Amit Roshan, Clinician Scientist

As a Clinician Scientist, Dr Amit Roshan shares his time between the Institute and the neighbouring Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

His academic research fuels – and is fuelled by – his clinical role as a melanoma surgeon. In his video, Amit shares the most rewarding aspects of his role and what surprised him when he first joined Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute.

After you’ve watched Amit’s video, read on to find out more about his research and his career journey to date, which has included roles in five different countries, healthcare settings and research environments.

Describe your career journey prior to arriving here.

After my schooling in the UK, I went to medical school at the largest university hospital in South Asia (Christian Medical College Vellore). There I got the research “bug” working with Prof Paul Brand on patients with hand deformities caused by leprosy.

I then did my basic surgical training in Yorkshire and the North West before doing my plastic and reconstructive surgery training in the East of England.

I completed my PhD with a Cancer Research UK Cambridge Cancer Centre Fellowship with Prof Phil Jones, who is based at the Medical Research Centre (MRC) Cancer Unit, which explored the stem cell behaviours of normal skin. Then, I had a postdoctoral stint at the Melanoma Institute of Australia in Sydney.

On my return from Sydney, I sought opportunities to develop a translational career in early-stage melanoma. In 2018, I joined the Institute, having been awarded a Cancer Research UK Clinician Scientist Fellowship, to work with Prof Nitzan Rosenfeld to explore sensitive ctDNA diagnostics in early cancer.

And what does your research focus on today?

My research focus is on developing better ways of managing people with early-stage melanoma, the most fatal type of skin cancer.

We do this in several ways, including by looking at better ways of predicting which melanomas become problematic and developing better strategies for managing melanoma patients over time.

What made the Institute particularly appealing as a place to build your career?

At the time it seemed like a logical choice. Partly because of the logistics of it being co-located with the Hospital, but also – of course – because of the fantastic science that is produced across the Institute.

When I first started at the Institute, it was purely because of the science; and I think the science doesn’t need any introduction.

However, what surprised me the most, and what I’ve valued the most over the last five years or so, is the strength of collaboration between the different group leaders and the level of knowledge that exists [among them], as well as the support that exists for people in the early stages of developing independence like me.

What makes a good colleague in your opinion?

One who isn’t afraid to tell me I am wrong, but is perceptive enough to lay it on gently!

Could you briefly explain how your work at the Institute and at the Hospital fits together?

Clinical translational research is always complicated. I think there are certainly challenges for any role that works between different places, but I do find that the synergies that comes from [it] are transformational.

My work is very driven by finding new ways of helping patients I see in the clinic. The job provides a lot of motivation to go after the right sort of research questions and also to translate outcomes from this research back into the clinic efficiently.

And when you get home, who are you most excited to share your positive work news with?

My son and daughter. I like trying to make it interesting for them to understand what it is I get up to in the daytime, but it can be a challenge trying to get them enthused!

What skill would you say is your superpower? 

I am good at synthesising complex information and conveying it succinctly. It has helped me to share complex emerging information with my patients and to incorporate new directions from other research areas into my projects.

Finally, tell me about a hobby/pastime you enjoy that has nothing to do with work?

I enjoy calligraphy, and have self-taught myself gilding, embossing and pictorial calligraphy. Japanese brushstrokes are my next frontier!