Hudson Alakonya

Early diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unmet until today. Over 80% of the patients present with late-stage unresectable tumours that are also resistant to conventional therapies. PDAC tumours currently present the highest fatality rates among solid malignancies, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. My project is focusing on developing a monoclonal antibody and peptide-based molecular imaging agents to allow for early detection of carcinoma in situ lesions among PDAC high-risk populations. Early detection would provide for timely therapeutic intervention, which will improve the current grim statistics.

Prior to starting my PhD in Oncology at Oxford, I graduated from University College London with an MSc Cancer. I also hold a B. Tech  Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology from Technical University of Mombasa, Kenya. In 2018, I co-founded Cancer Research Kenya, a charitable company that aims to nurture oncology research and cancer education in Kenya. I am also passionate about bridging the inequality gap in cancer management in Kenya by ensuring all people can access cancer preventive measures while cancer patients have access to better treatment facilities. 

At free time I love mentoring the youths, reading non-oncology books and doing body workouts. I am also a proud husband and a dad to Charlene and Graham.