Episode 13 with Sola Adeleke – Cancer Through My Eyes

In this thirteenth episode of Cancer Through My Eyes, we explore the journey of a physician-scientist who stands at the frontier where innovation, imaging, and oncology meet. Dr. Sola Adeleke’s story highlights the impact of persistence, multidisciplinary thinking, and an unshakable desire to build better tools for cancer care.

Dr. Adeleke is a senior oncology trainee at Guy’s Hospital in London and a PhD graduate from University College London, where he developed imaging-derived biomarkers to predict response in prostate cancer. His research now focuses on developing next-generation MRI technologies, including whole-body MRI, low-field MRI for cancer applications and novel AI-driven PSMA PET/CT imaging tools in prostate cancer. Beyond clinical and academic work, he is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Curenetics, a venture focused on enhancing immunotherapy response prediction through AI.

Dr. Sola Adeleke’s Story

Dr. Adeleke’s path to oncology was, by his own account, unplanned. Assigned to an oncology rotation during housemanship, he found himself immersed in the intense pace and demands of the field. While many peers tried to switch to less demanding specialties, he stayed—and discovered a genuine passion for oncology. Encouraged by mentors who recognized his physics background, he pursued radiation oncology residency and later expanded into imaging research.

It’s this layered foundation—clinician, scientist, entrepreneur—that defines his approach today. Whether advancing MRI technologies or building AI-driven platforms, Dr. Adeleke remains grounded by the patients he treats and the belief that innovation must serve real-world needs.

Q&A:

1. Dr. Adeleke, you’ve trained across so many areas of medicine, from stroke and cardiology to oncology and acute care. What ultimately led you to choose oncology as your long-term path?

My training in stroke and cardiology was for 6 months each:) not sure that gives me enough exposure. However, to answer your question, I didn’t really plan oncology. I was offered a rotation in oncology during my housemanship. It was a very busy rotation with many on calls. A lot of my colleagues did request to swap out of it for slightly less intensive rotations such as pathology or anesthesia.

I tried to swap I wasn’t successful. When I got into rotation though, I found out I liked it! When my head of department found out I studied physics as an undergraduate, he encouraged to consider a career in radiation oncology. I applied for residency in radiation oncology shortly after my housemanship. Luckily, I got in!

2. You’ve dedicated years to advancing MRI in cancer care. What was it about imaging that made you want to dig deeper, to not just use it, but to innovate within it?

MRI is such a versatile imaging modality. You can adjust or tweak the sequences in various ways to reveal more information about regions of interest in the human body. Very few other imaging modalities have these capabilities. Also, MRI came to existence due to true multidisciplinary work of scientists across different fields. The opportunity to explore these various imaging sequences provides the opportunity for research

3. You’re passionate about developing MR biomarkers for prostate cancer. When you’re working with invisible things like data and signals, what reminds you of the real people behind the science?

Being a practicing clinician helps. In fact, I think it’s important. Seeing patients in clinic reminds you why you are doing this and keeps you motivated to find new solutions

4. You’ve taken on roles as a clinician, researcher, founder, and entrepreneur. Has there ever been a moment where all of those identities felt at odds and how did you push through it?

Lot of tasks and responsibilities. Somehow, they are also intertwined. It does require me to assume different ‘personalities’ at different occasions. It’s really challenging as well as fun.

5. Your work with Curenetics places you at the edge of where science meets business. What have you learned about leadership and risk that medical training didn’t prepare you for?

You need different set of skills to navigate either of them. Start-ups or scale ups often have the predisposition to “do something’ first and “ask questions or apologise later”. Meanwhile, science is careful, driven by evidence and takes its time.

6. You’re part of the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Fellowship. How has that community shaped your thinking about the future of cancer care, especially in the UK?

Very good programme and provides valuable support network. The things I learned on that programme still valuable to me till this day

7. From low-field MRI to whole-body imaging, your work deals with emerging technologies. What advice would you give to a young oncologist who’s passionate about innovation but unsure where to start?

Just to do it. As per Nike logo. Be prepared to fail and learn from mistakes. Though it could be an emotional roller coaster. It’s fun!

8. The path you’ve chosen, academic oncology, is demanding and often underappreciated. What keeps your motivation alive when the progress feels slow or invisible?

The incremental progress made keeps academic clinicians going and all the body of work do come together and create an impact.

9. You’ve seen cancer from many angles: through the eyes of a physician, a scientist, and an innovator. How have these perspectives changed your understanding of what it means to truly help a patient?

It is quite hard to see patients who have reached the end of the lines of therapies for their cancer but still fit enough to keep fighting. This could be really heart-breaking. This is one of the reasons I keep working in this field to see how I can make a difference in my own little way.

10. Looking ahead, what kind of mark do you hope to leave, not just in research or technology, but in how future oncologists think, care, and lead?

I hope my work in medical entrepreneurship could make an impact, no matter how small. If I managed to achieve this, I will be really pleased.

As Cancer Through My Eyes continues, Dr. Adeleke’s story is a testament to the power of unexpected journeys, cross-disciplinary innovation, and patient-centered ambition. His work reminds us that progress in oncology demands not just science—but courage, creativity, and heart.

Have someone you’d like to see featured next? Reach out—we’re always listening.

Stay tuned for more stories that illuminate the hearts behind the science.

                                                                                         By Semiramida Nina Markosyan, HBSc.