Cora Treacy Dunne

Student – MSc in Bioinformatics

Donegal – Letterkenny

Can you tell us your name, job title, and the course you are studying at ATU?

My name is Cora Treacy Dunne, currently working as a Cell Therapy Specialist but finishing up soon, and I am studying a Masters of Science in Bioinformatics

Can you share your career path to date?

After graduating, I worked as a demonstrator in an anatomy dissection lab, which was a very hands-on experience. I assisted with neuroanatomy labs with medical students, and lower limb dissection for anatomy students. I really enjoyed evolutionary biology, particularly how the human body has been shaped by the environment to become what we see today. From there, I joined the McStay lab in the Centre for Chromosome Biology. The lab’s research centres on the nucleolus, one of the most conserved regions of the genome and the site of ribosome biogenesis. As a Research Assistant, I supported chromosome engineering projects investigating nucleolar formation and organisation. I then moved to Amsterdam to work as a Cell Therapy Specialist in Kite Pharma. Here, I worked directly with patients’ blood to manufacture CAR T cell therapy for diffuse B cell lymphoma, a rare form of blood cancer. I found this experience to be really fulfilling, as I knew the work had a direct impact on people’s lives.

What does your current role involve?

Guiding the process of CAR T cell therapy, from the initial intake of patients’ apheresis, to isolating the immune cells. We then genetically modify the cells, reprogramming them so they will recognise and fight the cancer. The cells are then expanded and sampled every day for 7-10 days, before being formulated into a final product bag which is reinfused into the patient. The role involves being fully gowned up in PPE in a cleanroom environment- it is imperative that there is no contamination to the cells. It requires an ability to work quickly and accurately under time pressure, and meticulous attention to detail to avoid mistakes.

What motivated you to start studying?

I had a period of illness which meant I could no longer work in the cleanroom, so I wanted to return to education to gain a sense of direction. I was also very interested in the development of new treatments and therapies, and wanted to get involved in foundational research. Working in Kite, I saw the end stage of the biomedical research pipeline, and I was inspired to take my own path.

Why did you choose this course at ATU?

I chose this course at ATU as I was very interested in Bioinformatics and the prospect of combining biology with computer science. A few of my friends at the Centre for Chromosome Biology had completed their PhDs in the area, and I was intrigued by the work that they were doing. I also appreciated that no prior programming knowledge was required for the course, giving me the opportunity to learn from scratch.

How do you find the process of studying in a flexible manner? What elements did you find helpful? Were there elements you found challenging?

I found the flexible approach to be very freeing; since you’re not restricted to a time or place to study, it allows you to work on your own schedule. You can work from anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection. One thing I found slightly challenging was the wholly independent method of learning. By nature of an online course, there wasn’t much interaction with the other students, so it wasn’t easy to keep up with how others are managing the material. However, the lecturers are always willing to help out when you encounter any difficulty. The main thing I’ve taken from this course is perseverance- there’s a great sense of reward when your code finally works after hours of tinkering, and you get back what you put into it.

What advice would you have for anyone considering studying a flexible learning programme?

I would recommend watching the lectures live, even though they’re always recorded. It helps you to be more engaged, and you can ask questions in real time, giving you more clarity on the material. Keeping track of all the different files and assignments is also important- since you’ll be working almost exclusively on your computer, it’s better to stay organised from the start.

In what way has studying with ATU benefitted your career to date?

Getting a Masters opens up a lot of doors, particularly in the realm of research. A background in Bioinformatics can be a huge asset when starting a PhD, and this course definitely sets you up to analyse and interpret different types of genomic data. I feel well-equipped to handle real-world bioinformatics problems, and will definitely refer back to the resources provided in this course.