This post is developed from, and replaces, the Marie Curie Professorship in Clinical Oncology. It is closely aligned to the recommendations of the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026, the workforce planning commissioned by the National Cancer Control Programme, the requirements of the St. Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network (SLRON) and the aims and ambitions of the Trinity St James’s Cancer Institute, and the Medical School, Trinity College.
Welcoming the appointment, Professor Colin Doherty, Head of the School of Medicine, said:
“ We are delighted to welcome Prof Hanna as the new Marie Curie Chair in Clinical Oncology. This is a joint post with St Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network and will be working within our Discipline of Radiation Therapy in the School of Medicine. New paradigms and conceptual shifts in cancer treatment have seen a blossoming of focused radiation therapy that is now acting in concert with other immunological therapies to deliver less toxic, more comprehensive treatment for common previously incurable cancers. Gerry brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this post, and has previously held posts as the Chair of Oncology at the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre in Belfast City Hospital and honorary appointments at Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Melbourne. He is an international research leader in the field of radiation therapy and CAR-T cell therapy.”
In this position, Professor Hanna will contribute to the delivery and further development of cancer services in the St. Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network (SLRON) and St. James’s Hospital within the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.
He will also lead a high impact collaborative clinical and/or translational research and education programme at the School of Medicine, Trinity College, across the St. Luke’s Network, St. James’s Hospital, and partners that achieves national and international recognition.
Charles Gilham, Network Director, SLRON, said:
“The St Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network are delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Gerry Hanna to the position of Marie Curie Professor of Clinical Oncology. Professor Hanna is highly regarded internationally and brings with him a wealth of skills in clinical oncology, research and education. His passion for radiation oncology is well known and he will be an enormous asset to our specialty. There could be no-one more appropriate to fill the legacy left by his predecessor – Professor Donal Hollywood – who held this post until his untimely death in 2013.”
Professor Hanna’s research interests span the use of PET/CT in radiotherapy planning for lung cancer, mechanisms of radiotherapy resistance, technical radiotherapy, stereotactic ablative radiotherapy and systemic therapy and immunotherapy combinations with radiotherapy.
He will take up his post this month, April 2024.