Teaching and Outreach
Academic Immunology – graduate and undergraduate
- 1983-85 TCD: designed, taught and assessed the first immunology course in Ireland (delivered to Med Lab Technologists, DIT Kevin St.)
- 1987-1990 Harvard University: designed, taught and assessed the only immunology course (Bio169) offered to Harvard undergraduates – taken by 60-70 students per year
- 1993-2007 SVUH/UCD: designed, taught and assessed first module in immunology offered to PhD students in Ireland
- 2007 TCD: module transferred to TCD; first taken by pharmaceutical industry (Elan)
- 2011 TCD: designed and set up MSc in Immunology;
‘Immunotherapeutics’ module particularly novel and successful - to be expanded into ‘MSc in Molecular Therapeutics’ - 2016 TCD: currently designing online module in Cancer Immunology for oncology health care workers
Since 1992: supervised 34 PhDs, 7 MDs and 5 MCh degrees PhDs include veterinary surgeon, clinicians and scientists
Nature Mentoring Award 2014 http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/science/articles/10.1038/nj7527-453a
Patient understanding of the science of their disease
- 1980-1985: TCD PhD and post-doc in coeliac disease – presented regularly to the Irish Coeliac Society
- 1995-2001: Board of Arthritis Council; presented to Irish Arthritis Patient Groups
- 2001-2006: Consultative Council for HCV; regularly presented to Positive Action (HCV Patient Group);
organised two international conferences 2003 & 2006 ‘Hepatitis C Past Present & Future’ unique feature: components of programme open to patients and the public
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/hepatitis-c-experts-at-dublin-conference-1.363912 - 2006-2010 Chair of Cancer Research Ireland;
2010-2014 Board Member of the Irish Cancer Society; communicated regularly to the public on cancer research.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/new-cancer-research-head-aims-for-focused-approach-1.1016367 http://www.imt.ie/opinion/guests/2009/12/commitment-to-cancer-research.html
- 2013 & 2015 competed successfully for HRB KEDs (Knowledge Exchange and Dissemination) Awards for public understanding of:
a. HCV research (2013)
b. Cancer Immunology research (2015)
Pharmaceutical Industry
- 2007 Immunology module designed and delivered to Elan
- 2014 Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association
- 2015: AstraZeneca - Immunoncology
- 2016: online immunology modules with BioCon: in development
- 2016 invited speaker: 3rd Annual Peptide Conference
http://www.peptides-congress.com/who-is-speaking/
Public Understanding of Science
- 2002 while President of the Irish Society of Immunology: established Irish Society of Immunology Public Lecture Award, given each year to prominent Irish Immunologist working at home or abroad who has to deliver a lecture on their research to the public.
http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/immune-detective-uses-genetics-to-unravel-rare-disease-mysteries-1.2584358 - 2009 & 2014: co-curated (with Luke O’Neill) two exhibitions at Science Gallery
a. ‘Infectious – Keep Away’ - included first ‘Lab in the Gallery’ - Immune Lab
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lozc9vusm4
b. ‘Fat - its Delicious’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMTg0b94HRU - Wellcome Award 2013: 1.8 million (co-applicant with Michael John Gorman, Luke O’Neill and Aoife MacLysaght) to Science Gallery & TBSI for Public Understanding of Biomedical Science
- Board member of Science Gallery: 2014 – present.
- Moscow 2013: presented at the annual All Russia Science Festival
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=353662668113882&set=a.353652364781579.1073741837.100004104561912&type=3&theater
http://www.en.festivalnauki.ru/ - Discover Research Dublin 2014 & 2015: Academic lead for Ireland’s contribution to EU Researchers’ Night; 177k Euro Award from Horizon2020; >5000 members of the public to 50 events on each occasion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m7fSK59AO4
- 2014 Dublin Talks: ‘Love your Bugs’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UoZwhS1E1M - 2014 HRB Red Alert: Ebola
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF49h7TbhgA&nohtml5=False - 2014: Pint of Science
http://www.pintofscience.ie/#!body-talks-dublin/c9lm - 2015: Set up (with Andrew Lloyd) Wexford Science Café – monthly meetings in Sky & The Ground, Wexford.
http://blobthescientist.blogspot.ie/2015/04/three-good-things-about-wexford.html - 2015: SFI Discover Programme Award ‘SmartWorld/Full Life’ to fund
a. research-promoting videos, one of which has had 2000 hits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGuqN7-5AAE
b. PhD Slam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY3FFQZ7crk&nohtml5=False - 2016: contributor to Data Protection Day 2016
https://dublin.sciencegallery.com/events/2016/01/onlineprivacyriskopportunityinnovation - Prof. O' Farrelly is on the steering group for the TCD Public Patient Involvement - Ignite Programme.
Young People & Science
- 2007: designed and established Biochemistry & Immunology TY Programme for Transition Year students (14-16 year olds); delivered twice a year to 25 students selected from schools around the country to come to TBSI for a week.
The Comparative Immunology Lab regularly hosts TY students on work experience as part of this programme.
- regularly visit primary and secondary schools in Wexford, Limerick and Dublin
- 2012: RDS Science Live Demonstration Lecture Series Award co-winner (lead PI Rachel McLoughlin) ‘Immune Wars: Bugs and Beyond (for primary school students 10-12 years of age)
- 2013: designed and delivered summer workshop ‘Epidemic - Going Viral’ for 14-16 year olds as part of HRB funded KEDs programme
https://dublin.sciencegallery.com/events/2013/07/sold-out-epidemic-going-viral-workshop - 2018: designed work shop material to explain Cancer Immunotherapy to young people as part of a HRB funded KEDS programme
Immunotherapy Narrative Script
Cancer Immunotherapy - 2012 - current: COF actively supports the Fetac Level 5 Pre-University Science Course offered by Killester College of Further Education. This course is designed to prepare students for entry into a first year of a degree course in science or a science-related field in a Higher Education Institution. The course is designed in particular for students who may not have studied science previously and has a large emphasis on both theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary in Science. Each year The Comparative Immunology Lab provides work experience placements to students undertaking this course.