Donegal woman wins prestigious award at Irish Cancer Society Research Awards

A Donegal woman was honoured with a prestigious award at the Irish Cancer Society Research Awards in Dublin.

Katie Johnston, who is from Belfast and spent a lot of her childhood in Dunfanaghy, won the PhD Researcher of the Year Award. Ms Johnston’s research focuses on how dietitian-led care can better support women after breast and gynaecologic cancer, especially those experiencing treatment-induced menopause.

Through testing a digital, symptom-triggered model of care and working closely with patients, her project developed more patient-centred approaches to nutrition and quality of life. The findings also highlighted the need for better screening tools, stronger multidisciplinary care, and practical guidance for patients and clinicians on managing nutrition, supplement use and treatment-related symptoms.

Commenting on her win, Ms Johnston said: “Being recognised at the Irish Cancer Society Research Award means so much to me. It reflects trust in work that puts women’s experiences at the centre of survivorship care and highlights the important role dietitians play in life after cancer. 

“It also shines a light on an area of care that has long been under-resourced and shows that patient-centred, multidisciplinary research can be both compassionate and high quality.”

The Irish Cancer Society Research Awards were held on Thursday, February 19, at Irish Cancer Society Head Office in Ballsbridge, Dublin. The event, hosted by the Irish Cancer Society’s Head of Research, Dr Claire Kilty, celebrates some of the amazing work in cancer research being carried out by nominees around Ireland, funded by the Irish Cancer Society.

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Congratulating the winners, Irish Cancer Society Head of Research Dr Kilty said: “Cancer research in Ireland has a huge impact on the lives of people affected by cancer. It is a driving force in improving not only treatments and outcomes, but in quality of life beyond cancer. It was fantastic to get an appreciation of the amazing cancer research projects currently happening right across the country at the Irish Cancer Society Research Awards, and to be able to recognise the great strides that are being made in cancer research.

“We are proud to be the largest voluntary funder of cancer research in Ireland. However, none of the vital research we fund would be possible without the support of the public, especially on days like Daffodil Day. We would encourage everyone to please get out there and support Daffodil Day in whatever way you can on March 20.”

Every year, the Irish Cancer Society invests approximately €4 million in innovative cancer research. In 2025, the Society funded 25 new projects and supported over 150 cancer researchers across Ireland.