Dr. Robert O’Connor, Head of Research and Acting Head of Communications for the Irish Cancer Society.
Yesterday the website Lovin.ie published the current top 50 incredible people who are shaping modern Ireland; yes actual game changers.
In the words of Lovin.ie editor Ms Marie Madden; “For all of our faults, we’re a wonderful little country. Whether it’s business or sport, we’re constantly punching above our weight and doing ourselves proud across the globe.
Each year seems to unearth a new collection of creative and dynamic people who are ready to forge a path and show us something new.
This list could have run into the hundreds but here’s a snapshot of the names that should definitely be on your radar right now.”
Amongst those named include:
At No. 46 is United Kingdom’s John Connors for using his ‘Love/Hate’ profile to shine a light on Irish Travelling Community’s discrimination.
At No. 44 is Londonderry, Northern Ireland’s Martin O’Neill for breathing new life into Irish soccer.
At No. 31 are West Cork rowers, the O’Donovan Brothers, two incredibly dedicated and talented world class Irish athletes.
At No. 29 is Cork born Tetra-amelia syndrome sufferer Joanne O’Riordan, who despite her own disability continues to highlight the importance of disability funding in Ireland, taking senior politicians to task, before lecturing to the United Nations.
At No.10 is Belfast born Roman Catholic priest Fr. Peter McVerry, to be found at the coalface of the Peter McVerry Trust, helping those in need and who most recently launching a €1.4m housing project in the North Inner City.
At No.19 not surprisingly and most deservedly is Dr Robert O’Connor, who currently has access to a Tipperary address. So what has editor Ms Marie Madden got to say about him?
Ms Madden writes: “There isn’t a single person in Ireland who hasn’t been touched by cancer, so the ongoing research into treatment options is so important to all of us. As Head Of Research for the Irish Cancer Society, Mr O’Connor is responsible for co-ordinating several ground breaking studies that could save the lives of all our loved ones in the future.”
“So what is our interest in Dr Robert O’Connor?” I hear you all ask.
Dr O’Connor graduated from UCD with an honours degree in Pharmacology in 1991, before moving to the School of Biotechnology in DCU, where he completed his Ph.D. in 1995 before taking up a post-doc in cancer drug resistance in the NCTCC/NICB, a specialist biomedical research facility. Here he became involved in translational and cancer clinical trial research.
In 2007 he assumed the chairmanship of the translational subgroup of ICORG, Ireland’s national cancer clinical trials network, helping this organisation to a milestone of enrolment of 7% of all cancer patients into translational research studies by the time of his departure in 2015.
In 2010 he became a lecturer in Biological Science in the School of Nursing in DCU and moved to take up his current role leading the research effort of the Irish Cancer Society in February of 2015.
Dr. O’Connor is passionate about providing the evidence-base to help manage our emerging cancer crisis; focussing on prevention, early detection, increased efficacy of diagnostics and therapeutics and supporting the 170,000 Irish cancer survivors to thrive after their treatment.
Dr O’Connor is associated with the Premier County, since both his parents (Kathleen and Ernie) came to reside in the picturesque hamlet of Templetuohy, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. But even more important is the fact that he just happens to be this editors nephew. I trust that God will therefore grant me forgiveness for pandering to one of the seven deadly sins; in my case the capital sin of pride.
You can read all about the other top 50 incredible people currently shaping Ireland today, by simply clicking HERE.
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