Julija Rabcuka, DPhil/PhD (ABD)

About the Writer

Julija Rabcuka is a DPhil candidate in Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics at the University of Oxford (DPAG), currently completing her doctorate. She holds a BA in Biological Sciences from Oxford, where she studied the dysregulation of molecular and cellular pathways driving disease — including mitochondrial and metabolic alternatives to the amyloid–tau hypothesis of neurodegeneration, cardiometabolic–inflammatory axes in cardiovascular disease, and errors in the cellular machinery that maintain genomic stability in cancer. She went on to complete an MSc in Genes, Drugs, and Stem Cells – Novel Therapies at Imperial College London, Faculty of Medicine, with research at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology at Oxford investigating novel mechanisms of DNA repair and cellular stress signalling.

Her doctorate research focuses on developing biomarkers of red blood cell function and oxygen handling in the context of transplant and transfusion medicine. Julija has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in leading journals, including Blood, The Lancet Family, and Blood Advances, culminating in the development of a novel, patented biomarker of red cell function. She was awarded the Harold Gunson Fellowship by the International Society of Blood Transfusion, recognising outstanding scientists under 40. Beyond the laboratory, Julija has also served as President of the Oxford Venture Capital Network.

Credentials & Qualifications

• DPhil/PhD Candidate – Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, University of Oxford (DPAG)
• ‍MSc – Genes, Drugs and Stem Cells: Novel Therapies, Imperial College London
• ‍BA (Hons) – Biological Sciences, University of Oxford
• ‍Specialised Certifications from leading institutions spanning immunology, clinical trials, drug discovery and development, health law, intellectual property in healthcare, venture capital and financial markets, and technology entrepreneurship.
• Biomedical & Translational Scientist | Scientific Reviewer, Superpower Journal

Content Philosophy

Good science is the kind you can understand, remember, and use without thinking. It is our responsibility to carry out rigorous translation — ensuring that every piece of work we share is grounded in peer-reviewed research, clinical trial outcomes, mechanistic biology, and a deep understanding of systems and pathways in physiology.

Dysfunction does not arise from a single biomarker; it emerges from the interplay of many pathways and networks across biology, and it is on us to communicate that complexity without distortion. Above all, I see science as a responsibility: to generate and translate knowledge that not only advances academic fields, but also empowers people to understand and take charge of their own health. Poorly communicated science isn’t progress — it’s noise.

Professional Experience

• Chief Business Development Officer, University of Oxford – Proof of Concept ERC Grant
• Clinical Strategy, Superpower Health
• Research & Development, NHS Blood and Transplant (collaborator on Normothermic Perfusion of the Kidney Phase I trial)
• Venture Capital Fellow, Healthspan Capital
• President, Oxford Venture Capital Network

Editorial Role

• Fact-checked against peer-reviewed studies
• Consistent with major guidelines (e.g., WHO, NIH)
• Written in accessible, patient-friendly language

Research & Publications

“I am obsessed with democratising access to precision health — translating systems biology into solutions that enhance quality of life and extend healthy lifespan.”
Please see my research here.