Ashi Thobias

Result-oriented Research Scientist and Cancer Biologist with extensive experience in molecular oncology, HPV screening diagnostics, CML companion diagnostics and clinical trial coordination. Proven track record of leading research protocols, securing government grants, and publishing in peer-reviewed oncology journals. Expertise in bridging bench-to-bedside translation with regulatory compliance (DCGI, NABH, JCI, NABL).

Research Scientist & Research Coordinator - Dr. Jivraj Mehta Smarak Health Foundation & Bakeri Medical Research Centre

(2024-01)

• Secured GSBTM Research Grant, lead as PI/Co-PI on 5 concurrent academic research protocols, coordinated multiple multi-centric studies and co-guided 3 theses training Doctor of Pharmacy students in research methodology.
• Maintain 100% compliance for national (DCGI, NABH) and global (JCI) regulatory accreditations. Trained in ICHGCP.
• Manage end-to-end clinical trial logistics, including fund dispersal, ethical oversight of SMOs, and the acquisition of new trials; facilitated policy advisory, regulatory audits, and the conversion of provisional Ethics Committee approvals to final certificates.

Ph.D. Candidate & Research Fellow - The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute

(2019-08 - 2024-01)

• SHODH Fellowship Recipient (Jan 2020 – Dec 2021): Awarded the highly competitive ScHeme of Developing High Quality Research Scholarship by the Government of Gujarat (INR4,00,000).
• Applied a comprehensive suite of molecular techniques-including qPCR, RT-PCR, PCR-RFLP, and ctDNA-based ddPCR-to investigate HPV mRNA expression, glycosylation transcripts, angiogenic transcripts and circulatory HPV for 300+ clinical samples (tissue, plasma, serum).
• Trained 10+ M.D. Pathology candidates and M.Ch./M.D. oncology clinicians in wet-lab methodologies, bridging molecular findings with clinical treatment strategies.
• Co-guided and supervised 3 M.Sc. dissertation and maintained strict NABL compliance tracking.

Junior Research Fellow (JRF) - The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute

(2018-07 - 2019-08)

• Conduct high-volume mutation screening for 200+ clinical samples annually, identifying key cancer markers like BCR-ABL, FLT3-ITD, JAK2, cKIT and HPV 16&18 (CDx).
• Led assay development for site's first HPV DNA testing and provided expertise in breast cancer, ovarian, oral cancer, and blood cancer research projects.

Doctor of Philosophy in Life Science - Life Science - The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute & Gujarat University (2019-08 - 2024-06)

Master of Science in Cancer Biology - Cancer Biology - The Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute (2016-06 - 2018-04)

Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Vocational Biotechnology - Biochemistry and Vocational Biotechnology - St. Xavier's College (2013-06 - 2016-04)