A physiotherapist from Lucan who has contributed to ground-breaking studies on getting patients fit again after difficult cancer treatments was among the winners at the Irish Cancer Society Research Awards recently. A chartered physiotherapist at St James’s Hospital, Dr Gráinne Sheill has focussed her research on helping patients with complex and advanced forms of cancer to recover physically after their cancer has been treated. She has become an established leader in this area, known as exercise oncology, which is of ever-increasing importance as more people survive cancer in line with improvements to treatment.
Dr Sheill has collaborated with international experts on a host of novel research projects over a number of years as part of her PhD and post-doctoral fellowship with Trinity College Dublin, with the aim of bringing about advances in rehabilitation for patients. She came through a competitive field of candidates to be chosen as the winner of the Irish Cancer Society Postdoctoral Researcher of the Year for 2020 at the annual awards showcase in Smithfield.
Commenting on her award, Dr Sheill said: “The need to explore ways to enable survivors to live in the aftermath of intensive therapies, which often cause profound changes to their bodies, and improve their lives is a major health care challenge “We see people after surgery who are afraid to go back to doing their day-to-day activities and the things they love. This award acknowledges that there is still work to be done but that we’ve made a good start. There are projects underway that need to be expanded and broadened out so that more patients have access to the supports they need.”
Irish Cancer Society Head of Research Dr Robert O’Connor congratulated Dr Sheill on her award: “We’re delighted that such a dedicated and talented researcher has won the award this year against stiff competition from so many other worthy entrants. The work that Gráinne and her colleagues do in cancer centres across Ireland is often unsung but pivotal in enabling improvements in the care of people affected by cancer.”
Other categories where winners were announced on the night included the coveted titles of Research Paper of the Year, PhD Researcher of the Year and Research Support Staff of the Year. Donations from members of the public play are central to making research grants and scholarships awarded by the Irish Cancer Society a reality, which in turn help to bring about practical improvements in cancer care and treatment. The Irish Cancer Society is again appealing to the public to support Daffodil Day 2020, proudly supported by Boots Ireland, on Friday 27th March by donating what they can or volunteering. For more information see www.Cancer.ie/DaffodilDay.
