Awards for Cork university's cancer researchers 

University College Cork (UCC) researchers were recently honoured at the Irish Cancer Society Research Awards for their work to address the unmet needs of cancer survivors, including men with advanced genitourinary cancers.

The event, hosted by the Irish Cancer Society’s head of research Dr Claire Kilty, celebrates some of the work in cancer research being carried out by nominees around Ireland and funded by the Irish Cancer Society.

Among those to claim top honours included Dr Brendan Noonan from Cork, who scooped the Survivorship Award, alongside Professor Jack Gleeson of cancer research at UCC and their team; Anita Cahill (advanced nurse practitioner, Cork University Hospital (CUH)), Steph Corkery (senior physiotherapist, CUH), and Katie Johnston (senior dietitian, CUH and UCC) for the Liam Mc Trial — a pioneering men’s cancer survivorship programme which was codesigned with patient representatives, to address the unmet needs of cancer survivors.

The project focuses on men with advanced genitourinary (prostate, bladder, and kidney) cancers, who are typically an underserved group.

The CUH-based Liam Mc Trial sees men receive specialist nurse and dietician support weekly, as well as twice weekly physiotherapy sessions to empower them to maintain physical activity to enhance their quality of life.

This is complemented by access to social work and psychological supports to ensure their practical and emotional needs are also met.

The two-year pilot initiative is the result of a €300,000 funding commitment awarded to UCC from the Irish Cancer Society.

Also, Prof Gleeson received a commendation for Public and Patient Partnership (PPP), for the Improve TMZ study, which is an observational translational research study investigating why certain patients develop profound and prolonged low blood counts from their chemotherapy drug.