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 Alexa Little

QUB

My name is Alexa and I am a PhD student from Belfast. In 2021 I graduated with a BSc in Biomedical Science from Cardiff University and then started my PhD in QUB School of Pharmacy. Here I work with Dr Niamh Buckley and Prof Michael Tunney to investigate the role of a specific bacterium in breast cancer.

Ms Adele Connor

UCD

Adele is a third year PhD student in UCD, having previously obtained a BSc from Maynooth University and an MSc from Ulster University. Adele worked as a Research Assistant in Assoc. Prof.
Antoinette Perrys lab (UCD) and was awarded an Irish Cancer Society PhD scholarship in 2021 (supervised by Assoc. Prof. Antoinette Perry, Prof. Jeremy Simpson, and Assoc. Prof. Joanne Lysaght).
Adele’s work is focused on developing personalised treatment for women with ovarian cancer.

Ms Aideen McCabe

UCC

My name is Aideen and I am a second year PhD student based in UCC. I graduated with a BSc in Plant Biology in 2020, then went on to complete an MSc in Bioinformatics. Currently, I am supervised by Dr Kellie Dean and Dr Simon McDade. My PhD project focuses on investigating the diagnostic potential of long non-coding RNAs in ovarian cancer, as well as exploring the clinical utility of in vitro ovarian cancer models.

Ms Rebecca Lyons

TCD

My name is Rebecca and I am a second year PhD student from Wicklow. In 2021 I completed my M.Sc. in Translational Oncology from Trinity College Dublin. Following completion of my master’s degree, I began my PhD in Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute. I work with Dr. Joanne Lysaght, Dr. Stephen Maher and the Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Group to investigate the immune component of pancreatic cyst fluid for improved cancer risk stratification.

Ms Aoise O'Neill

NUIG

Hi I'm Aoise, I'm from Limerick and I'm in the 2nd year of my PhD in University of Galway. I have a BSc in Industrial Biochemistry from UL, class of 2018, after which I spent 2 years in Vancouver, Canada as a researcher in a startup biologics company. I started my PhD with Dr. Aideen Ryan in the Lambe Institute, University of Galway, in the spring of 2021 and am happy to be part of a dynamic research group investigating the role of hypersialylated stromal cells in immune regulation of colorectal cancer

Ms Niamh Leonard (PhD)

NUIG

My name is Niamh and I am a cancer researcher from Galway. I graduated with my PhD in August 2022 and am continuing my work now as a postdoctoral researcher. I work in Dr Aideen Ryan’s Lab group at the University of Galway. My project focuses on understanding how colon cancer cells interact with the healthy/normal cells in the colon.

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.

Donate Now

IACR 2023 Carer’s Bursary €300

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

Find Out More

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