Dr Vinaya Gunasri is an NIHR Clinical Lecturer at UCL, combining cancer diagnostics with research on the microbiome and immune response in bowel cancer. Read on as she shares insights into her work, mentorship, and passion for science communication.
What is your role and what does it involve?
I am an NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Histopathology, which means I have two main roles: researching bowel cancer and diagnosing disease using tissue samples. For half the time, I work as a specialist pathologist in the NHS, examining tissue samples under the microscope to diagnose cancer, infections, and inflammatory conditions - playing a crucial role in guiding treatment decisions. During the remaining time, I undertake research at the UCL Cancer Institute, investigating how gut bacteria - the microbiome - interact with the immune system to drive bowel cancer.
I’m currently establishing my research group and have recruited a histopathology trainee who is undertaking a pre-doctoral bursary under my supervision. It’s incredibly rewarding to help nurture the next generation of clinical academics.
As part of my role, I present and publish my work and actively contribute to the broader scientific community - chairing sessions at scientific conferences, reviewing manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, and building cross-disciplinary collaborations. I also contribute to teaching medical students and am committed to fostering a supportive, inclusive research environment at UCL.
How long have you been at UCL and what was your previous role?
I joined UCL in November 2023. Before that, I completed a Cancer Research UK-funded PhD (2019-2023) focused on how the immune system constrains colorectal cancer progression, particularly at the tumour’s invasive edge. Prior to my PhD, I trained as a histopathology registrar within the London deanery, developing my clinical expertise in gastrointestinal pathology. Alongside this, I developed a strong interest in cancer biology, which ultimately led me toward academic medicine. My career has been shaped by a deep curiosity about how cancer behaves under the microscope - and a drive to translate these insights into better outcomes for patients.
What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?
I’m particularly proud of My work was one of the first to spatially map immune responses in colorectal cancer, showing how small clusters of tumour cells at the invasive margin are eliminated by the immune system - a dynamic not seen in the tumour bulk. This is of significant clinical relevance, for example, in patients whose cancers develop resistance to immunotherapies.
The research was selected for plenary oral presentation at Digestive Disease Week (2023) and accepted for publication in Nature Genetics (I am joint first author; preprint here ), and contributed to multiple high-impact studies.
I was honoured to receive the inaugural BACR Early Career Award (2025) - a national prize awarded to researchers with up to five years of postdoctoral experience - within two years of completing my PhD.
Beyond the lab, I led a community engagement project to improve bowel cancer screening uptake in South Asian communities, producing translated screening videos in Bengali and Urdu ( This initiative won several national awards, including the Royal College of Pathologists’ Science Communication Prize.
I’ve also been recognised for public engagement, winning the "People’s Choice" award in the national Vitae 3-Minute Thesis competition.
These achievements reflect my commitment not just to scientific excellence, but also to inclusive communication and health equity.
Tell us about a project you are working on now which is top of your to-do list
A key project I’m currently leading explores how the microbiome evolves across precursor lesions and different stages of bowel cancer. We collect samples of normal tissue, pre-cancerous polyps, and invasive cancers from the same patients to identify how microbial communities - and their interaction with the immune system - shift during progression from polyp to cancer.
As a pathologist, I’m particularly interested in using histology to visualise where bacteria reside within these tissues, and how they interact with immune cells in the tumour microenvironment. Understanding these spatial relationships could help identify new prevention or treatment strategies.
Looking ahead, I’m focused on building research capacity - strengthening collaborations, supervising junior researchers, and creating an inclusive and high-performing lab culture. To date, I have been awarded over £650,000 in funding as principal grant holder and I’m committed to continuing on this trajectory.
My long-term goal is to work as a Clinician Scientist integrating histopathology, microbiomics, and spatial biology to transform outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer.
What is your favourite album, film and novel?
Album:Let it Be, The Beatles
Film:Kadhalikka Neramillai (1964)
Novel:Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
What is your favourite joke (pre-watershed)?
Question: How do you know if someone studied at Oxbridge?
Answer: They tell you!
Who would be your dream dinner guests?
- Michelle Obama
- Agatha Christie
- Amy Sherman-Palladino
What advice would you give your younger self?
Do not be afraid of taking on too much.
What would it surprise people to know about you?
I have a lifelong passion for the performing arts and have been on stage since the age of eight - including during my time as a junior doctor. I have performed Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam (classical South Indian music and dance). I play the Veena, a traditional South Indian stringed instrument, and enjoy combining my artistic and scientific worlds whenever I can.
What is your favourite place?
Wanstead Park, near where I live. In spring, it’s blanketed with bluebells - a peaceful escape that feels worlds away from the city.
- University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT (0) 20 7679 2000
