Dr Groom has always been fascinated with how things work and why - her first science experiments were in the kitchen growing up, where she would test how different types of flour impacted on the rise, crust, and texture of the cakes she would make. Today, she loves the thrill of revealing something new in the lab. Dr Groom also says she gets so much job from working with her team, developing ideas together, and seeing her team members developing their skills as scientists.

A type of immunotherapy, called checkpoint blockade therapy, works by reinvigorating how cells respond to cancer. However, as around half of patients do not show long-lasting benefit, there is a clear need to understand how existing therapies could be enhanced to help more patients.

Recent research has revealed how specific immune cells, called stem-like memory T cells, could be essential in the effect of checkpoint blockade therapy – they seem to drive a burst of activity when this therapy is used. Harnessing these cells, either on their own or in combination with other treatments, could be an exciting route to more effective treatments for patients.

Dr Groom and her team are investigating the potential of using a vaccine that targets the stem-like memory T cells, specifically against melanoma. By using techniques already established in the lab, the team hope to understand the activity of the T cells better, which will form the foundation of efforts to make vaccines in the future.