Researchers hailing from diverse backgrounds across physiotherapy, clinical and nursing took top honours for their involvement in pioneering projects at the Irish Cancer Society Research Awards on Thursday 24 February.

The 2020 edition of the Society’s annual showcase hosted by Newstalk Lunchtime Live presenter Dr Ciara Kelly was notable for the cross-section of specialisms represented among award recipients, with work on breast cancer, blood cancer and exercise oncology all recognised.

St James’s Hospital chartered physiotherapist Dr Gráinne Sheill was awarded Post-doctoral Researcher of the Year for her contribution to studies on improving patients’ fitness after intensive cancer treatments as part of her post-doctoral fellowship at Trinity College Dublin, while John Daly from NUIG was chosen as PhD Researcher of the Year for his work on combating Multiple Myeloma.

Prof Joe Duffy’s publication on the need for good therapy for patients with triple negative breast cancer received the award for Research Paper of the Year, and in the special team mate-nominated category for Research Support Staff of the Year Jess Walsh from Blood Cancer Network Ireland in NUIG took the honours for her role in recruiting and managing clinical trial participants as a research nurse.

Irish Cancer Society Head of Research Dr Robert O’Connor congratulated the winners on their awards: “We’re delighted to be able to recognise the tremendous contributions of all our winners from cancer centres across Ireland. Their work is often unsung but pivotal in enabling improvements in the care of people affected by cancer.”

Donations from members of the public are vital to making research grants and scholarships awarded by the Irish Cancer Society a reality, which in turn help to bring about practical improvements in cancer care and treatment.