention strategies which still remain essential to combat this cancer far into the future. Since I started my work in MEL I have been involved in the successful development of a DNA methylation classifier to triage women infected by HPV. Currently I work on the project to improve and evaluate this classifier on two non-invasive specimens: a self-collected vaginal sample, and urine. Success in this project will result in a highly accurate, cost-effective diagnostic test which combined with HPV primary screening has the potential to radically change clinical practice and to improve cervical screening performance.

Research