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Current Post

Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute

Qualifications

PhD (2010) Maynooth University
Professional Certificate in Postgraduate Teaching and Learning (2008) Maynooth University
BSc Biotechnology (2005) Maynooth University

Research Background

Dr Dunne’s research interests are focused on elucidating the role of novel innate lymphocyte subsets, such as gamma/delta (γδ) T cells and mucosa-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, in human health and disease, and how such immunological markers may be used to predict patient clinical outcomes. Studies to date have involved characterisation of T cell subtypes in disorders such as coeliac disease, colorectal cancer and in progression from inflammation to cancer. Dr Dunne’s current work involves assessing whether immunological parameters, such as the antigen presenting molecule HLA-DR can predict patient clinical responses in the setting of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC), an aggressive type of cancer. OAC rates are increasing in Ireland and have been predicted to double within the next two decades.

Project Titles

1. Development of prognostic screening tools to predict patient response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy treatment for oesophageal adenocarcinoma
2. Assessment of the predictive value of immune and histological parameters in oesophageal adenocarcinoma using digital pathology

Research Areas

Cancer immunology, immunotherapy, translational medicine, γδ T cells, MAIT cells, immune scoring, patient stratification