2022 Burkitt Medal awarded to Dr Eileen O’Reilly

Posted on: 17 October 2022

Trinity has awarded distinguished scientist Prof. Eileen O’Reilly. the 2022 Burkitt Medal.

Established in 2013, the prestigious Burkitt Medal recognises an individual who demonstrates extraordinary achievement and advancement in the field of cancer internationally. The award is designed to recognise people with the integrity, compassion and dedication matching that of Denis Burkitt, a Trinity graduate, who is known for his discovery of Burkitt lymphoma.

The 2022 medal is awarded at the 12^th international cancer conference hosted by the Trinity St James’s Cancer Institute (TSJCI) at Trinity College, 13^th/14^th October.

Dr. O’Reilly holds the Winthrop Rockefeller Endowed Chair in Medical Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK). She serves as the Section Head for Hepatopancreaticobiliary/ Neuroendocrine Cancers, Gastrointestinal Oncology Service, Co-Director for Medical Initiatives at the David M. Rubenstein Centre for Pancreatic Cancer and is an Attending Physician and Member at MSK and Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. 

Dr O’Reilly  received her medical degree at Trinity College Dublin and completed her residency training in Ireland and Fellowship training at MSK.

The major focus of her research and clinical activities is pancreatic and hepatobiliary malignancies. She is a clinical scientist whose research focus involves integration of molecular and genetic-based therapies for pancreas cancer along with development of adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapies and identification of biomarkers for therapy selection.

Dr. O’Reilly teaches and mentors junior faculty, oncology fellows, residents and medical/other students and has numerous teaching and other awards.

She is the Principal Investigator of multiple phase I, II, III trials in pancreas cancer and has authored/co-authored more than 330 articles, editorials, and book chapters. She serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Clinical Oncology and Senior Editor for several other journals and has served on multiple grant review panels including, for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American Association of Cancer Research (AACR), NIH and various international entities.

Commenting on the award, Dr O’Reilly said:

“It was beyond a privilege to receive this award in honour of the legacy Dr. Dennis Burkitt, a truly inspiring role model in medicine, character and life!  I count myself among the very fortunate to be a graduate of TCD and to get to work with the next generation of amazing Irish oncologists whom have so greatly contributed to moving the field forward in cancer care. Many congratulations on the TSJCI and the Cancer Conference and many, many thanks to everyone for the warmth and kindness of the welcome!”

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