Contact Details:
- 4th Floor, Western Gateway Building, Western Road
Position:
PhD Candidate
Supervisor:
Dr. Kellie Dean (UCC), Dr. Derville O鈥橲hea (CUH Haematologist), and Dr. Eoghan Molloy (CUH Haematologist)
Research Area:
Circulating nucleic acids, cell free DNA (cfDNA), lymphoma.
Category:
Postgraduate Students
Project
The primary objective is to evaluate the feasibility of analysing cell-free DNA (cfDNA), a type of circulating fragmented DNA found in the blood, and investigating how it can be used to monitor patients alongside their routine PET/CT scans at CUH. A secondary objective is to explore tumour heterogeneity, examining how different parts of the same tumour may behave differently. Cl铆odhna will employ statistical modelling and PET scan image analysis techniques, with support from colleagues in UCC鈥檚 School of Mathematical Sciences, to better predict patient outcomes and prognosis. The ultimate aim of her research is to support the use of liquid biopsies for monitoring in high-grade non-Hodgkin鈥檚 lymphoma, with the overarching goal of reducing the need for tumour biopsies and improving patient outcomes through more effective, non-invasive monitoring methods.