Limerick professor honoured with Irish Cancer Society award for research project for men with cancer
Limerick native Professor Jack Gleeson who works in Cork won an award for his research from the Irish Cancer Society
A LIMERICK city native, who works as a consultant medical oncologist, has won an award for a pilot programme focused on improving the quality of life for men who have survived cancer.
Professor Jack Gleeson, originally from Limerick, works in UCC as an associate professor in medical oncology and also as a consultant medical oncologist in Cork University Hospital (CUH).
He is part of the LIAM Mc Trial, which is a two-year pilot programme, awarded €300,000 in funding in Cork.
It saw men who had advanced genitourinary (prostate, bladder, kidney) cancers get specialist nurse and dietician support, as well as twice weekly physiotherapy sessions. They also had access to social work and psychological supports.
All of this combined ensured that the men were getting the right diet and exercise support, as well as practical and emotional support and it improved their quality of life.
This year's Irish Cancer Society Research Awards saw Professor Gleeson scoop the survivorship of the year award, along with the rest of the team from the LIAM Mc Trial. The team included: Dr Brendan Noonan, Anita Cahill, Steph Corkery and Katie Johnston.
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Professor Gleeson said: “This is a fantastic recognition of the hard work and effort everyone in the trial has put in to date.
“Our amazing multidisciplinary team from nursing, physiotherapy, dietetics and research backgrounds have come together to deliver a really meaningful and impactful intervention for our patients.
“This award showcases the impact survivorship care interventions can have, and highlights these as an important unmet need for patients with cancer diagnoses.”
Professor Gleeson also received a commendation for another research study focused on patients with brain tumours.
The Irish Cancer Society is the largest voluntary funder of cancer research in Ireland.