Posts in category: Cancer

About me and how I started this project.

Hi I’m Sam. I’m currently doing a masters of research funded by AllCaN. Growing up, I always knew I wanted to study Biology, glued to the latest David Attenborough documentary. Throughout my bachelor’s degree in Biomedical and Molecular Diagnostics I learned a great deal about diseases, how they develop, and how we are able to diagnose them. I continued to be fascinated with human biology, having learned a large breadth of topics from basic cell biology, to more detailed and complicated biological pathways and diseases.  During this time, I began to realise that it’s difficult to think of a disease where the immune system isn’t an important part of the puzzle, especially when it comes to cancer. Once I started to learn about immunology in more detail and its translation into real treatments, I was hooked. I knew that I wanted to pursue my own research in cancer immunology. After this realisation, I reached out to my now primary supervisor Prof Joanne Lysaght who luckily had an exciting project starting with my now co-supervisor Dr Aideen Ryan. 

How is immune system relevant to Barrett’s Oesophagus?

Barrett’s oesophagus is a precursor to oesophageal cancer. It is now widely recognised that Barrett’s oesophagus is driven by inflammation. This occurs as stomach acid goes back up the oesophagus (food pipe) and irritates the cells which line it, resulting in inflammation. This is not normally an issue, however when the cells are constantly or regularly exposed to stomach acid the oesophagus becomes chronically inflamed, damaging the cells, leading to Barrett’s oesophagus. Treatments for Barrett’s are mostly aimed at managing the symptoms such as proton pump inhibitors, however these don’t prevent the disease from progressing. Once Barrett’s progresses to cancer, only one 1 in 5 patients will live past 5 years. Given the poor treatment landscape for Barrett’s oesophagus and oesophageal cancer patients, there is a huge unmet need for research into these diseases. Further understanding how the immune system drives the development of Barrett’s and its progression into cancer, could offer new insights for translational treatment approaches in halting or slowing disease progression. 

What am I researching?

My research hopes to understand how the immune system changes throughout the progression of Barrett’s oesophagus to oesophageal cancer. The Immune system is a finely tuned and delicate system which has multiple components ensuring proper function and an appropriate response. Signalling molecules on the surface of immune cells are vital in maintaining its normal function, known as ‘immune checkpoints’. These immune checkpoints are the target of immunotherapies which have seen great success in the treatment of cancer. Traditionally, research has been mostly focused on immune checkpoints within the context of immune cells. However, our research group has shown that immune checkpoints are also expressed on the surface of cells outside of the immune system, changing as Barrett’s oesophagus develops and progresses to cancer.

My research focuses on the role of immune checkpoint signalling in the development of Barrett’s oesophagus in cells outside of the immune system. Specifically, I’m interested in the cells which go on to become premalignant and cancerous known as ‘epithelial cells’, along  with their surrounding supportive cells known as ‘stromal cells’. Given the vital role of immune checkpoints for immune cells, we believe they play an important role in non-immune cells, contributing to the progression and onset of inflammatory associated diseases such as Barrett’s oesophagus.

All About Me 

My name is Diana Cooke and I am a PhD candidate at Trinity College Dublin. I grew up in Clonmany, a very small village in Donegal, where I attended Carndonagh Community School. From a young age, I always knew I wanted to be able to help people in the future, which led me to studying Psychology at the University of Galway. During my undergraduate degree, I had the opportunity to work with the Irish Cancer Society on a project aiming to improve the quality of life of people living with hereditary cancer predispositions, which helped me to develop a passion for health psychology and its potential to improve the lives of people facing long-term health challenges. This interest ultimately led me to pursue a Master’s in Health Psychology also at the University of Galway.

My past research explored different aspects of life for people at high risk of developing cancer, such as managing uncertainty, emotional well-being, and the psychological impact of regular screenings and preventive measures. A key part of this research was also exploring how family, friends, and healthcare providers influence health decisions. This work revealed that the support and advice from loved ones and healthcare professionals play a critical role in helping individuals make informed decisions about their health, adopting healthier lifestyles, and managing the emotional burden of living with increased cancer risk. Through this work, I gained valuable insights into the resilience and coping mechanisms individuals develop when faced with such a daunting risk.

All of this led me to pursue my PhD, where I aim to develop a lifestyle intervention for individuals with Barrett’s Oesophagus to improve their quality of life and reduce cancer risk, under the supervision of Dr. Emer Guinan, Prof. Juliette Hussey, and Dr. Olinda Santin

When I’m not working, I’m likely strolling along a beautiful Donegal beach or lost in a book, with coffee in hand. When I’m indoors, I love to cook, as you might expect from my name, and I find it to be a relaxing way to unwind after a busy day, especially when making simple, comforting meals.

All About Me 

My name is Orla Carney and I am currently a second year MPhil student based in the Centre for Public Health at Queens University Belfast. I completed my undergraduate medical degree at Queens and graduated in 2016. I then completed my foundation medical training rotating through various specialties including renal medicine, geriatrics, orthopaedics and oncology.  I have always loved travelling and after completing my foundation programme, I knew I wanted to spend some time working abroad to experience a different healthcare system. I opted for the sunny shores of Perth, Western Australia where I spent two years working in a busy emergency department. I gained such a wealth of experience during this time by assessing and treating a range of patients, from tiny newborn babies to the elderly patients presenting towards the end of life. I even gained skills in the management of snake bites, although these are skills that I thankfully haven’t had to use since returning to Ireland!

I think I adapted well to the Aussie way of life with my days off filled with road trips, sea swims and plenty of barbecues. However, my time there was also filled with uncertainty as we faced the challenges of the beginning of the COVID pandemic. In many ways, as Perth is the most isolated city in the world, there was no better place to be during this time. On the other hand, with my friends and family on the other side of the world, I knew that home was calling and so I made the decision to return to Belfast in 2021.

I began my general practice training in 2021 as I knew I wanted to work with a variety of patients regarding age, clinical presentation and complexity of medical problems. In my final year of GP training, I was given the opportunity to become involved in research through the GP Academic Research Training Scheme. Whilst I had no previous involvement or experience with research, I had always been interested in gaining research skills and knew this would be an invaluable opportunity. When considering my potential areas for research, I thought back to my time working in oncology in my foundation years. This is a speciality which I had always found interesting and with early diagnostics being such a rapidly evolving area, I felt that this would be an exciting area to begin my research journey.

Outside of work, I am a keen runner and completed my first half marathon last year. I am currently training for the Paris marathon in April 2025 in aid of Cancer Focus NI. I regularly run with various social running clubs in Belfast and find these a great way to meet people and destress after a busy clinic day.

I am Pousali Chatterjee, and I am from West Bengal, India. I completed my undergradate and postgraduate courses in Human Physiology from Burdwan University and the latter from Calcutta University. I specialised in Endocrinology and got exposure to working with the pancreas and the associated inflammation of this organ that is caused by certain lifestyle choices, like Bisphenol-A, that can be found in the lining of canned food and all the plastic boxes or polycarbonate tableware that we use on a daily basis. I was intrigued by how our environment and food choices affect inflammation in our bodies and our overall health. Inflammation is associated with the development of many chronic diseases including heart disease, diabetes and cancer. The mechanisms driving this inflammation, however, are poorly understood and this is a major focus of my PhD project.

After I graduated from Calcutta University, I worked as a lecturer and lab instructor in my undergraduate college. I held this position for a year before moving to University College Dublin (UCD) in 2018 to undertake an MSc in Biotechnology and Business. I know it sounds off-track, ‘human physiology’ and suddenly ‘business?’, I get this question a lot! Biotechnology is revolutionising the healthcare sector, so I really wanted to learn more about the latest technologies out there. In addition, business training gave me a much more holistic understanding of problem-solution fit and how to go about asking the right questions in my research. Currently, I am pursuing my PhD under the supervision of Dr Fiona McGillicuddy and Prof. Helen Roche at UCD, exploring the role of dietary factors in driving inflammation, and possible causal role in mediating the transition of Barrett’s Oesophagus (an inflammatory disease) to Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma (cancer).

I used the term ‘Inflammation’ a couple of times, so what is it?

In simple words, inflammation is the response of the body to protect itself from injury, infection, and diseases. They can be classified as acute or chronic: acute inflammation begins following a tissue injury and lasts for a few days whereas chronic inflammation is a response to an unresolved issue within our body causing constant flaring, indicating that something adverse is going on and needs attention. Acute inflammation can go away by taking prescribed medications such as antibiotics for bacterial infections, NSAIDs, or painkillers. But for chronic inflammation, it is more challenging. This inflammation is often low-grade inflammation which can be very difficult to detect systemically. Some biomarkers like C-reactive protein, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, and plasma viscosity can be helpful, however, more sensitive biomarkers to detect low-grade inflammation and associated adverse effects on health are still an unmet need.  This is one area that I am studying within my PhD. If chronic inflammation is suspected, many medications can be utilised to help alleviate the inflammation, such as corticosteroids or biologics.

Continuous overstimulation of the immune system causes chronic low-grade inflammation. This can occur in an individual because of low-level continuous exposure to industrial chemicals, dietary factors (saturated fats), autoimmune disorders, or autoinflammatory diseases. The risks associated with chronic low-grade inflammation are also increased by smoking, obesity, older age, and eating food with unhealthy fat and sugar. Simple tasks such as eating right, having a proper diet, and exercising can help manage chronic inflammation. One particular disease that I am working on at the moment is Barrett’s Oesophagus – an inflammatory condition that heightens the risk of developing oesophageal cancer.

Acid reflux happens when the contents of our stomach flow up to the tube connecting our mouth to the stomach, called the oesophagus. The lower oesophageal sphincter weakens, relaxes, and lets the acid pass up to the oesophagus. Lying down after heavy meals contributes to continuous and repetitive irritation of acid to the oesophagus leading to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) which can affect 10%-20% of the population. Over time, the inner cell lining of the oesophagus can change with constant acid reflux exposure, and increasing the chances of cancer forming in the oesophagus. GORD is a major risk factor for the development of Barrett’s Oesophagus.

All About Me

I’m Lorraine, a first year PhD student based in the Trinity Translational Medicine Institute (TTMI) on the St James’s Hospital campus, Dublin. I’m originally from Ballybofey in Donegal and I attended St Columba’s College in Stranorlar. I was always fascinated by science in school, it was my favourite subject, and my teachers were hugely inspirational. I chose to study Biology, Chemistry and Home Economics for Leaving Certificate and these were both my favourite and strongest subjects. I wasn’t sure what to choose to study in college but after much thought and deliberation I chose General Science in Trinity as this offered a lot of choice throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two years where I studied many different subjects. I chose to specialise in Molecular Medicine in my final years as I was captivated by human immunology and disease mechanisms and this course provided a broad base of knowledge on a wide range of topics. After college, I worked as a Research Assistant with Prof. Jacintha O’Sullivan, who is now my PhD supervisor, in the Department of Surgery at TCD. I really enjoyed working in her lab, I found it endlessly fascinating, mentally stimulating and it provided a strong sense of purpose, which prompted me to pursue a PhD.

Outside of the lab, I love running, especially in the mornings, I find it hugely energising and also a great way to clear my head and destress. I am currently training for my second half- marathon and hope to run my first marathon later this year. In the evenings, I love reading, especially fiction, or watching TV with my flatmates. At the weekends, I spend time with my friends and family, we enjoy going for long walks together especially by the coast and trying new restaurants and coffee shops.

What is Barrett’s Oesophagus and why should we study it?

Barrett’s Oesophagus is an inflammatory disease where cells in the oesophagus, or food pipe, undergo abnormal changes. This occurs in response to long-term acid reflux where acid from the stomach flows back up into the oesophagus. Symptoms include persistent and severe heartburn, difficulty swallowing and indigestion. Treatments include medications which limit the production of acid from the stomach and ease the symptoms of indigestion. If the disease has progressed, surgery can be performed to remove the abnormal cells using a modified endoscope. Alternatively, a therapy called radio frequency ablation is administered. This involves the use of radio waves, and the heat the radio waves generate to kill abnormal cells. Often this is performed in conjunction with surgery. One further treatment option is a procedure called Nissen fundoplication where the valve connecting the stomach and oesophagus is strengthened to prevent acid migrating up the oesophagus.

People with Barrett’s Oesophagus undergo routine endoscopes to monitor disease progression. This is important as approximately 1 in 100 of people with Barrett’s Oesophagus will develop oesophageal cancer (OAC). This is a poor prognosis cancer, but early detection significantly improves survival rates. However, stopping and/or delaying its progression to OAC through novel treatment interventions could also be key in combating this cancer.

What is electroporation and could calcium help treat Barrett’s Oesophagus?

Electroporation is the term used when small electrical pulses are applied to a cell. This creates pores in the cell’s exterior. These pores allow substances into the cell which otherwise cannot enter. Electroporation can be combined with chemotherapy (electrochemotherapy), in what is now emerging as a promising anticancer therapy. Combining electroporation with chemotherapy increases the toxicity of chemotherapies by several thousand times. During electrochemotherapy, the drug is injected into the tumour, then an electric field is applied. Thus, toxic systemic effects of chemotherapy are reduced. Interestingly, calcium has also been investigated as a combination therapy for several malignancies such as melanoma, colorectal cancer, and head and neck cancer. It has been shown to display the same efficacy as various chemotherapies, does not damage surrounding tissues and is inexpensive, making it an attractive treatment option better tolerated by patients. Therefore, combining calcium with electroporation for the treatment of Barrett’s Oesophagus could be a plausible treatment option.