PRiCAN Scholars Network
The PRiCAN Scholars Network (PSN) is a staff-student partnership designed to address the critical need for research in primary care’s contribution to cancer outcomes, leveraging the unique insights and enthusiasm of RCSI’s graduate entry medical students. PSN offers students research accessibility, administrative structure and skill building, and opportunity for genuine student-staff collaboration throughout the entire research process. PSN seeks to transcend traditional academic boundaries, developing a supportive environment where students are invited to develop as active contributors in the field of cancer research.
Meet the Scholars
Kurdo Araz
Kurdo Araz graduated with a Master of Science and Bachelor of Medical Sciences honours specialization in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences from the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry (University of Western Ontario) in London, Ontario, Canada. He has worked for several academic research labs and a clinical research organization prior to beginning his medical degree. Currently, he is in his second year of Graduate Entry Medicine pursuing his degree in Bachelor of Medicine (MB) of Surgery (BCh) and of Obstetrics (BAO) at the Royal college of Surgeons in Ireland. He aspires to pursue Internal Medicine and specialize in Cardiology. His research interests revolve around cardiology, oncology and endocrinology. Currently, his research with PRiCAN involves a review of OTC medication transactional data use in the early detection of cancer.
Katie Pirie
Katie Pirie holds a Bachelor's of Science (Honours) Life Science degree from Queen's University, Ontario, Canada, having graduated in 2022. She is currently in her second year of the Graduate Entry Medicine program at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and brings a background of expertise in checkpoint inhibitor therapy and multiplex immunofluorescence research in the field of lung cancer. With previous research in emergency medicine, specifically within simulation and procedural medicine, Katie is now venturing into primary care cancer research through her involvement with the PRiCAN Scholars Network.
Logan Verlaque
Logan Verlaque is a second-year graduate entry medical student at The Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland. She holds a bachelor's degree in Economics and Business from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Logan is actively involved in improving medical education. She is currently working on a protocol for the development of medical curricula that address the needs of homeless individuals as well as a protocol for the development of a PRiCAN Scholars Network curriculum. Within her role as a PRiCAN Scholar, Logan is supporting research into primary care cancer screening and prevention.
Sophie Dolan
Sophie Dolan is a second-year graduate entry medical student at the Royal College of Surgeon’s in Ireland. She holds a Bachelor’s (Hons) of Music Education from Trinity College Dublin and the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Sophie will take on the role of PPI & Stakeholder Engagement Lead, focusing on the creation of a protocol for the meaningful involvement of PPI in Primary Care Cancer Research.
Ricardo Zaidan
Ricardo Zaidan is in his second-year of the Graduate Entry Medicine programme at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He holds a Bachelor’s (Hons) of Economics, Politics and Law from Dublin City University. He has previous research experience in the areas of major trauma prehospital characteristics and the relationship between adherence and quality of life in respect of endocrine therapy.
Alex Carroll
Alex Carroll is in his first year of Graduate Entry Medicine programme at the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland. He holds a BSc (Hons) Economics and Finance, specialising in Economics, from University College Dublin, graduated 2023. He is currently involved in primary care cancer research through the PRiCAN scholars network.
Megan Bethell
Megan Bethell holds a Bachelor's of Science (Honours) degree in the Life Sciences from Queen's University, located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. During her undergraduate career, she obtained a specialization in cardio-respiratory physiology, through completion of an undergraduate research project centred around the mechanisms of anti-viral pharmaceuticals on the expression of cardiac ion channels, for potential implication in treatment of cardiac channelopathies. Currently, she is a second-year graduate entry medical student at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland. Megan is now gaining experience in the field of primary care cancer research through involvement with the PRiCAN Scholar's Network.
Maria Rybacka
Maria Rybacka is a 2nd year Graduate Entry Medicine student at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Medical Sciences from University College London, United Kingdom. Prior to starting her medicine degree, Maria worked as a participant advisor for Our Future Health, a nation-wide research programme in the UK. In RCSI as a part of PRiCAN scholars network, she is Publication Lead and is conducting research on pathways to diagnosis of Lung cancer, amongst other projects.
Jack Adams
Jack Adams is in his first year of the Graduate Entry Medicine programme at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He holds a degree in Bachelor of Medical Sciences degree with an Honours Specialisation in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences, from Western University in London, Canada. To the PRiCAN team, Jack brings research experience in policy mapping and curriculum review. Now part of the PRiCAN Scholars Network, Jack hopes to make meaningful contribution to the improvement of primary care’s management of cancer in Ireland. His current work focuses on integrating patient and public involvement into the development of actionable research questions into improving early detection of cancer at the primary care level.