CV | Alexandra Vasilyeva

Curriculum Vitae

Alexandra Vasilyeva, DPhil

Freelancer supporting life science start-ups with scientific strategy and communication

Work experience

WORK EXPERIENCE

2024 Consultant, Scitaris, Berlin, Germany

Supported US and Europe-based companies in constructing clinical development strategies for biotechnology assets in fields including oncology and immunology
Assessed opportunities for in-licensing assets with a focus on the uncertainty associated with early-stage clinical development

2022 – 2024 Analyst, Costello Medical Consulting, Cambridge, UK

Supported major international pharmaceutical companies in conducting systematic literature reviews and evidence synthesis, as well as in health technology assessment strategy and submissions
Headed the research and thought leadership initiative of the Literature Reviews & Synthesis division

2022 Research Assistant, University of Oxford, UK

Research and publications support at the Oxford Institute of Biomedical Engineering
Training of other laboratory members in experimental methods

2016 – 2018 Research Assistant, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Russia

Research and publications support at the Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology

EDUCATION

2022 Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Science (Clarendon Scholar)

University of Oxford, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, UK

2018 and 2016 Master’s degree (Distinction) and Bachelor’s degree (Distinction)

Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Russia

2017 Visiting Student

Jülich Forschungszentrum, Germany

RESEARCH TOPICS

Best practice methods in health economics and literature reviews

2022 - 2024, Costello Medical Consulting, Cambridge, UK

Mechanisms of ultrasound-triggered oxygen and drug delivery to hypoxic tumours

2018 - 2022, Biomedical ultrasonics, biotherapy and biopharmaceuticals laboratory, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, UK

Biocomputing nanoparticle-DNA systems for drug delivery applications

2015 - 2018, Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Russia

Novel alternating amphiphilic polymers for biological application

2017, Institute of Complex Systems, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

Science outreach

Participated in multiple science communication and outreach programs, e.g. Cambridge Science Festival, Cambridge Launchpad and Berlin Science Week

Development of communication materials

Provided ad-hoc communication and graphic design support for biomedical start-ups and laboratories
Produced interactive graphic materials for the Cambridge Science Festival (2022)
Researched and co-authored a policy brief for the Centre for Adolescent Health and Social Development and designed an accompanying social media awareness campaign
Provided medical writing and editing support for a scientific paper on the burden of respiratory syncytial virus and current gaps in evidence
Developed photo and video materials for a University of Oxford fundraising event (2021)

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SOCIAL ACTION

UN Women UK delegate

68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (2024)

Co-founder and coordinator of We Speak Your Language

Project aimed at reducing language barriers in healthcare communication, which was supported by Oxford City Council and won the Oxford Hub Social Action Lab award (2021)

Co-creator and coordinator of Paloma Talk

Resource aiming to improve digital literacy of older adults (2021)

Scientific entrepreneurship courses

Completed RisingWISE, Scientific Entrepreneurship and Student Consultancy programs from the University of Oxford

SELECTED ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS

Doctoral thesis:

Investigation of the mechanisms of oxygen delivery and cell death in oxygen-enhanced sonodynamic therapy. Vasilyeva AV, 2022, University of Oxford (Oxford Research Archive)

Health policy and economics:

Shaping Health Policy and Clinical Practice: A Critical Evaluation of Literature Review Methods in the Evidence Base. Vasilyeva AV et al., ISPOR Europe 2024 (poster)

Health State Utility Value Elicitation in Medical Technology and Digital Health: How Do They Compare to Pharmaceuticals? A Targeted Literature Review of Interventions in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Pashley A et al., Value in Health 2024, 27(6): S281 (abstract)

Exploring The Predictive Accuracy of Treatment Waning Methods: An Analysis of Pembrolizumab Across Six Oncology Indications. Harrington H, Vasilyeva AV et al., Value in Health 2023, 26(12): S321 (abstract)

Duration and Timing of Treatment Waning: Determining the Start and Stop Points Using Pembrolizumab in NSCLC As a Case Study. Harrington H et al., Value in Health 2023, 26(6): S263 (abstract)

Targeted drug and oxygen delivery:

Use of oxygen-loaded nanobubbles to improve tissue oxygenation: Bone-relevant mechanisms of action and effects on osteoclast differentiation. Knowles HJ, Vasilyeva AV et al., Biomaterials 2024, 305: 122448 (text)

Investigation of the ultrasound-mediated toxicity mechanisms of IR780 iodide. Singh K, Vasilyeva AV et al., Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 2024, 155(3_Suppl): A188 (abstract)

What's in a name? Micro v. Nanobubbles in Ultrasound Imaging and Therapy. Sheth M et al., European Symposium on Ultrasound Contrast Imaging 2023 (text)

Investigation of the ultrasound-mediated toxicity mechanisms of various sonosensitive drugs. Singh K, Vasilyeva AV et al. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 2023, 153(3_Suppl): A33 (abstract)

Controlled LCST behavior and structure formation of alternating amphiphilic copolymers in water. Kostyurina M et al., Macromolecules 2022, 55(5): 1552-1565 (abstract)

Orally administered oxygen nanobubbles enhance tumor response to sonodynamic therapy. Owen J et al., Nano Select 2021, 3(2): 394-401 (text)

Studying cavitation enhanced therapy. Gray M, Vasilyeva AV et al., Journal of Visualized Experiments 2021, 170 (text, video protocol)

Biosensing and imaging:

Nanoparticle beacons: supersensitive smart materials with on/off-switchable affinity to biomedical targets. Cherkasov VR et al., ACS nano 2020, 14(2): 1792-1803 (abstract)

Paramagnetic colloidal ferrihydrite nanoparticles for MRI contrasting. Sokolov IL et al. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 2018, 539: 46-52 (abstract)