Will Shepheard
- Post by: fantom
- 12 June 2025
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Introduction
Hi, my name is Will, and I am from Teesside in the United Kingdom. I completed a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology at Newcastle University, where I also went on to earn a Master of Research in Cancer. During my master’s thesis, I investigated the WIP1/PPM1D phosphatase oncoprotein as a therapeutic target for potentiating p53-dependent therapies. Currently, I am a MSCA PhD fellow within the FANTOM consortium at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, working under the supervision of Prof. Wilhelm Woessmann and Dr. Christine Damm-Welk. My research focuses on the discovery and establishment of biomarkers for disease monitoring in patients with anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).
Specifically, I am developing and validating an ELISA-based assay for the detection of anti-ALK autoantibodies in ALK+ ALCL patients. This will address the limitations of the current indirect immunoperoxidase assay, which lacks standardisation and is difficult to reproduce across laboratories—making it unsuitable for clinical trials or routine diagnostics. The goal is to establish a robust, standardised method for quantifying anti-ALK autoantibodies and correlating their levels with patient outcomes. In addition, I am exploring the use of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) combined with next-generation sequencing (NGS) for more sensitive detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) and the identification of secondary genetic alterations. I am also working to develop a method for detecting ALK-specific T-cell responses from small blood volumes, in close collaboration with Miltenyi Biotec, who provide invaluable expertise and technical support. By integrating these immunological and molecular approaches, I hope to contribute to more precise and personalized monitoring strategies for ALK+ ALCL, ultimately improving patient outcomes. As part of my scientific training, I will undertake a secondment at the University of Padova in the Mussolin Lab, where I will learn new techniques and expand my skills leveraging the lab’s longstanding expertise.
Outside the lab, I enjoy socialising and exploring Hamburg with friends, as well as travelling to other parts of Germany. I am also currently learning German in my spare time. I feel incredibly privileged to be part of FANTOM and to contribute to research that has the potential to improve outcomes for ALCL patients. Living and working in Hamburg has been a fantastic experience—both professionally and socially through my PhD.