Eloise Ockenden

Health Researcher

I am interested in finding ways to use maths and technology for healthcare, and developing them mindfully so that they can be used in real-world contexts. I started off doing a Maths degree with a view to become a health researcher, and so I am currently studying for a PhD in Health Data Science. My work focuses on creating a diagnostic tool for a specific form of liver fibrosis: schistosomal periportal fibrosis. Schistosomal periportal fibrosis is caused by schistosomiasis, which is a parasitic disease mostly present in sub-Saharan Africa. I use ultrasound videos to create models that can help sonographers to identify different stages of disease, which could help train new sonographers or to standardise the way that the fibrosis is diagnosed. In the future, I am interested in how to integrate these types of tools into clinical settings and how that can be facilitated.