International Women’s Day – Dr Jing Su
For International Women’s Day, IGC Bioinformatics Analysis Core Manager Dr Jing Su talks about her career and experience as a female leader.
I come from China and was born and raised in Beijing, a city rich in history and heritage. Growing up in the capital, I was surrounded by centuries-old landmarks, with the Forbidden City just a short walk from my home, an environment that nurtured my appreciation for China’s deep cultural roots.
Beijing is very cold in winter. I loved watching snowflakes form delicate frost patterns on the window, resembling blooming flowers. Their intricate beauty and symmetry sparked my curiosity about the natural world, igniting my interest in science and the hidden patterns that shape our universe.
I moved to the UK to pursue my studies and research, which included completing a PhD in Computational Biology at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) in the University of Cambridge. I then conducted research primarily in cancer genomics at the Sanger Institute, EMBL-EBI and CRUK CI, and contributed to clinical cancer patient diagnosis at Genomics England and NHS England.
I came to the University of Edinburgh in 2024 to lead our Bioinformatics Analysis Core (BAC) team at the Institute of Genetics and Cancer (IGC), a group of seven dedicated bioinformaticians. Together, we collaborate with academic researchers on cutting-edge scientific projects while also providing clinical diagnostic services to the NHS.
Our work sits at the intersection of scientific discovery and real-world healthcare application, where we bridge the gap between innovative research and clinical implementation. By integrating advanced bioinformatics with clinical genomics, we strive to enhance diagnostic precision, improve patient outcomes and drive translational medicine forward.
We are at a pivotal moment in the integration of bioinformatics into clinical practice, where the unprecedented scale of genomic data holds the key to transforming diagnostics and patient care. By leveraging high-throughput sequencing, variant interpretation and data-driven insights, we can enhance NHS Scotland’s exome diagnostic service, ensuring more accurate and timely identification of rare diseases. At the same time, establishing a cancer genome standard care service will enable precision oncology, allowing clinicians to tailor treatments based on each patient’s unique genetic profile.
This is not just an advancement in technology, it is a commitment to delivering equitable, data-driven healthcare solutions that directly benefit patients and improve outcomes across populations. I firmly believe that IGC’s translational research model provides an exceptional framework for bridging the gap between genomic discovery and clinical application, driving forward a new standard of care in genomic medicine in Scotland.
Being a woman in a science leadership role is like climbing a mountain where the path is steeper, the wind stronger and the footing less certain than for others making the same ascent. Each step forward requires twice the effort to prove my strength, while unseen forces sometimes pull me back. Along the way, there are fewer guides to follow, fewer places to rest, and the summit is always just a little farther than it seems. Yet, despite the struggle, I keep climbing, not just for myself but to carve a clearer path for those who follow.
I have too many role models to list as I learn from inspiring individuals everywhere, and from the people around me every day.
Now, more than ever, we need driven and passionate scientists to step into the world of clinical translation. The challenges are real, but so is the opportunity to make a lasting impact – every discovery holds the potential to change lives. Whether you work in bioinformatics or another scientific field, don’t let your research stay in the lab. Collaborate with clinicians, apply your knowledge to real-world problems, and help turn science into better diagnostics, treatments and patient care. The true power of science lies not just in discovery, but in its ability to heal, to save and to transform lives.
Step forward and be part of that change.
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