People involved in ground-breaking research projects around the country were honoured at the Irish Cancer Society Research Awards on Thursday, 19 February at Irish Cancer Society Head Office in Dublin.
Every year, the Irish Cancer Society in- vests approximately €4 million in innovative cancer research. In 2025, the Society funded 25 new projects and supported over 150 cancer researchers across Ireland.
The event, hosted by the Irish Cancer Society’s Head of Research, Dr Claire Kilty, celebrates some of the amazing work in cancer research being carried out by nominees around Ireland, funded by the Irish Cancer Society.
Among those to claim top honours were Prof Sinead Brennan, Roisin O’Maolalai, Ciaran Malone, Sam Ryan and Jill Nicholson from the St Luke’s Radiation Oncology
Network in Rathgar, Dublin, who scooped the Irish Cancer Society Clinical and Trans- lational Project of the Year Award.
Their clinical trial, supported through the Irish Cancer Society €1 million euro investment in Cancer Trials Ireland, explored using a new technology called surface-guided radiotherapy to establish whether open-faced masks could safely replace traditional closed masks for patients undergoing radiotherapy, and if this could offer an improved patient experience while maintaining the same level of accuracy provided by closed masks.
Their findings demonstrated that open-faced masks, when used with surface-guided radiotherapy, provide the same level of treatment precision as closed masks, while significantly reducing patient distress.
Welcoming the group’s Clinical and Translational Project of the Year Award, Roisin O’Maolalai, who is the manager of the Irish Research Radiation Oncology Group, said: “Our work shows that it is possible to deliver safe, accurate radio-therapy in a way that is more comfortable, reassuring, and compassionate for patients undergoing cancer treatment.
“Winning an Irish Cancer Society Re- search Award is an enormous honour. It represents recognition that patient-centred, practice-changing research matters, and that improving how people experience cancer treatment is an important area for research.”
Daffodil Day takes place on Friday 20 March. Whether you want to get involved with your pharmacy, school, company, or in your community, there are lots of ways to support cancer patients across Ireland. Visit cancer.ie to get involved or learn more.
