Limerick’s Professor Jack Gleeson honoured at Irish Cancer Society Research Awards

Limerick’s Jack Gleeson honoured at Irish Cancer Society Research Awards. Jack Gleeson, Anita Cahill, Katie Johnston, Brendan Noonan, Steph Corkery

Jack Gleeson has been honoured at Irish Cancer Society Research Awards for his work on a pioneering men’s cancer survivorship programme

People involved in ground-breaking research projects around the country were honoured at the Irish Cancer Society Research Awards in February.

Every year, the Irish Cancer Society invests 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.

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Among those to claim top honours was Professor Jack Gleeson from Limerick, who scooped the Survivorship of the Year Award, alongside Dr Brendan Noonan (Senior Lecturer and Vice Dean of Undergraduate Education in the School of Nursing and Midwifery UCC)  and their team; Anita Cahill (Advanced Nurse Practitioner, CUH), Steph Corkery (Senior Physiotherapist, CUH) and Katie Johnston (Senior Dietitian, CUH & UCC) for the LIAM Mc Trial.

The trial pioneering men’s cancer survivorship programme was codesigned with patient representatives to address the unmet needs of cancer survivors. The project focuses men with advanced genitourinary (prostate, bladder, kidney) cancers, who are typically an underserved group.

The Cork University Hospital-based LIAM Mc Trial saw 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 was complemented by increased access to social work and psychological supports to ensure their practical and emotional, as well as physical, needs are met.

The two-year pilot initiative was the result of a €300k funding commitment awarded to University College Cork from the Irish Cancer Society. It has now completed enrolment, with analysis of the results ongoing.

Welcoming his award recognising his work as part of the LIAM Mc Trial, Prof Jack Gleeson, who is an Associate Professor in Medical Oncology in University College Cork and a Consultant Medical Oncologist in Cork University Hospital, said, “This is a fantastic recognition of the hard work and effort everyone involved in the trial has put in to date. Our amazing multidisciplinary team from nursing, physiotherapy, dietetics and research backgrounds have come together to deliver a really meaningful and impactful intervention for our patients.

“This award showcases the impact survivorship care interventions can have, and highlights these as an important unmet need for patients with cancer diagnoses.

In addition, Prof Gleeson received a commendation for Public and Patient Partnership (PPP), for the IMPROVE TMZ study, an observational translational research study investigating why certain patients with brain tumours develop profound and prolonged low blood counts from their chemotherapy drug, temozolomide. Prof Gleeson has protected research time through a philanthropic donation from UPMC to UCC during which this work was carried out.

He adds, on his commendation for the IMPROVE TMZ Study: “This Irish Cancer Society commendation means so much to us, as it highlights the real value and importance of having the patient voice central to our research studies, and it recognises the fantastic and invaluable input from our PPI partners, Mary, Finbarr and the fantastic Trina, who has unfortunately passed away as a result of her cancer diagnosis.

“All three have been instrumental in helping us overcome challenges during the studies course, and ensuring the patients are always to the forefront of any discussions. We continue this research in Trina’s honour, as she would have wished, and for all the other patients who have contributed to this research.”

Congratulating the winners and finalists, Irish Cancer Society Head of Research Dr Claire Kilty said: “Cancer research in Ireland has a huge impact on the lives of people affected by cancer. It is a driving force in improving not only treatments and outcomes, but in quality of life beyond cancer. It was fantastic to get an appreciation of the amazing cancer research projects currently happening right across the country at the Irish Cancer Society Research Awards, and to be able to recognise the great strides that are being made in cancer research.

“We are proud to be the largest voluntary funder of cancer research in Ireland. However, none of the vital research we fund would be possible without the support of the public, especially on days like Daffodil Day. We would encourage everyone to please get out there and support Daffodil Day in whatever way you can on March 20th.”