Prof Joseph Keane recognised by the American Thoracic Society

Posted on: 27 June 2024

Joe Keane, Professor of Medicine, was acknowledged with an award at the May 2024 meeting of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) in San Diego. His award was in appreciation of his exemplary support and commitment to the pulmonary infection and tuberculosis assembly.

“I am hugely honoured to receive this acknowledgment for our research achievements. But it ‘takes a village’ to do research – and our clinical investigations would not have been possible without our patients, the financial support from HRB, SFI, and the RCDH, and especially the commitment and dedication of our research teams. I am especially grateful for the support of colleagues, in particular those at St. James’s Hospital and Trinity College Dublin.

I have had many fruitful and enjoyable scientific collaborations with ATS scientists; notably benefitting from the selfless sponsorship of David Lewinsohn, of the Oregon Health & Science University. I look forward to forging future collaboration between the ATS membership and Irish investigators in Pulmonary science. A place at ATS is a place in the front window of respiratory research for new Irish-based investigators.”

The citation acknowledged the contribution of Professor Keane, for over 20 years, as a yearly speaker, chair, and facilitator. He has served on the planning and programming committee and as program chair for the ATS. He got the award for his contribution to tuberculosis guidelines statements and workshops, as well as his long-standing commitment to mentoring. Special note was made of his seminal research work linking TNF antagonists and tuberculosis risk.

Founded in 1905, the American Thoracic Society is the world's leading medical society dedicated to accelerating the advancement of global respiratory health through multidisciplinary collaboration, education, and advocacy. The annual scientific meeting is attended by about 14,000 delegates.

Those selected for this award undergo a rigorous assessment of their achievements, and their contribution to respiratory infection medicine research, as well as their wider contribution to leadership of the society.

Professor Keane is a leader in pulmonary infection research. His work offers fresh hope for developing paradigms that can underpin advances in treatment and prevention of tuberculosis, which is the biggest global infectious killer.

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