This committee is tasked with the day-to-day administration of the Patient Voice in Cancer Research initiative and executionof the tasks required to meet objectives and overall aims.
Professor Amanda McCann
Amanda is a Principal Investigator and UCD Conway Fellow in the UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science. She is also Associate Professor and Head of Pathology in UCD School of Medicine. Her group is focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying chemoresistance for women presenting with triple negative breast cancer and ovarian/pelvic cancer. These interests have led to collaborations with oncologists and histopathologists across the country and with colleagues based in NIBRT, veterinary science, chemistry, and biomedical engineering at UCD. Recently, in collaboration with an Irish company Theya Lingerie, and built on a pilot study with ARCH, she is investigating the clinical and social impact of Theya Lingerie’s Recovery Bra for women who have undergone breast mastectomy. Currently, she is Director of the UCD Centre in Translational Oncology. In relation to patient advocate groups, she previously was a co-director of IPPOSI, currently is a research advisor to Debra Ireland and heads the Patient Voice in Cancer Research Committee.
Dr Dorothy Conaghan
Dorothy’s own experience as a cancer patient and survivor has enhanced her awareness of how different social and economic conditions can affect the patient experience during and after a cancer treatment journey. Her own cancer diagnosis has greatly enhanced her understanding of this journey from an equality of condition perspective. Having spent almost 30 years as a violin teacher, performer and orchestral conductor, Dorothy’s work now focuses on research in Equality Studies and Social Justice Issues. Dorothy is an IRC Government of Ireland PhD Research Scholar based in University College Dublin and at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. She has lectured for 25 years at the DIT Conservatory of Music, (now TU Dublin), and has developed deficit-oriented music programmes with the National Concert Hall Dublin, Education Office. Dorothy is a passionate sailor and hillwalker and continues to enjoy regular mountain walking and coastal cruising. As a member of the management and steering committee, Dorothy hopes that her experience, knowledge and research in Equality Studies will help the PVCR to develop an inclusive, vibrant and national constituency that will enable a symbiotic working relationship between patient and researcher.
Mary Staunton
Mary was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in December 2012. After initial chemotherapy treatment at St Vincent's Hospital was not successful, she was referred to St James Hospital for a stem cell (bone marrow) transplant in May 2013. Post-transplant, she contracted Graft vs Host Disease, on both an acute and chronic basis. That's the bad news.... the good news is that she is now back at work in UCD Communications, initially on a part-time basis and now full-time, since December 2014. The level of treatment and medication has reduced significantly and Mary received her all-clear in early 2018. She is an ardent supporter of research and has high hopes for this group. With the wide array of experience, skills and talent, covering the range of touchpoints with cancer, its diagnosis and its treatment, the group can achieve something tangible for cancer patients in the future.
Professor Neil O’Hare
Neil O'Hare is a Professor of Health Informatics in UCD. He is also the Chief Information Officer for Children's Health Ireland which includes the new Children's Hospital. He is a Medical Physicist by background and was previously Chief Physicist in St. James's Hospital. Neil has been involved with Health IT for many years and has led on a number of health related IT projects at both hospital and national level. When not doing that he is often found out walking his two dogs or out on his bike on the back roads of Meath, where he has had some interesting experiences, but that's a story for another day!
Elaine Quinn
Elaine is the Institute Manager (Communications & Education) at UCD Conway Institute. She has a background in science communication and more than fifteen years’ experience in facilitating the development and delivery of public engagement activities. These initiatives include public-patient involvement (PPI) in research as well as building capacity for public engagement practice through delivering science communication training for undergraduate and postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Elaine has been involved in the PVCR since its inception in 2016 and runs training workshops for researcherson incorporating public & patient involvement in their projects.
Anna Wedderburn
Anna Wedderburn is the Public Engagement in Research Officer in UCD Conway Institute and Systems Biology Ireland and the project coordinator for the Amgen Biotech Experience. She has a bachelor's degree in Immunology from Trinity College Dublin, a master's degree in Science and Health Communication from Dublin City University, and a post-graduate certificate in HealthCare Innovation from Trinity College Dublin.
