Minds in the Making: From Speech Disorders to Cancer Cells

We’ve all heard the phrase “you are what you eat” — but what if what we eat also affects how brain tumours grow? Some diets may help tumours thrive, while others could tip the balance against them. Metabolic pathways activated by high-sugar or high-fat diets can feed tumour cells — so can we find a way to “starve” a tumour without starving a patient? I investigate how different dietary patterns could impact brain tumour biology. The goal? To uncover more targeted ways to fight tumours — not just in the lab, but at the dinner table too.

Developmental Language Disorder or DLD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder that affects 7.6% of people but is not widely recognised or understood.  DLD is characterised by problems using and understanding language, which has longer term consequences on friendships, education, employment, and mental health. Many children are identified as having DLD, but many people might reach adulthood without a diagnosis.  This talk will discuss the importance of recognising and acknowledging DLD, both when it is diagnosed and when it remains undiagnosed.