Professor Patrick G. Johnston Award

About this award

The Inaugural Professor Patrick Johnston IACR Award for Excellence in Cancer Research Outreach was presented at the 55th IACR Conference in Belfast 2019, to remember the legacy of Prof. Johnston.

Six early career researchers are selected based on their lay abstract submissions to IACR. Those selected take part in a patient communication workshop prior to IACR conference and are asked to prepare a lay presentation on their work.

Each year the award is given to the best early stage investigator for excellence in cancer research communication and outreach to the public. The award is unique as the winner is selected based on the majority vote by the panel of scientists, patients and the general public during the dedicated award session at the annual conference.

IACR 2022 Nominees

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.

IACR 2022 Presentations

Who was Professor Johnston?

Professor Patrick G. Johnston

Patrick G. Johnston
FRCP FRCPI FMedSci
14 September 1958 – 4 June 2017

Professor Johnston was an Irish physician and world-leading expert in cancer research.

He was a Professor of Oncology at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), where he served as Vice-Chancellor and President from March 1, 2014. Professor Johnston’s research focus was on the understanding of mechanisms of drug resistance to therapeutic agents.

His philosophy placed the cancer patient at the center of the cancer care and research agenda.

Professor Johnston also had a passion for engaging and invigorating young early-stage cancer researchers and he mentored many great clinicians and scientists.

Award Gallery

Shannon Nelson

2020 Winner of Prof. Patrick G. Johnston Award

Presented by Dr. Iseult Wilson and Prof. Amanda McCann

2020 Six chosen early career researchers

Ms. Eve O’Reilly (UCD)Ms. Anu Prakash (NUI Galway). Dr. Karima Khalifa (UCD). Dr. Neil Conlon (DCU). Ms. Naomi Algeo (St James’ Hospital/TCD). Ms. Shannon Nelson (DCU).

Romina Silva

2019 Winner of Prof. Patrick G. Johnston Award

Presented by Dr. Iseult Wilson, wife of the late Prof. Patrick G. Johnston

Donate to Cancer Research

All donations to the IACR go directly towards supporting early-stage oncology scientific researchers in their work.

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IACR 2023 Carer’s Bursary €300

Apply for funding towards additional costs of care while attending conference. Five Bursaries Available.

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Registration/ Membership for IACR 2023

Registration for the 59th Annual Conference in the Radisson Blu hotel, Athlone is Now Open.

EACR Membership is Included

The IACR is an affiliated national society and its members benefit from full membership of the EACR.

See EACR Benefits

Biomedical Session Abstracts

Deadline: Midnight, Friday, 20th January 2023

Please note:
- Patrick Johnston Lay submission category is now closed
- Late Breaking Abstracts submitted to the Biomedical Sessions will be considered for Display Poster Presentation.

Social Nursing and Allied Health (SNAH) Abstracts

Deadline: Midnight, Monday, 9th January 2023

SNAH abstract submissions will remain open until Monday 9th January.

Any questions?
Please contact Sinead on: sinead@sineadcassidy.com