Theo Portlock
Research Fellow
Organisation :
Liggins Institute, University of Auckland
Sector:
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Location:
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Biography
I am a Systems Biologist specializing in the intersection of artificial intelligence and metagenomics. My research explores how microbial communities shape human health and disease, with a focus on developing AI-powered, non-invasive diagnostic tools and preventative measures. I view AI as a necessity for understanding the inherent complexity of biological systems and advancing precision medicine. My broader vision is to create clinically relevant, data-driven tools that improve the human condition. I am committed to ensuring the technologies I develop are equitable, robust, and translational. By moving from computational insight to clinical impact, my work aims to provide the foundations for next-generation diagnostics and proactive health management.
Research Projects and Ideas
My research focuses on MicroFIT, an AI-guided microbiome assay designed to improve the triage of symptomatic patients at risk of early-onset colorectal cancer. The project repurposes residual material from routinely collected faecal immunochemical test (FIT) tubes for shotgun metagenomic sequencing, combining microbial biomarkers with interpretable machine learning to identify patients who may require colonoscopy despite a negative FIT result.
Collaborations and Skills
I am seeking collaborations with clinicians, microbiologists, epidemiologists, and data scientists working in colorectal cancer, gastrointestinal disease, microbiome research, and artificial intelligence, particularly those with access to well-characterised clinical cohorts or biobanked samples. I can provide expertise in microbiome study design, shotgun metagenomic sequencing analysis, bioinformatics pipeline development, statistical modelling, and SHAP interpretable machine learning.
Connections of interest
Interested in anyone who is keen to be involved!
Speciality(s)
AI Speciality(s):
Clinical Decision Support Systems
Machine Learning
Explainable AI & Interpretability
Precision Medicine / Genomics
Research Expertise:
Health Speciality(s):
Oncology