ICORN HCV Research Scholarships Programme 2016-2018
The Irish Hepatitis C Outcomes Research Network (ICORN) is delighted to announce that it has awarded two scholarships to graduates in the ICORN HCV Research Scholarships Programme 2016-2018.
ICORN Executive Team, ICORN Scholars & Supervisors: (L-R)– Ms. Dolores Barry, Dr. Aoife Cotter, Ms. Therese Herlihy, Prof. Colm Bergin, Dr. Diarmaid Houlihan, Ms Nicole Walsh, Dr. Liam Fanning and Dr. Aisling Robinson
The two graduates, who have excelled in their academia, will each undertake a two-year scholarship programme worth €25,000 per annum (to contribute towards maintenance, fees and other consumables).
Launched in early 2016, the ICORN HCV Research Scholarships Programme awards candidates who wish to undertake a research degree at MD, PhD or MSc level in the field of Hepatitis C (HCV), the opportunity to do so at their chosen University or Institute in Ireland alongside a supervisor from the ICORN Network.
The main objective of the ICORN HCV Scholarships Programme is to promote research and education, to encourage and support graduates of proven academic excellence who are in the early stages of their research career and have the potential to become leaders in their field.
On 6th January 2016, ICORN announced the Open Call for applications to the programme and received very significant interest in the programme. Following a rigorous selection process, chaired by Dr. Diarmaid Houlihan, Consultant Hepatologist and Chair of the ICORN Research Group, Therese Herlihy and Nicole Walsh were selected as the recipients of the ICORN HCV Research Scholarships: the ICORN-ABBVIE HCV Research Scholarship and the ICORN-BMS HCV Research Scholarship respectively.
Therese Herlihy – The title of Therese’s project is, “A prospective, observational cohort study investigating the radiographic and clinical outcomes associated with treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection with directly acting antiviral agents in cirrhotic subjects.” Therese’s project is supervised by ICORN members Dr. Steve Stewart from the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and Dr. Aoife Cotter from UCD.
Nicole Walsh – The title of Nicole’s project is, “Epitope Mapping of the E2 Glycoprotein, including the Hypervariable Region 1, of the Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 3a, in the context of Humoral Immune Pressure.” Nicole’s project is supervised by ICORN members Dr. Liam Fanning from UCC and Professor Cliona O’Farrelly from Trinity College, Dublin.
ICORN Scholars and their Supervisors (L-R) – Ms Therese Herlihy, Ms Nicole Walsh, Dr. Aoife Cotter, Dr. Liam Fanning
*ICORN Scholarships are supported by grants provided by AbbVie Ireland (ABBVIE) and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS)