Dr Bushra Schuitemaker
Dr Bushra Schuitemaker is a passionate zoologist dedicated to advancing One Medicine -bridging human and animal health for mutual benefit. Bushra’s fascination with animals began in early childhood, and by the age of seven, she had set her sights on becoming a zoologist. She pursued this ambition by earning a BSc (Hons) in Zoology from Anglia Ruskin University in 2015.
Between 2015 and 2019, Bushra worked at Cancer Research UK and the Wellcome Sanger Institute, focusing on immuno-oncology drug discovery and metastasis research. While deeply engaged in human health research, her zoological background continually drew her towards opportunities to enhance animal health while reducing reliance on animal models. This led to a side project investigating spontaneous cancers in animals and their translational potential for human medicine. Her research culminated in the publication of Metastasis in the Wild: Investigating Metastasis in Non-laboratory Animals, highlighting key barriers in oncology research that could be overcome through a unified approach to human and veterinary medicine. She later presented this work at Johns Hopkins Medicine and co-authored Companion Canines: an under-utilised model to aid in translating anti-metastatics to the clinic.
From 2019 to 2024, Bushra completed a PhD at the Quadram Institute Biosciences and the University of East Anglia, identifying novel microbiome-based biomarkers for poultry health and welfare. Working directly with commercial farmers and industry partner Aviagen, she aimed to develop practical applications for microbiome science in animal agriculture. During this time, she also served as a scientific advisor for the Nuffield Farming Scholarships, further reinforcing her commitment to evidence-based improvements in animal welfare.
Beyond research, Bushra is an award-winning science communicator and a strong advocate for public engagement in science. From 2017 to 2022, she independently hosted her radio show and has been a guest on numerous podcasts, using these platforms to make complex scientific concepts accessible to diverse audiences.
With a career spanning immuno-oncology, microbiome science, and comparative medicine, Bushra is committed to driving innovation at the intersection of human and animal health and ensuring that research advances benefit all species.
