Yusra Siddiqui

Dr. Yusra Siddiqui serves as a Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences within the School of Human Sciences at the University of Derby's College of Science and Engineering. An Early Career Researcher with international experience across Pakistan, Singapore, and Poland, she directs her research toward understanding prostate cancer progression mechanisms while pioneering culturally responsive teaching methodologies.

Her educational journey began at the University of Punjab (Lahore) with undergraduate studies in Zoology, Botany, and Chemistry, followed by Masters and MPhil degrees in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She completed her PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Bristol in 2015, investigating transcription factor PRH in prostate cancer. Her postdoctoral work spanned melanoma research at Nanyang Technological University and RNA-Seq analysis at Warsaw's Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology.

Dr. Siddiqui's research examines the molecular link between HPV infections and prostate cancer progression using histological and bioinformatic approaches. Her pedagogical scholarship focuses on decolonizing bioscience curricula and developing inclusive assessment strategies to close awarding gaps. This dual focus was recognized through her Higher Education Academy Fellowship (FHEA) in 2022.

Her scientific contributions include publications in high-impact journals like Oncogenesis (Nature portfolio) and Oncogene, primarily investigating PRH/HHEX pathways in cancer cell migration. Current research explores HPV's role in prostate cancer, potentially informing gender-neutral vaccination policies.

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
• MSc Biochemistry Bronze Medalist
• Dual Gold Medalist for MPhil Biochemistry
• Multiple international conference travel awards
• Member of European Association for Cancer Research

Dr. Siddiqui actively supervises undergraduate and postgraduate researchers while developing clinical collaborations for her prostate cancer work. Her entrepreneurial spirit led to founding SS Tutor during the pandemic, demonstrating commitment to accessible science education. She maintains strong international research networks developed through positions in Singapore and Poland, facilitating cross-border cancer research initiatives.