Sanja Brolih

I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Oxford with a background in biochemistry, oncology, and haematology. I completed my BSc in Biochemistry at Imperial College London before undertaking an MRes and DPhil in Medical Sciences at the University of Oxford, where my research focused on DNA repair, RNA biology, rare inherited anaemias, and the molecular mechanisms underlying human disease. My current research focuses on developing novel diagnostic tools for intravascular haemolysis to improve the diagnosis and management of patients with rare and acquired haemolytic disorders. I am leading the development of a non-invasive, point-of-care test based on urinary carbonic anhydrase 1 (CA1), working closely with the Haematology Department at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, patients, and industry partners to translate laboratory discoveries into clinically useful diagnostics. I am also part of the BloodSpeed initiative, an Oxford-led programme developing next-generation functional blood diagnostics. BloodSpeed uses advanced microfluidics and single-cell imaging to measure how efficiently red blood cells exchange oxygen, a fundamental physiological property that is not captured by conventional blood tests. The technology has the potential to improve the diagnosis of blood disorders, optimise transfusion practice, and accelerate the development of next-generation blood technologies. My research combines biomarker discovery, molecular biology, and diagnostic development, with the aim of delivering technologies that improve patient care.