Prof. Patrick G. Johnston Award for Excellence in Cancer Research Outreach

Six early career researchers have been selected based on their lay abstract submissions to IACR 2024. Those selected will take part in a patient communication workshop prior to IACR 2024 and will prepare a lay presentation on their work. Presentations will be delivered to peers and a lay audience at The Patrick G. Johnston Award for Excellence in Cancer Research. The winner is chosen by the audience and judging panel. Every year the event is open to the public.

Ms. Anastasija Walsh

University of Galway

My name is Ana and I am a PhD student from Dublin. In 2019 I graduated with a Bachelors in Molecular Medicine, followed by a Masters in Immunotherapeutics from Trinity College Dublin and then started my PhD in Medicine in the University of Galway. Here, I work with Dr. Aideen Ryan to investigate the role of extracellular vesicles in the colorectal tumour microenvironment.

Izabela Cymer

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

My name is Izabela, and I am a PhD student at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. In 2022, I began a PhD under the supervision of Prof. Ann Hopkins and Prof. Siobhan Glavey. My research focuses on developing a fast and cost-effective alternative model for tumour development and drug testing using the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). This model has the potential to accelerate the testing of new therapeutics while making research more accessible.

Luna Stockmann

Dublin City University

My name is Luna and I am a 1st year PhD student in Dublin City University with Dr Neil Conlon. I am from Germany and graduated from the University of Goettingen (Germany) in 2023 with a BSc in Molecular Medicine. At the end of my Bachelors degree, I did an internship In DCU and undertook my bachelor's thesis research there as well. I returned in 2024 and started my PhD project investigating combination treatments for ovarian cancer. I work with Antibody-Drug-Conjugates (ADCs) and different DNA damage inhibitors to find more effective and kinder treatment options for ovarian cancer patients.

Michéal Ryan

Queen’s University Belfast

My name is Michéal, and I am a third-year PhD student at Queen’s University Belfast. In 2021, I graduated with a BSc in Biomedical Science from Ulster University and began my PhD at the PGJCCR in September 2022. I am part of the Liquid Biopsy Consortium of Ireland (CluB), working with Prof. Paul Mullan to develop a diagnostic blood test for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer using circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA). Research has shown that a substantial amount of tumour-derived information enters the bloodstream, making liquid biopsies a promising, non-invasive alternative to surgical biopsies. In this project, our group aims to identify DNA methylation (DNAme) events in tumours that could serve as potential biomarkers for the improved diagnosis of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Dr Myra Castel

Dublin City University

My name is Myra, and I just completed my PhD earlier this year in Dublin City University in the Cancer Biotherapeutics Research Group headed by Assistant Professor Denis Collins. I graduated with a Master's degree in Biotechnology from a French graduate engineering school in 2020 and I started my PhD right after that. My research focuses on identifying new indications and novel combinations for a small molecule inhibitor that is already approved for the treatment of HER2+ breast cancer.

Shauna McClelland

Queens University Belfast

My name is Shauna, and I am a 3^rd year PhD student at Queens University Belfast. I completed a BSc in Biological Sciences (2019) and MSc in Cancer Medicine (2020) from QUB. I worked for a year within a safety laboratory for clinical trials before beginning my PhD in 2022. Here I work with Dr Melissa Wilson and Dr Cristina Branco along with my collaborators and funders in AstraZeneca. My project focuses on unlocking new therapeutic options to treat advanced and resistant prostate cancer. To do this we are investigating a protein pathway involving CXCR1/2 and its partner IL-8, which helps tumours grow, spread, and evade treatment. If we can block this pathway, it could provide new hope for men with advanced, treatment-resistant prostate cancer.