She is keen to continue to improve the lives of people in Scotland and the UK

A cancer charity worker who has spent years fighting to improve patients' lives is the newest member of the Young Academy of Scotland (YAS). 

Dr Sandra Quinn, who works as health services research manager at blood cancer charity Myeloma UK, is one of just 60 academics, entrepreneurs, and other experts in their fields to have been appointed to the Royal Society of Edinburgh body.

The 46-year-old said: “I was delighted to be accepted and pleasantly surprised. It’s an incredible opportunity. As part of the YAS, you work alongside other members to drive change and to improve the lives of people in Scotland. It’s very exciting and I am looking forward to working with other academy members over the next five years.”

Sandra, who trained as a classical pianist at Napier University before studying social sciences at Abertay University Dundee, added: “The Young Academy of Scotland is a real melting pot of people from diverse backgrounds, all trying to overcome the barriers facing people in Scotland.

“Whilst the members of the YAS focus on Scottish issues, their work substantially improves the lives of many people around the country and beyond.”

The Young Academy of Scotland was established by the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2011 to provide a platform for innovative young professionals from all areas of academia, business, third sector organisations and public life, to work together to address the most challenging issues facing society in Scotland and beyond. 

Sandra holds a PhD in psychology from the University of Stirling and spent 16 years as a postdoctoral researcher focusing on chronic conditions before moving into the charity sector.

She has carried out her research at a number of universities in the UK and abroad, including Cornell University in the US and the National Centre of Research in Pisa.

Since joining Myeloma UK in 2018, she has worked to improve the lives of people with myeloma, an incurable blood cancer which affects 2,000 patients in Scotland. 

Putting her research background and ability to analyse complex information to good use, over the past four years, she has focused on tackling health inequalities - including equal access to cancer services - in the UK, worked to break down barriers for the most vulnerable and offer patients a hopeful future, no matter where they live. 

With the help of her fellow YAS members, she is keen to continue to improve the lives of people in Scotland and the UK. 

For more information about myeloma or to get in touch with Myeloma UK go to www.myeloma.org.uk. Myeloma UK runs an Infoline on 0800 980 3332.