This scheme was founded in 2004. Over the past five years, the Society has funded 344 trainee doctors, nurses, scientists, paramedical personnel, students and researchers to attend international conferences concerning cancer, at a cost of €338,923.

Now in its fifth year the Society made 77 awards under this scheme at a total cost of €71,227.

Competition Closed on Friday, 18th January 2008

Dr. Noel Horgan, Eye Cancer Specialist, Dublin

Ocular-oncology, or cancer of the eye, is a relatively small sub-specialty in Ireland. This award allowed me to travel to The World Ophthalmology Congress which took place in Sao Paulo Brazil. At this conference I shared my new research findings, and met other experts in this area. By forging links with other international centres to share clinical experience I hope to develop new treatment strategies for this condition. Without this award I would not have been able to attend this conference.

Nurse Evelyn Egan, Limerick

I have a special interest in young people with cancer. This award allowed me to travel to the UK, for a conference on this very topic. We had panel discussions after each topic and then a heated debate at the end of the second day. There is a real need for particular facilities for young people admitted to hospital with cancer, as when grouped with adults, they tend to feel isolated. This conference really opened up my eyes to the work and research that is constantly being undertaken in this area. I was delighted to receive this award which gave me the opportunity to learn so much. I hope to be able to apply this knowledge here in Ireland.

Macdara Glynn, Biochemistry, NUI Galway

This award allowed me to attend the EMBO / FEBS advanced lecture course on Molecular Mechanisms in Signal Transduction and Cancer in Greece. I presented a poster of the collected data in my PhD project so far (most of which is also funded by the Irish Cancer Society) and was then selected to give an oral presentation to the delegates. Due to my attendance at the course I am now in contact with a researcher in Germany to set up a possible collaboration between our two labs to further our research into the cellular response to DNA damage, which underlies the development of cancer. 

Without this funding it would not have been possible to attend the course and interact with researchers in my field.

Award Recipients: 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004