Bernalite Laura Coffey

Meet our Bernalite Laura Coffey, from Munster.

Laura is a PhD researcher in protein crystallization. Her research area focuses on how protein crystalizes and the possibility to control parameters such as the size or number of crystals in a batch.

In 2016, Laura earned her Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, from the University of Limerick. Subsequently, she gained valuable industry experience in quality controls (QC) at Eurofins, Waterford. In 2017, she furthered her career by joining Regeneron, where she continued to excel in QC. Later, in 2019, Laura joined Janssen in Cork, where she played a crucial role in testing samples for batch release. The year 2020 marked a significant shift for her as she transitioned to MSD, venturing into the innovative and dynamic field of process sciences. Continuing down the path of experimentation, and discovery motivated her to apply for the PhD position in UL, where she is currently supervised by Sarah Hudson and Tewfik Soulimane, Professor and Principal Investigators at Bernal.

Laura humorously describes her work to the public, likening it to making meringues due to the protein's similarity to that found in egg whites. “I'm basically making meringues because the protein I'm using is found in egg whites. When you whip egg whites into a foam, that is where the protein is found. Then I'm using salt to make the crystals, a similar process to making meringues. My project involves using tiny volumes. Then I make up my crystallisation liquor, so I dissolve some protein in a solution. Now I’m adding amino acids to see if they increase the number of crystals or to see if the protein crystallises faster. I also want to see if they're included in the crystal as well. I take images under a microscope, count the crystals trend, and compare what the different additives do and their effectiveness.”

Why is this important?

The significance of Laura's research lies in the realm of biopharmaceuticals, which are costly and challenging to produce. By studying biological crystallization, her work could have crucial applications in purifying biopharmaceuticals, particularly those used in treating cancers and autoimmune diseases. Unlike traditional chemotherapy drugs with harsh side effects, biopharmaceuticals are more specific and targeted towards their intended molecules. Laura's work as a "stepping-stone" in changing the processing of these drugs could potentially reduce costs for patients and improve the accessibility of such treatments. Moreover, her research has broader implications, as successful crystallization of proteins could pave the way for solid dosage forms, addressing current supply chain issues related to storage and transportation of drugs like the COVID vaccine.

If her life could be a theme song, she said “Modest Mouse float on, it’s a good one because it’s quite positive, like if something bad happens, just keep pushing on.”

Couldn’t agree more Laura! Best of luck in all your work, we are proud to call you a #Bernalite, from #BernalNeighbourhood.