Cancer treatment PhD lands award for local doc

A Dundalk doctor who completed a PhD on cancer treatments in three years instead of the usual four has been recognised for his outstanding achievements by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RSCI).

The college’s June conferring ceremonies came to a conclusion recently with 40 candidates graduating with Higher Degrees at a conferring ceremony which took place in the College Hall at St. Stephen’s Green.

From the School of Postgraduate Studies, there were seven Master of Science (MSc) by research candidates, seven Doctor of Medicine (MD) graduates, 12 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) graduates and five Master of Sur- gery (MCh) graduates. The candidates carried out cutting-edge research in areas including tissue engineering; cardiovascular and coronary diseases; pressure ulcers; Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency; vitamin D deficiency in athletes and health services research.

Among these was Dr Tadgh McGivern, from Dundalk, who was named Class of 2016 valedictorian, the student who has the highest grades in a graduating class and who gives a speech at graduation ceremonies.

He completed the impressive feat of achieving a PhD in three years, where four is usually the norm. His PhD, on the topic of cancer treatments, was enti- tled: ‘Multifunctional copper drug candidates as a potential anti-cancer agents’.

Their research will contribute to our understanding of a range of diseases including stroke, epilepsy, psychiatry, diabetes and breast and colorectal cancers. Professor Cathal Kelly, CEO/ Registrar, RCSI said: ‘I would like to congratulate every one of the 40 graduates who got their postgraduate higher degrees. Their work and dedication contributes so much to RCSI being a centre of excellence in worldclass research and innovation. I wish them all the best in their future careers’.