Anya Shah

Open Study/Research Award

Anya Shah, originally from Whittier, California, is a graduate of the University of Southern California, where she earned a B.S. in Global Health and an M.S. in Narrative Medicine. As a childhood leukemia survivor, Anya brings a deeply personal perspective to her academic and professional focus: improving cancer diagnostics through patient-centered, translational research.

At the University of Manchester, Anya will work under the mentorship of Dr. Dominic Rothwell at Cancer Research UK’s National Biomarker Centre. Her Fulbright research investigates early lung cancer detection by integrating circulating tumor cell (CTC) and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis through minimally invasive liquid biopsies. Building on her three years of experience at USC’s Convergent Science Institute in Cancer, Anya will help refine diagnostic models that aim to reduce health disparities and improve timely, accurate care for at-risk populations.

Outside the lab, Anya is eager to contribute to the UK community through her parallel passion for dance. She hopes to collaborate with the Move Dance Feel initiative, exploring dance as a tool for emotional healing, cultural exchange, and patient empowerment. She also hopes to engage youth and community members through science communication efforts, drawing from her work as a cancer advocate and grant reviewer for the U.S. Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program.

Through this Fulbright Award, Anya aims to deepen her understanding of international cancer care models and lay the groundwork for a future as a physician-scientist. Outside the lab, she is excited to cheer for Manchester United and hear Wonderwall in its birthplace—learning day by day how to thrive somewhere new.