Orla Sheils becomes Doctor in Science, joins WHO Scientific Council

Posted on: 16 June 2023

Prof. Orla Sheils, the Vice-Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Trinity College Dublin, was today named a Doctor in Science at the University in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the advancement of knowledge. This award requires a higher level of attainment than a PhD.   

Prof. Sheils, who is a renowned cancer researcher, was also this week appointed elected as a member of the Scientific Council of the International Agency for Research on Cancer for 2024-27.   

IARC is a cancer research agency of the World Health Organization that supports cancer prevention research. 

Provost Dr Linda Doyle said: 

"These honours are richly deserved. In her busy role as Vice-Provost and Chief Academic Officer of Trinity, Orla Sheils is a pivotal force in the University, while her research has enhanced Trinity's reputation as an international leader in cancer research. It's wonderful to see her tremendous talents and expertise  recognised internationally. She will make an important contribution to the International Agency for Research on Cancer." 

Professor Sheils has an ScD and PhD in Molecular Pathology from Trinity College Dublin and an MA in Medical Law and Ethics from Kings College London.  

The underlying theme of her research is to understand the causes and molecular basis of the development of disease, with particular reference to cancer, and to apply this knowledge to improving disease prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment.  

She is a leader in multidisciplinary molecular pathology, who has championed a niche area facilitating interaction between basic science, translational research, clinical service provision and biotechnology. In this regard she has built an independent, globally recognised research group focused on molecular diagnostics and identification of molecular features of disease progression. Through her research, she has uncovered pivotal mutations descriptive of several solid tumours including thyroid, cervix, ovary, colon, head and neck, and lung.

In research, her commitment to translational medicine is underpinned by the singular objective of using clinical research to advance human health. The underlying theme of her research is to understand the causes and molecular basis of the development of disease, with particular reference to cancer, and to apply this knowledge to improving disease prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment.  

As a teacher, Prof Sheils embraced curricular reform and introduced various innovations into undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.. In 2012, Prof Sheils was appointed Chair of College's Research Ethics Policy Committee (REPC) having chaired the Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee (REC) for the previous 7 years.

In this role, she developed policy documents on the criteria for RECs within College, Good Research Practice, Procedures for Ethical Review, External Access and aligned Research Ethics Committees across College. In 2016, she was appointed founding Director of the Trinity Translational Medicine Institute. Prof. Sheils became Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences in 2019 and was appointed Vice-Provost/Chief Academic Officer in 2021. 

ENDS 

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