Title: Using Raman Spectroscopy for the early detection of oral cancer
Funder: The Academy of Medical Sciences

Abstract: There is an increasing incidence of Head and Neck Cancer with almost half of the cases occurring in the oral cavity. Despite advances in diagnosis and management, the mortality rate is still high which is mainly attributed to late diagnosis. Oral potentially malignant disorders carry a high risk of malignant transformation. The prediction of disease progression in these lesions remains elusive with available chairside screening tests achieving little success in identifying lesions more likely to develop into malignancy. Therefore, identifying markers for disease progression in the oral cavity is essential and will help in identifying malignant changes at an earlier stage. Raman Spectroscopy (RS), used to analyse interactions between light and matter, can generate a chemical fingerprint from biological samples (such as tissue sections) without the need for targeting biomolecules, markers, stains or dyes. Early studies on head and neck tissues have shown that RS can distinguish between neoplastic and non-neoplastic tissues with high sensitivity and specificity. In the study I will be participating in, RS will be used to characterize and compare the chemical spectra of tissue samples from normal, potentially malignant and malignant oral tissues with aim of identifying chemical changes that reflect molecular modifications associated with disease progression. The outcomes of this study are expected to discern changes in oral tissues by providing specific “fingerprints” for normal, premalignant and malignant markers in oral tissue samples. Characterization of these chemical signatures can advance our understanding of the pathological process of malignant transformation and provide means for predicting disease progression thus aiding with clinical management. Therefore, this study will have potentially significant clinical application. My PhD studies at McGill University involved using Raman Spectroscopy to assess dental materials such as composite resin. Therefore, I can apply my skills in optimizing the data acquisition and analysis using Raman Spectroscopy. Furthermore, the project will give me the opportunity to apply my skills to a new area of research that I haven't probed before and will help me establish new international collaborations to develop multidisciplinary research. Data management and communication plan Data generated will be stored in line with university of Aberdeen research governance policies (1,2). Electronic data will be stored in a password protected University of Aberdeen shared drive which is backed-up regularly. This will be encrypted using an industry-standard encryption mechanism. Data will only be accessed and used on University of Aberdeen computers and only members of the research team will have access to it. Findings will be disseminated in specialised peer reviewed journals, National and International conferences and meetings. The results of this study can also be shared with the general public through press releases or other public engagement events. (1) The University of Aberdeen Data Protection Guide. http://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffnet/documents/policy-zone-governance-and-compliance/data_protection_policy_April_2015.pdf (2) The University of Aberdeen Research Governance Guide. http://www.abdn.ac.uk/medical/researchgovernance/clinicalresearch/.


Research activity codes: 4.1 DISCOVERY AND PRECLINICAL TESTING OF MARKERS AND TECHNOLOGIES;2.1 BIOLOGICAL AND ENDOGENOUS FACTORS
Health categories: CANCER AND NEOPLASMS