IRE - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Professor of Biomedical Sciences
• Project Leader Limerick LDCRC / Professor, University of Limerick

Aedín Culhane is a Professor of Biomedical Sciences (Cancer Genomics) in the UL School of Medicine. She is a computational oncologist with expertise in multi-omics data integration, statistical genomics, clinical bioinformatics and genomics in oncology. She has over 20 years' experience in cancer genomics, of which over 15 years were in the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in Boston, USA. Her recent research focuses on algorithm development and integrative data of single cell molecular data in cancer to identify molecules that regulate and can be targeted during tumour development, progression, drug response and resistance. She is a member of the Human Cell Atlas (https://www.humancellatlas.org ) project. She is a leader in the Bioconductor (www.bioconductor.org) community, a global open source, open development software in R for genomics and an advocate for open source science.

Job Titles:

• Scientist
• Associate Director of Health Data Research Wales - Northern
• Professor
• Project Leader Belfast QUB / Professor, Queens University Belfast

Professor Lawler is an internationally renowned scientist with over 30 years experience in cancer research, who is passionate about translating his research for the benefit of patients and society. He has received numerous awards including the prestigious 2018 European Health Award and he is frequently invited to speak at top-tier international conferences. He was architect of the European Cancer Patient's Bill of Rights, which he launched with patients and health professionals in the European Parliament on World Cancer Day 2014. The Bill of Rights, translated into 17 European languages and adopted in 25 European countries, is a beacon of hope for cancer patients Europe-wide, leading to development of the 70:35 Vision - 70% average survival for cancer patients by 2035. This Vision has been adopted by the European CanCer Organisation, the largest multidisciplinary cancer organisation in Europe, and is influencing health policy in many European countries. His research in colorectal cancer (CRC) has increased our understanding of this common disease. His leadership of Bowel Cancer UK's Critical Research Gaps in Colorectal Cancer Initiative will influence CRC research activity/policy over the next decade. Professor Lawler is Associate Director of Health Data Research Wales-Northern Ireland and Scientific Director of DATA-CAN, the UK Health Data Research Hub for Cancer. His leadership in heath data research, with a particular emphasis on cancer has been world leading with key publications in the premier scientific and medical journals. His recent work on Coronavirus and cancer, highlighting how the current COVID-19 pandemic may lead to a future cancer epidemic, has received international recognition, with over 300 media stories and publications in key international scientific journals Professor Lawler is also a passionate advocate for the development of outreach activities, fostering increased public understanding of science and medicine.

Job Titles:

• Consultant
• Co - Chair of the Haematology
• Project Leader Limerick LDCRC / Consultant Haematologist, University Hospital Limerick

Prof. Ruth Clifford is a Consultant Haematologist at UHL since November 2016. Her clinical practice is in malignant haematology, in particular, the care of patients with lymphoid malignancies including chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Key areas of research include: the study of genetic changes driving the development of blood cancers and factors leading to relapse and resistant disease. In addition, Ruth has an interest in innovating diagnostic pathways for patients, applying novel tech and AI tools, to aid accurate and timely diagnosis of blood cancers and to improve patient acquisition to clinical trials. Ruth received her medical degree from NUI Galway in 2002 and began her specialist haematology training in Ireland in 2006 later transferring to Oxford. She was awarded a Cancer Research UK Fellowship to undertake a PhD at the University of Oxford. Her doctoral research focused on the applications of Next Generation Sequencing Technologies in Leukaemia. A key finding of this work was the discovery of a novel gene mutation in SAMHD1 that predicts chemotherapy resistance in CLL. She has published with numerous UK and European CLL groups and continues to maintain active links in the haematology genomics research field. Ruth is the translational co-chair of the Haematology and Lymphoma DSSG of Cancer Trials Ireland clinical trial network. She is an Investigator with the Blood Cancer Network Ireland and a member of the molecular advisory group for the National Cancer Control Programme that guides the development of a national infrastructure for partner diagnostics in Haemato-Oncology. Within UL, Ruth is a pillar lead for the Basic Sciences Pillar of ULCan and a member of the Limerick DCRC Development Committee. Ruth has a number of active collaborative research projects across the ULCan pillars and is keen to progress links between ULHG and UL on cutting edge cancer research for the benefit of the Mid West and the broader cancer community.