Dr Paul Brennan awarded 2016 Burkitt Medal for contribution to cancer research

Posted on: 01 November 2016

Dr Paul Brennan, Head of the Genetics Section of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, has been awarded the 2016 Burkitt Medal for his contribution to cancer research. 

The award recognises people with the integrity, compassion and dedication matching that of Denis Burkitt, a Trinity graduate who is known for his discovery of Burkitt lymphoma. Dr Brennan received the medal during the 10th International Cancer Conference, which was recently held in Trinity College Dublin under the theme New Frontiers in Personalised Cancer Care.

Reflecting on Denis Burkitt's contribution to cancer, Professor Paul Browne, Head of the School of Medicine at Trinity, said: "A household name in the medical profession, Denis Burkitt is one of the great surgeon-research scientists of the 20th century and indeed one of the greatest and most inspiring alumni of Trinity's School of Medicine.”

“Burkitt’s legacy, which we are celebrating today, lives on in the work of Dr Paul Brennan and the International Agency for Research on Cancer he represents."

Dr Paul Brennan received the Burkitt Medal after delivering the Burkitt Lecture: “Cancer Prevention: from Denis Burkitt to the Human Genome Project,” at the Cancer Conference.