Professor Annette Byrne, Professor of Physiology at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and head of the RCSI Precision Cancer Medicine Group, has been elected as a Member of the Royal Irish Academy (MRIA), Ireland’s foremost body of experts in the sciences and humanities, at a ceremony held in the Academy’s headquarters in Dublin.
Regarded as one of the most prominent and successful active pre-clinical cancer researchers in Ireland, Opens in new windowProfessor Byrne has dedicated more than 20 years of research to the discovery of novel treatments to improve brain and colorectal patient outcomes, with a particular emphasis on disease indications where currently available therapies remain insufficient.
She has won more than €45 million in national and international research funding which has supported several ground-breaking discoveries in the oncology field. She is one of the most highly cited researchers at RCSI with papers published in leading journals such as Cancer Discovery, Annals of Oncology and Journal of Clinical Oncology, as well as several nature journals including Nature Genetics and Nature Communications.
Leading cancer research
Professor Byrne conceived, wrote and coordinated the recently completed ‘Colossus’ project which was ranked number one in a recent European cancer network funding call. She was further awarded €6m in EU funding for two prestigious Marie Curie European training networks, Gliotrain and and Glioresolve, with the former acknowledged by the EC as one of the best conceived and organised training networks in the European Union. These training networks established 25 new PhD level scientists with the shared aim of developing new therapies for brain cancers.
Congratulating Professor Byrne on her admittance, Professor Cathal Kelly, RCSI Vice Chancellor, said: “We are delighted to have Professor Byrne recognised by the Royal Irish Academy, Ireland’s most prestigious academic body. Election to the Academy is the highest academic accolade in this country and this honour is testament to the extensive contributions that Professor Byrne has made to the health sciences community throughout her career in physiology and cancer research. Her career has been dedicated to the pursuit of new ways to treat cancer patients for whom no other available treatment options exist. Undoubtedly, she is to be considered as one of our leading active cancer research scientists and her membership of the Royal Irish Academy is richly deserved.”
Professor Pat Guiry, President of the Royal Irish Academy, said: “We are delighted to welcome the newly elected members of the Royal Irish Academy. Our mission is to recognise and foster academic excellence, and to create, curate and share knowledge for the good of society. Your election today embodies this mission, and your insights and achievements will enrich the work of the Academy as we continue to lead trusted and independent dialogue and analysis across the island for the benefit of all.”
Ongoing academic contribution
The RIA was founded by charter in 1785 for the advancement of learning and scholarship in Ireland. A small number of new members from a variety of institutions and disciplines are elected to the RIA each year.
Eligible candidates must have a proven track record in engaging colleagues and attracting scholarly interest internationally, demonstrated either through the production of high-impact, novel and outstanding quality publications or through other academic achievements or notable contributions made to the field.
At present, the Academy has 680 members, elected in recognition of significant academic achievements and exceptional contributions to education and/or research.