2nd AICRIstart Symposium, March 2025

Sophie Carlin (UU), Caomibhe Burke (UCD), Shannon Kalsi (RSCI), Saoirse Flanaghan (UL), Pippa Blevings (QUB)
and Dr Aine McGill (UU)

Day One

Following the disruption caused by Storm Éowyn in January, the 2nd AICRIstart Symposium was rescheduled and took place on March 3-4, 2025, at Ulster University, Belfast.

Now in its third year, AICRIstart is building momentum, strengthening cross-border collaborations, and supporting the next generation of cancer researchers. The symposium provided a platform for networking, bringing together, early-career researchers, senior cancer researchers, patient advocates and stakeholders from academic, clinical, and industry sectors to foster new collaborations.

The symposium opened with updates on AICRIstart’s progress and strategic direction, delivered by Co-lead of AICRI Prof. William Gallagher (UCD). The first day featured presentations from AICRIstart PhD students and Postdoctoral Fellows, showcasing new approaches to biomarker discovery, tumour micro environments, and novel therapeutic strategies. These presentations highlighted the value of cross-institutional collaboration and the potential for real-world impact in oncology research.

That evening, the AICRIstart cohort attended a special screening of Burkitt, a documentary by Éanna Mac Cana. The film weaves together the medical legacy of Dr. Denis Burkitt, the pioneering surgeon who first identified Burkitt’s lymphoma, with Éanna’s own journey as a cancer survivor. Through archival footage, personal reflection, and expert insights, Burkitt delivers a compelling exploration of the intersection between medical discovery and lived experience. The screening highlighted the role of storytelling in science communication, bridging the gap between clinical innovation and patient advocacy.

Day Two

The second day of the AICRIstart Symposium began with a warm welcome from Prof Liam Maguire Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research at Ulster University. Following this was a Dragon’s Den-style pitch session, where AICRIstart PhD students and postdoctoral researchers worked in multidisciplinary teams to present high-impact research proposals. The judging panel, made up of Prof. Chris McConville (Ulster University), Janet Toal (InterTrade Ireland), and Aidan McCormick (Chair, NI Cancer Research Consumer Forum and Patient Advocate), was highly impressed with the quality of proposals and the depth of thought behind each concept.

Winners of the AICRIstart Innovation Award 2025

Connect4Cancer: Connecting Voices, Driving Change, created by Caoimbhe Burke (UCD) and Sophie Carlin (UU)

Prof Chris McConville (UU), Prof Mark Lawler (QUB and Co-lead of AICRI), Caoimbhe Burke (UCD), Janet Toal (Intertrade Ireland) Aidan McCormick (Chair, NI Cancer Research Consumer Forum and Patient Advocate) and Prof William Gallagher (UCD and Co-lead of AICRI)

Lab Sphere: A Collaborative Platform for AICRIstart Early Career Researchers, created by Shannon Kalsi (RCSI), Dr. Yashna Chabria (TCD), and Dr. Ahmed Mahmoud (TU Dublin).

Prof Chris McConville (UU), Prof Mark Lawler (QUB and Co-lead of AICRI), Dr. Ahmed Mahmoud (TU Dublin), Shannon Kalsi (RCSI), Janet Toal (Intertrade Ireland) Aidan McCormick (Chair, NI Cancer Research Consumer Forum and Patient Advocate) and Prof William Gallagher (UCD and Co-lead of AICRI)

The two winning projects were awarded €5,000 each to develop their research. The three remaining pitches “Amendments to Stool Sample collection Procedures to Improve Patient Experience” by Dr Luisa Silva (UL) and Dr Áine McGill (UU), “Navigating Lung Cancer: A Resource for Empowerment and Support” Saoirse Flanagan (UL) and Abhishek Tomar (UoG) and “Innovating Skin Cancer Diagnosis with LUMINISER: Label-Free Ultrasensitive Microneedle Patch for Interstitial Fluid Analysis Using SERS and Machine Learning” by Pippa Blevings (QUB), Mohd Rifqi Rafsanjani (TU Dublin) Dr Ahmed Mahmoud (TU Dublin) and Dr Muhammed Ashiq Thalappil (DCU) were highly commended and awarded €1,000 each to further refine their projects.

One of the standout presentations at the 2nd AICRIstart Symposium was Prof. Chris McConville’s talk on ChemoSeed, an innovative implantable drug delivery device designed for treating solid tumours. Developed at Ulster University, ChemoSeed represents a new frontier in precision oncology, offering a method to deliver chemotherapy directly to the tumour site, reducing systemic toxicity and enhancing treatment efficacy.

Following the pitch session, discussions turned to the role of patient voices in cancer research. The panel "One Island, Many Voices: How Do We Amplify the Voices of Cancer Patients in Research?" was chaired by Aidan McCormick and featured patient advocates Éanna Mac Cana, Noelle Duddy, Ashley Hurst, and Tom Hope. The conversation reinforced the importance of meaningful engagement with patients and the role of early-career researchers in integrating PPI principles into their work. A massive thank you to Aidan for his leadership in chairing the patient panel and serving on the Innovation Fund judging panel.. Aidan’s great sense of humour, sharp insights, and unwavering commitment make him a formidable advocate for patients across the island of Ireland and simultaneously serves as a guiding force for AICRI. Thank you for all that you do.

Innovation and industry collaboration were central themes of the afternoon. The session "Building Academic-Industry Partnerships in Oncology," co-chaired by Prof. William Gallagher (UCD) and Prof. Chris Scott (QUB), brought together leading figures from research, industry, and clinical practice. Janet Toal (InterTrade Ireland), Dr. Ashwani Bahl (Carrick Therapeutics), Dr. Karl Mulligan (CV6 Therapeutics), and Prof. Jonathan Coulter (BXTA Nanotherapy Ltd & QUB) explored the challenges and opportunities in translating oncology research into clinical applications, with discussions focusing on commercialisation, regulatory frameworks, and fostering meaningful partnerships between research institutions and industry.

The symposium concluded with a presentation on the landscape of cancer research across the island of Ireland, delivered by Shashank Srinivas, AICRI Research Analyst. This was followed by an interactive session on the future development of AICRIstart, where attendees reflected on the programme’s impact and future direction. stand out

Shashank Srinivas (AICRI/ICS), Tom Hope (Patient Advocate), Chantal Halley (AICRI/UCD), Prof Mark Lawler (QUB/AICRI), Prof Chris McConville (UU), Janet Toal (Intertrade Ireland), Prof William Gallagher (UCD/AICRI), Prof Chris Scott (QUB) and Aidan McCormick (Chair, NI Cancer Research Consumer Forum and Patient Advocate).

With a strong emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and patient-centred research, the 2nd AICRIstart Symposium reinforced the critical role of cross-sector partnerships in accelerating cancer research. The event showcased the next generation of researchers, demonstrating the strength and impact of an all-island approach to cancer research and innovation. AICRIstart remains committed to its objectives of fostering a connected research network, training the next generation of cancer researchers, and advancing precision medicine through collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches. .

Special thanks to Dr Kyle Matchett and Dr Aine McGill from Ulster University.

Planning is already underway for the 3rd AICRIstart Symposium, set to take place at University College Cork in November 2025. For updates on the upcoming symposium, along with other AICRI events visit www.aicri.org/events