The Patient Voice in Cancer Research (PVCR) is an initiative to actively engage cancer patients, cancer researchers and other interested parties (patient advocates, families, carers, healthcare professionals, policy-makers and those with an interest in cancer research) in discussions and decision-making processes, which positively impact on cancer research and outcomes for patients.

UCD Conway Institute

UCD Conway Institute is an interdisciplinary research centre based in University College Dublin. We explore the mechanisms of health and disease. This allows us to develop new preventative strategies, diagnostics and therapeutics to benefit health & well-being. Our vision is to be a leader in biomedical research and innovation. We provide an invigorating environment to facilitate excellence in the biomedical sciences and translate new knowledge.

www.ucd.ie/conway

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Patient Voice in Cancer Research: Fireside Chat (UCD Conway)

CLASS Acts

The podcast series introduces you to scientists at the heart of fascinating new research at UCD Conway Institute.

What motivated our researchers to pursue a career in science? What journeys have they taken along their career path? What areas of research are they pursuing? How have their careers been influenced by mentorship along the way?

Some of these scientists have long-established research groups in the Institute while others have just beginning to build their own team. All of them have spoken about their work in our weekly Conway Lecture & Seminar Series; or CLASS for short.

Our host is Dr Eoin Cummins; Assistant Professor in Physiology in the UCD School of Medicine and a Conway Fellow. Eoin leads a research group studying how carbon dioxide and oxygen affect cellular behaviour.

Eoin is also passionate about educating the next generation of scientists and medics and actively contributes to equality, diversity & inclusion initiatives within UCD.

He was inspired to create the CLASS Acts podcast to share the many and varied backgrounds and journeys taken by Conway researchers on their routes to scientific success.

https://www.ucd.ie/conway/

CLASS Acts (UCD Conway)

Protein-I is an innovative, shared Island, food system approach focusing on diversification of protein production and consumption on the island of Ireland. Our paradigm focuses on the production of plant food through to human health and consumer acceptance, while paying particular attention to the development of the rural economy and supply chain solutions. Protein-I will develop and evaluate crop-based value chains to ensure that rural communities in Ireland benefit in terms of on-farm diversification. We will embrace the circular economy by examining the conversion of crop waste material into value added protein. We will develop a smart supply chain technology solution tailored to the needs of the agri-food industry that supports transparency. Evidence to support the development of Public health policies will be established. Health benefits to support the development of value-added protein products will emerge from the work. Engagement with stakeholders is crucial and built into the work programme to ensure maximum likelihood of uptake of the outputs.

Protein-I

Episode four of UCD Conway Institute's Patient Voice in Cancer Research "Fireside Chat" podcast.

The episode sees experts gather together for a discussion on mental health and wellbeing for cancer patients and carers.

Patient advocate John Wall chats to Dr Paul D'Alton (Head of Psychology, SVUH / UCD), Dr Tina Hickey (patient advocate and UCD School of Psychology), and Amanda McCann(Professor and senior Conway fellow at UCD and leader of PVCR initiative).

PVCR

The Patient Voice in Cancer Research (PVCR) is an initiative to actively engage cancer patients, cancer researchers and other interested parties (patient advocates, families, carers, healthcare professionals, policy-makers and those with an interest in cancer research) in discussions and decision-making processes, which positively impact on cancer research and outcomes for patients.

UCD Conway Institute

UCD Conway Institute is an interdisciplinary research centre based in University College Dublin. We explore the mechanisms of health and disease. This allows us to develop new preventative strategies, diagnostics and therapeutics to benefit health & well-being. Our vision is to be a leader in biomedical research and innovation. We provide an invigorating environment to facilitate excellence in the biomedical sciences and translate new knowledge.

www.ucd.ie/conway

Mental health and wellbeing for cancer patients and carers (PVCR: Fireside Chat)

Episode five of UCD Conway Institute's Patient Voice in Cancer Research "Fireside Chat" podcast.

The episode sees experts gathered together for a discussion on diet, nutrition and cancer recovery.

Patient advocate Tom Hope chats with Dr Aoife Ryan (Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics, UCC), Dr Amy Mullee (Lecturer in Human Nutrition, Sligo), and Amanda McCann(Professor and senior Conway fellow at UCD and leader of PVCR initiative) about diet, nutrition and cancer recovery.

PVCR

The Patient Voice in Cancer Research (PVCR) is an initiative to actively engage cancer patients, cancer researchers and other interested parties (patient advocates, families, carers, healthcare professionals, policy-makers and those with an interest in cancer research) in discussions and decision-making processes, which positively impact on cancer research and outcomes for patients.

UCD Conway Institute

UCD Conway Institute is an interdisciplinary research centre based in University College Dublin. We explore the mechanisms of health and disease. This allows us to develop new preventative strategies, diagnostics and therapeutics to benefit health & well-being. Our vision is to be a leader in biomedical research and innovation. We provide an invigorating environment to facilitate excellence in the biomedical sciences and translate new knowledge.

www.ucd.ie/conway

Diet, nutrition and cancer recovery (PVCR: Fireside Chat)

Episode six of UCD Conway Institute's Patient Voice in Cancer Research "Fireside Chat" podcast.

The episode sees experts gather together for a discussion on biobanking, arguably the most valuable deposit a cancer patient can make to advance research.

Patient advocate Stephen Teap chats with Dr Sharon O'Toole (Trinity College Dublin and St. James's Hospital); Billy McCann (patient advocate working with National Biobanking Working Group); Professor Leonie Young (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Precision Oncology Ireland) and Professor Amanda McCann(Professor and senior Conway fellow at UCD and leader of PVCR initiative).

PVCR

The Patient Voice in Cancer Research (PVCR) is an initiative to actively engage cancer patients, cancer researchers and other interested parties (patient advocates, families, carers, healthcare professionals, policy-makers and those with an interest in cancer research) in discussions and decision-making processes, which positively impact on cancer research and outcomes for patients.

UCD Conway Institute

UCD Conway Institute is an interdisciplinary research centre based in University College Dublin. We explore the mechanisms of health and disease. This allows us to develop new preventative strategies, diagnostics and therapeutics to benefit health & well-being. Our vision is to be a leader in biomedical research and innovation. We provide an invigorating environment to facilitate excellence in the biomedical sciences and translate new knowledge.

www.ucd.ie/conway

Biobanking (PVCR: Fireside Chat)

Episode seven of UCD Conway Institute's Patient Voice in Cancer Research "Fireside Chat" podcast.

The episode sees experts gathered together for a discussion on separating cancer facts from fiction; what patients should look out for.

Patient advocate, Kay McKeon chats with: Dr Amanda Drury (UCD); Dr David Robert Grimes (DCU); and, Amanda McCann(Professor and senior Conway fellow at UCD and leader of PVCR initiative) about misinformation and disinformation in relation to cancer.

PVCR

The Patient Voice in Cancer Research (PVCR) is an initiative to actively engage cancer patients, cancer researchers and other interested parties (patient advocates, families, carers, healthcare professionals, policy-makers and those with an interest in cancer research) in discussions and decision-making processes, which positively impact on cancer research and outcomes for patients.

UCD Conway Institute

UCD Conway Institute is an interdisciplinary research centre based in University College Dublin. We explore the mechanisms of health and disease. This allows us to develop new preventative strategies, diagnostics and therapeutics to benefit health & well-being. Our vision is to be a leader in biomedical research and innovation. We provide an invigorating environment to facilitate excellence in the biomedical sciences and translate new knowledge.

www.ucd.ie/conway

Separating cancer facts from fiction: misinformation and disinformation (PVCR: Fireside Chat)

Episode eight of UCD Conway Institute's Patient Voice in Cancer Research "Fireside Chat" podcast.

The episode sees experts gather together to look at research and innovation in medical devices to improve the cancer patient experience.

Facilitator and patient advocate, Moira Hanbidge chats with researcher Dr Ananya Gupta, NUI Galway and innovator Aaron Hannon, Luminate Medical, and Professor Amanda McCann(Professor and senior Conway fellow at UCD and leader of PVCR initiative).

PVCR

The Patient Voice in Cancer Research (PVCR) is an initiative to actively engage cancer patients, cancer researchers and other interested parties (patient advocates, families, carers, healthcare professionals, policy-makers and those with an interest in cancer research) in discussions and decision-making processes, which positively impact on cancer research and outcomes for patients.

UCD Conway Institute

UCD Conway Institute is an interdisciplinary research centre based in University College Dublin. We explore the mechanisms of health and disease. This allows us to develop new preventative strategies, diagnostics and therapeutics to benefit health & well-being. Our vision is to be a leader in biomedical research and innovation. We provide an invigorating environment to facilitate excellence in the biomedical sciences and translate new knowledge.

www.ucd.ie/conway

New medical devices for cancer patients (PVCR: Fireside Chat)

The CLASS Acts podcast is an initiative of UCD Conway Institute, a research institute based in University College Dublin.

In episode 2, Dr. Eoin Cummins talks with Associate Professor Rory Johnson from UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science who is a Conway Fellow. 

Rory shares his career journey that spanned the globe from the UK to Singapore to Spain to Switzerland and back to Dublin. Rory talks about his research vision in UCD which involves using advanced technologies like CRISPR-Cas9 to investigate long non-coding RNAs, an exciting and emerging area of biology with significant therapeutic opportunities.

CLASS Acts

The podcast series will introduce you to scientists at the heart of fascinating new research at the Institute.

What motivated our researchers to pursue a career in science? What journeys have they taken along their career path? What areas of research are they pursuing? How have their careers been influenced by mentorship along the way?

Some of these scientists have long-established research groups in the Institute while others have just beginning to build their own team. All of them have spoken about their work in our weekly Conway Lecture & Seminar Series; or CLASS for short.

Our host is Dr Eoin Cummins; Assistant Professor in Physiology in the UCD School of Medicine and a Conway Fellow. Eoin leads a research group studying how carbon dioxide and oxygen affect cellular behaviour.

Eoin is also passionate about educating the next generation of scientists and medics and actively contributes to equality, diversity & inclusion initiatives within UCD.

He was inspired to create the CLASS Acts podcast to share the many and varied backgrounds and journeys taken by Conway researchers on their routes to scientific success.

www.ucd.ie/conway

Rory Johnson: CLASS Acts (UCD Conway)

The CLASS Acts podcast is an initiative of UCD Conway Institute, a research institute based in University College Dublin.

In episode 3, Dr. Eoin Cummins talks with Associate Professor Virginie Gautier from the UCD Center for Research in Infectious Disease who is a Conway Fellow. 

Virginie explains how an interest in reproductive biology sparked her interest in science, which is now focused on virology. Virginie describes how her passion for virology has mainly centred on understanding the biology of HIV and has more recently pivoted towards coronaviruses during the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

CLASS Acts

The podcast series will introduce you to scientists at the heart of fascinating new research at the Institute.

What motivated our researchers to pursue a career in science? What journeys have they taken along their career path? What areas of research are they pursuing? How have their careers been influenced by mentorship along the way?

Some of these scientists have long-established research groups in the Institute while others have just beginning to build their own team. All of them have spoken about their work in our weekly Conway Lecture & Seminar Series; or CLASS for short.

Our host is Dr Eoin Cummins; Assistant Professor in Physiology in the UCD School of Medicine and a Conway Fellow. Eoin leads a research group studying how carbon dioxide and oxygen affect cellular behaviour.

Eoin is also passionate about educating the next generation of scientists and medics and actively contributes to equality, diversity & inclusion initiatives within UCD.

He was inspired to create the CLASS Acts podcast to share the many and varied backgrounds and journeys taken by Conway researchers on their routes to scientific success.

www.ucd.ie/conway

Virginie Gautier: CLASS Acts (UCD Conway)

The CLASS Acts podcast is an initiative of UCD Conway Institute, a research institute based in University College Dublin.

In episode 4, Dr. Eoin Cummins talks with Assistant Professor Sergio Rey, Ad Astra Fellow in the UCD School of Medicine who is a Conway Fellow. 

Sergio describes how he trained as a clinician scientist in Chile before persistence and hard work led him to a Nobel prize winning laboratory in John Hopkins University. Sergio’s interest in hypoxia and cancer subsequently led him to Dublin (via Canada) where he is excited about the next chapter in his research career as an Ad. Astra fellow.

CLASS Acts

The podcast series will introduce you to scientists at the heart of fascinating new research at the Institute.

What motivated our researchers to pursue a career in science? What journeys have they taken along their career path? What areas of research are they pursuing? How have their careers been influenced by mentorship along the way?

Some of these scientists have long-established research groups in the Institute while others have just beginning to build their own team. All of them have spoken about their work in our weekly Conway Lecture & Seminar Series; or CLASS for short.

Our host is Dr Eoin Cummins; Assistant Professor in Physiology in the UCD School of Medicine and a Conway Fellow. Eoin leads a research group studying how carbon dioxide and oxygen affect cellular behaviour.

Eoin is also passionate about educating the next generation of scientists and medics and actively contributes to equality, diversity & inclusion initiatives within UCD.

He was inspired to create the CLASS Acts podcast to share the many and varied backgrounds and journeys taken by Conway researchers on their routes to scientific success.

https://www.ucd.ie/conway/

Sergio Rey: CLASS Acts (UCD Conway)

The CLASS Acts podcast is an initiative of UCD Conway Institute, a research institute based in University College Dublin.

In episode 5, Dr. Eoin Cummins talks with Professor Niamh Nowlan from the UCD  School of Mechanical and Material Engineering who is a Conway Fellow. 

Niamh outlines how attending a university  ‘open day’ ignited an interest in engineering. Niamh describes how her own medical history has influenced her career in multiple countries and institutions in Ireland, the  UK, Spain and the US. Niamh outlines her vision for the future as a leader and researcher in UCD.

CLASS Acts

The podcast series will introduce you to scientists at the heart of fascinating new research at the Institute.

What motivated our researchers to pursue a career in science? What journeys have they taken along their career path? What areas of research are they pursuing? How have their careers been influenced by mentorship along the way?

Some of these scientists have long-established research groups in the Institute while others have just beginning to build their own team. All of them have spoken about their work in our weekly Conway Lecture & Seminar Series; or CLASS for short.

Our host is Dr Eoin Cummins; Assistant Professor in Physiology in the UCD School of Medicine and a Conway Fellow. Eoin leads a research group studying how carbon dioxide and oxygen affect cellular behaviour.

Eoin is also passionate about educating the next generation of scientists and medics and actively contributes to equality, diversity & inclusion initiatives within UCD.

He was inspired to create the CLASS Acts podcast to share the many and varied backgrounds and journeys taken by Conway researchers on their routes to scientific success.

https://www.ucd.ie/conway/

Niamh Nowlan: CLASS Acts (UCD Conway)

The CLASS Acts podcast is an initiative of UCD Conway Institute, a research institute based in University College Dublin.

In episode 6, Dr. Eoin Cummins talks with Assistant Professor Martina Wallace from the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science who is a Conway Fellow. 

Martina describes how her childhood growing up  by the sea inspired an early interest in marine biology that ultimately led her to the University of California, San Diego… but not as a marine biologist! In San Diego, Martina mixed early morning surfs with top class research in the area of metabolism, before returning home to Ireland to develop her own research team. Martina outlines her desire to translate a deeper understanding of metabolic pathways into better treatments for patients with metabolic diseases and disorders.

CLASS Acts

The podcast series will introduce you to scientists at the heart of fascinating new research at the Institute.

What motivated our researchers to pursue a career in science? What journeys have they taken along their career path? What areas of research are they pursuing? How have their careers been influenced by mentorship along the way?

Some of these scientists have long-established research groups in the Institute while others have just beginning to build their own team. All of them have spoken about their work in our weekly Conway Lecture & Seminar Series; or CLASS for short.

Our host is Dr Eoin Cummins; Assistant Professor in Physiology in the UCD School of Medicine and a Conway Fellow. Eoin leads a research group studying how carbon dioxide and oxygen affect cellular behaviour.

Eoin is also passionate about educating the next generation of scientists and medics and actively contributes to equality, diversity & inclusion initiatives within UCD.

He was inspired to create the CLASS Acts podcast to share the many and varied backgrounds and journeys taken by Conway researchers on their routes to scientific success.

https://www.ucd.ie/conway/

Martina Wallace: CLASS Acts (UCD Conway)

Niamh O'Sullivan

John Crean

We all need to consume more plant protein in our diet - for reasons of personal health and for the sustainability of the planet.
Prof. Lorraine Brennan and Prof. Fiona Doohan, both of University College Dublin, discuss the Protein-I project, which aims to create the conditions for a transition to a more plant-protein-based economy.

Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

This painting shows in an integrated fashion how researchers study cancer at a whole body, tissue, cellular and molecular level, while also illustrating the inter-twinned journey of those affected by cancer. Devine took the universally recognised image of Leonardo Da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man" and used it as a vessel to communicate and reflect 21st century cancer research.  

The Vitruvian has both male and female genders overlapping, co-existing as one. This is to reflect that cancer affects both genders in different and sometimes similar ways. Moving from the head to the feet of The Vitruvian, we see the breath of cancer research work at the UCD Conway Institute symbolically represented. In the original “Vitruvian Man”, there is one circle; however, in Devine's piece, there are two circles. This is to represent cell division, which is key for both life but can be uncontrolled in the case of cancer.

The Vitruvian - General

The prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer is a major challenge for us as humans. Since November 2022, Vincent Devine, a noted Irish artist, has worked with Professor William Gallagher and other cancer researchers in UCD, along with patient partners, to explore how cancer affects patients and their families: from molecules, to cells, to tissues, to impacts on the whole human body, to personal impact. 

The result is a series of co-created artworks, ‘The Vitruvian: Uncovering the Layers of Cancer’, which provide a unique insight into how researchers at UCD Conway Institute study cancer through different perspectives and approaches alongside how patients experience this disease. Conversations with both cancer researchers and patient  partners have been translated into a set of five paintings by Devine, which incorporate both visual scientific imagery and the human experience of cancer into their design.

The Vitruvian 0verview

Here, we see the jellyfish suspended in the shapes of both male and female reproductive organs. The red jellyfish represents the spread of tumour cells in the fallopian tubes arising from ovarian cancer, whereas the green jellyfish represents other cell types (e.g. immune cells) which may intervene and treat the spread of the tumour cells. The gold jellyfish represents research that is in development to help detect prostate and ovarian cancer through urine testing. Cell signalling, which can be altered in cancer, can be seen as the jellyfishes' tentacles interact.

The Vitruvian Cellular Level

Here, we see The Vitruvian has birthed the twins seen in the main painting. They both share a table, the biological twin doing the everyday things a child does while the digital twin wears the scars, treatments and experiences of all those children who leave a legacy of their experience with childhood cancer. With this legacy and cancer research, other children may benefit in the future from access to more precise, less harsh treatments. There are 4964 dots in the dividing circles to represent Clíodhna (Beany) Pearson. The number of dots is a conglomerate of all the consultations, treatments and other procedures that Clíodhna underwent. The child in the painting wears but a small fraction of these dots, having benefited from Clíodhna’s and others' contributions to the digital twin.

The Vitruvian Molecular Level

Here, we see a land mass on the horizon, its shape and form emulating a breast and its anatomical structure. The botanicals are displayed in a linear fashion to show the structure and form of tissue imaging but more specifically to symbolise lobular breast cancer which grows in a linear fashion making it harder to detect. The irrigation, which begins in the land mass, has gone awry and caused a huge dysregulation in the orderly furrowing of the botanicals. The red botanicals represent tumour cells and the white botanicals immune cells.

The Vitruvian Tissue Level

In this painting, we see The Vitruvian figure in motion. It is walking forward to symbolise action; the actions and steps the patient, surgeons and researchers must take to intervene and treat the physical body, including the tumours as they present themselves. The Vitruvian wears the patient's scars and highlighted areas indicate areas of the body that are affected symptomatically pre- and post-treatment. The Da Vinci robotic arms surround The Vitruvian, an innovative surgical instrument used to remove tumours.

The Vitruvian Whole Body

MUSAE is an EU Horizon funded project developing approaches for art-driven innovation. In this episode hosted by Sean Duke, listen to the MUSAE project manager Tatiana Efremenko, AI expert, Prof. Petia Radeva and artist, Cathrine Kramer who interacted creatively to address global food related challenges that improve the wellbeing of people and the planet.

Beat the Heat

MUSAE - approaches for art-driven innovation

In this episode of the Protein-I podcast host Professor Lorraine Brennan (UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science) talks to farmer and project partner Peter Lynch and Sinead Dermody (PhD Student on Protein-I) about the Protein-I project. 

About Protein-I
Protein-I is an innovative, shared Island, food system approach focusing on diversification of protein production and consumption on the island of Ireland. Our paradigm focuses on the production of plant food through to human health and consumer acceptance, while paying particular attention to the development of the rural economy and supply chain solutions. Protein-I will develop and evaluate crop-based value chains to ensure that rural communities in Ireland benefit in terms of on-farm diversification. We will embrace the circular economy by examining the conversion of crop waste material into value added protein. We will develop a smart supply chain technology solution tailored to the needs of the agri-food industry that supports transparency. Evidence to support the development of Public health policies will be established. Health benefits to support the development of value-added protein products will emerge from the work.  Engagement with stakeholders is crucial and built into the work programme to ensure maximum likelihood of uptake of the outputs.

Protein-I: Episode 2

In this episode of the MUSAE podcast, Dr Aoife O'Gorman (UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science) talks to Angelo Cangelosi (Professor of Machine Learning and Robotics at the University of Manchester) and artist Maciej Chmara about creative solutions for our food systems with a particular focus on robotics.

MUSAE is an EU Horizon funded project developing approaches for art-driven innovation. 
The project brings together experts from different disciplines to define an innovative model to integrate artistic collaboration in the European Digital Hubs.

The vision is to enable companies to develop innovative products and services that address key issues in the food system.

The UCD team - Prof Lorraine Brennan and Dr Aoife O Gorman - bring expertise in food and health and are actively involved in mentoring the artists as they develop their future prototypes. 

For more information about MUSAE, please visit: https://musae.starts.eu/

MUSAE - creative solutions for our food systems

Transition Year students Paul and Anna talk to Protein-I PhD students Aoife Courtney and Conor Copeland about their work.

About Protein-I
Protein-I is an innovative, shared Island, food system approach focusing on diversification of protein production and consumption on the island of Ireland. Our paradigm focuses on the production of plant food through to human health and consumer acceptance, while paying particular attention to the development of the rural economy and supply chain solutions. Protein-I will develop and evaluate crop-based value chains to ensure that rural communities in Ireland benefit in terms of on-farm diversification. We will embrace the circular economy by examining the conversion of crop waste material into value added protein. We will develop a smart supply chain technology solution tailored to the needs of the agri-food industry that supports transparency. Evidence to support the development of Public health policies will be established. Health benefits to support the development of value-added protein products will emerge from the work. Engagement with stakeholders is crucial and built into the work programme to ensure maximum likelihood of uptake of the outputs.

https://protein-i.ie/about-protein-i/

Protein-I Podcast: Episode 3

In this episode of the MUSAE podcast, Dr Aoife O'Gorman (UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science) talks to Sanja Šikoparija and Víctor Fernández, who worked together as part of the NOURISH team, one of the winning projects from MUSAE's Second Open Call. Aoife also talks to Eva Monestier from POLIMI, coordinators of the MUSAE project.

MUSAE is an EU Horizon funded project developing approaches for art-driven innovation. The project brings together experts from different disciplines to define an innovative model to integrate artistic collaboration in the European Digital Hubs.

The vision is to enable companies to develop innovative products and services that address key issues in the food system.

The UCD team - Prof Lorraine Brennan and Dr Aoife O Gorman - bring expertise in food and health and are actively involved in mentoring the artists as they develop their future prototypes.

For more information about MUSAE, please visit: https://musae.starts.eu/

MUSAE - NOURISH Team, participants in MUSAE's Second Open Call and POLIMI

UCD Conway Institute is an interdisciplinary research centre based in University College Dublin. We explore the mechanisms of health and disease. This allows us to develop new preventative strategies, diagnostics and therapeutics to benefit health & well-being. Our vision is to be a leader in biomedical research and innovation. We provide an invigorating environment to facilitate excellence in the biomedical sciences and translate new knowledge.  https://www.ucd.ie/conway

UCD Conway Institute

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