Dr Maria Braoudaki is a Reader in Molecular Medicine at the University of Hertfordshire, UK. After graduating in 2004 with a PhD in Molecular Microbiology at Aston University, she worked as a Postdoctoral researcher at the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Greece, and at the same time continued her postgraduate studies in Medicine. As a result, she was awarded an MSc in Molecular Medicine with distinction from the Medical School. Dr Braoudaki’s expertise lies in the area of pediatric cancer genomics, genetics/epigenetics and proteomics with an emphasis in microRNA profiling as well as extensive experience in using high-throughput omics-based strategies. Dr Braoudaki has published work in more than 40 high-impact peer-reviewed journals. In 2016, Dr Braoudaki was awarded the prestigious L’OREAL-UNESCO Award for Women in Science for her pioneer work on pediatric cancer and in 2022 she was elected among the leading scientists of Cretan origin who were awarded for their work and contribution to society by the association of Cretan Scientists.