AICRI Team

Professor William Gallagher is a Full Professor of Cancer Biology at UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Fellow and Deputy Director of Precision Oncology Ireland.

Professor Gallagher has received numerous awards for his research and innovation achievements in the oncology arena, including the NovaUCD 2011 Innovation Award, the inaugural Irish Association for Cancer Research Medal in 2017, the SFI Entrepreneurship Award in 2019 and the SFI Researcher of the Year Award 2021.

Professor Mark Lawler is Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Digital Health, and holds the Chair in Translational Cancer Genomics at the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast.

Professor Lawler has received numerous awards for his research achievements in the oncology arena, including the prestigious 2018 European Health Award. He is the architect of the European Cancer Patient's Bill of Rights, launched at the European Parliament on World Cancer Day 2014, which has been adopted in 25 European countries. He serves as Scientific Director of DATA-CAN, the UK Health Data Research Hub for Cancer, and as Associate Director of Health Data Research Wales-Northern Ireland.

Ciaran as Director of Development has been one of the key drivers of the All-Island Cancer Research Institute (AICRI). As part of the leadership team achievements have included receipt of significant Government funding, a successful US Outreach engagement strategy, and instigation and hosting of the landmark Joint Euro-American Forum on Cancer; which brought together globally recognised clinical and academic leaders and key relevant policy makers, political figures, and patient advocates to begin shaping a transatlantic cancer beating agenda.

Since 2015 Ciaran has also run NECRET, a regional cancer charity that focuses on supporting the Northeast Oncology and Haematology Unit (Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda) and cancer research conducted by the Oncology Research Group of the RCSI Education & Research Centre (Beaumont Hospital).

Chantal Halley is the Research and Engagement Programme Manager for the All-Island Cancer Research Institute (AICRI) at University College Dublin. She manages several initiatives within AICRI, including the AICRIstart programme, a €4 million initiative funded through the HEA North South Research Programme that is developing expertise in Precision Cancer Medicine across ten academic institions. She is also centrally involved in managing part of the Irish participation in the ECHoS (Establishing Cancer Mission Hubs: Networks and Synergies) project, an EU initiative supporting the implementation of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan through the development of National Cancer Mission Hubs.

A significant focus of Chantal’s work is patient and public involvement in research, working to ensure that the perspectives of those with lived experience of cancer and broader communities are meaningfully integrated into research discussions across the cancer ecosystem.

Chantal is also a member of the VOICE-Ireland Steering Committee. VOICE-Ireland is a cancer research training residency for patient advocates co-designed to further develop scientific understanding and confidence in cancer research advocacy.

Shashank is a Research Analyst at the All-Island Cancer Research Institute (AICRI), funded by the Irish Cancer Society. He joined AICRI in April 2024, where he leads and contributes to evidence-based reporting initiatives that inform cancer research strategy and policy across the island of Ireland.

He was a lead author of the All-Island Cancer Research Landscape Report (2019–2024), published in December 2025, which provides a comprehensive, data-driven analysis of cancer research activity across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Shashank holds a Master’s degree in Molecular Biology and Human Genetics from Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India, and a Master’s degree in Science and Health Communication from Dublin City University. He also brings experience in entrepreneurship, having previously worked on a science-focused crowdfunding initiative.

His interests lie in cancer intelligence, research systems analysis, and the development of evidence that can shape strategic investment and collaboration in cancer research.

Anisa is a Scientific Research Project Manager with the AICRI team, where she supports the strategic coordination and delivery of the UCD–QUB All-Island Cancer Research Alliance.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Technological University Dublin and a Master’s degree in Precision Medicine from University College Dublin, where she gained a strong foundation in translational research, genomics and personalised healthcare.

Anisa brings a multidisciplinary background spanning research and clinical settings. She previously worked as a Project Manager at the St. Vincent’s–UCD Cancer Centre. In addition, she has hands-on experience in diagnostic pathology and has contributed to molecular oncology research, specifically investigating long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as potential biomarkers in non-small cell lung cancer.

Craig Woods is a Project Manager at Queen’s University Belfast who supports collaborative initiatives within the All-Island Cancer Research Institute (AICRI), contributing to the development and delivery of cross-border programmes that strengthen cancer research and innovation across the island of Ireland.

Within AICRI, Craig supports the development of the All-Island Oncology Innovation Cluster, an initiative bringing together academic, clinical and industry partners to strengthen collaboration and accelerate innovation across the cancer research ecosystem.

At Queen’s University Belfast, Craig leads the development and implementation of a cross-border training initiative focused on building expertise in precision cancer medicine through postgraduate training and international collaboration with leading research partners.

Craig has extensive experience in research programme management and the delivery of complex collaborative initiatives, with a particular focus on programme governance, partnership development and the operational delivery of multi-institution initiatives across academia, industry and the public sector.