PRiCAN Symposium 2025
Join us at our 2nd annual PRiCAN Research symposium, a pivotal event dedicated to advancing primary care cancer research. This one-day event will explore the future of precision prevention and pragmatic cancer trials in primary care, featuring expert speakers, panel discussions, and a hands-on trial design workshop. A key opportunity to network and shape the future of cancer research in primary care.
Primary care cancer research is at the forefront of improving how we prevent, detect, and manage cancer within primary healthcare settings – where patients often initiate their medical journey. Our symposium highlights the significance of primary care in the context of cancer, aiming to revolutionise the patient experience from the outset of suspicion, through diagnosis and throughout the continuum of care.
Renowned experts and emerging talents alike will present their findings, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and a spirit of intellectual curiosity.
Join us at this PRiCAN research symposium and be a part of this transformative discussion, where we explore innovative approaches, and share groundbreaking insights.
Together, we are shaping the future of primary care in the fight against cancer! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be at the forefront of change and discovery!
Keynote Speakers
Confirmed speakers include:
Prof Karen Brown, Professor of Translational Cancer Research, Director Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester
Karen is director of the Leicester Cancer Research Centre and joint lead of the Leicester Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre. She established and is co-chair of the UK Therapeutic Cancer Prevention Network and represents this network on the steering group of the Cancer Prevention Europe Consortium.
Karen’s research focusses on the discovery and preclinical development of agents for the prevention of cancer in populations at increased risk. She works to optimise the translation of these therapies to the clinic where she conducts early and late phase trials. Karen is currently leading COLO-PREVENT, a world-first prevention trial platform that will investigate the ability of resveratrol, aspirin and metformin to prevent colorectal polyps in high-risk patients. This trial is funded by Cancer Research UK and will be conducted across 60 sites in England and Wales.
Karen sits on several national and international grant panels and is currently a member of the Cancer Research UK Prevention and Population Research Committee and Vice-Chair of an Expert Review Panel for this committee. She is a member of the World Cancer Research Fund International Regular Grant Programme Panel and Breast Cancer Now Grants Committee. Karen is also a former President of the United Kingdom Environmental Mutagen Society and currently sits on the committee as past-president.
Laura O’Connor, HRB Primary Care Clinical Trials Network
Laura O’Connor is Research Lead and Acting Network Manager with the HRB Primary Care Clinical Trials Network (CTNI). She recently lead on the development of the Top Ten research priorities for the management of chronic conditions in primary care. Her work also includes the involvement of patients and the public in primary care research, and she manages the CTNI’s longstanding Primary Care PPI group.
Laura previously worked in the Department of Psychology in University of Galway on a number of research projects focusing on chronic pain and other chronic health conditions, multimorbidity, and psychological wellbeing, often with a focus on the integration of technology into healthcare. She holds a BA in psychological studies and IT and a Masters in IT from University of Galway.
Roberta Horgan, Lynch Syndrome Ireland
Lynch Syndrome Ireland ‘s Roberta Horgan. Roberta is living with polyposis syndrome. She is a patient advocate & representative for people living with Lynch Syndrome and other hereditary cancer syndromes through her role as Vice-Chair at Lynch Syndrome Ireland group. She is passionate about PPI in cancer research and support for development of services to aid diagnostics & subsequent care pathways for high-risk groups. Currently contributing as a PPI rep for PRiCAN, CLuB, NCCP, PVCR, ColoMark, & RCSI Epi-Gastro CRC research team.
Location: The Albert Lecture Theatre, RCSI, 123 St Stephen’s Green
Date: APRIL 3rd, 2025
For more information please email prican@rcsi.com
08.30 – 09:00am – Registration and Continental breakfast (Robert Smith Room & Front Hall)
09:00 – 09.10am – Welcome Address (Albert Lecture Theatre)
· Symposium Chair Prof Patrick Redmond – welcome & orientation
09.10 – 09.45am – Keynote Address: The Future of Precision Prevention in Primary Care
Prof Karen Brown, Professor of Translational Cancer Research, Director Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester
09.45 – 10.05am – Speaker 2 –’Integrating Primary Care in National Cancer Strategies’
Prof Seamus O’Reilly, Clinical Director, Cancer Trials Ireland
10.05 – 10.25am – Speaker 3 – ‘Challenges and Opportunities in Primary Care-Based Oncology Trials
Laura O’Connor, HRB Primary Care Clinical Trials Network
10.25 – 11.00 am – Plenary Session 1 – Panel Discussion ‘Implementing Pragmatic Trials in Primary Care Settings’
11.00 – 11.30 am – Coffee Break (Front Hall)
· Poster Round: Showcasing research from PRiCAN Scholars
11.30 – 12.00 Speaker 4 – Lung Health Check Pilot – Lessons in building a PBRN
Dr Conor Murphy – PRiCAN PBRN Lead
12.00 – 12.20 Speaker 5 – Patients and Trials
Roberta Horgan, Lynch Syndrome Ireland
12.30pm –1.00pm – Plenary Session 2 – Panel Discussion
1.00 pm – 2.00pm Lunch
2.00 pm – 4.00pm Workshop – Trials Design & Consensus Building
· PRiCAN Representative presents an overview of three proposed trials:
- Trial Design
- Endpoints & Outcome Measures
- Recruitment & Retention Strategies
- Funding & Ethical considerations
4.00pm Closing address Prof Patrick Redmond