I focus on cancer prevention and reduction of cancer-related symptoms in both clinical and population-based research. My cancer prevention work is divided into two strands – physical activity and HPV vaccination. I am also interested in biological mechanisms of cancer-related fatigue, and interventions to reduce fatigue. 

As Reader in Chronic Illness, my research focuses on cancer prevention, survival and reduction of cancer-related symptoms in both clinical and population-based research. My research expertise focuses on the development and testing of complex interventions in line with the MRC framework. I have experience in conducting feasibility studies, full RCTs and embedded qualitative evaluations. I also have experience in conducting both qualitative and mixed methods research in various chronic illness populations.

I have an established track record of designing, managing and completing a number of externally funded, internationally collaborative research projects in the field of cancer care (including my PhD in cancer-related fatigue during treatment for gynaecological cancer). I collaborate on the SPORT High-Risk Trial (PI Prof Suneil Jain, QUB) exploring fatigue and circulating chemokines during stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy for prostate cancer, and am the Northern Ireland lead for the Movember funded project on exercise and survival in prostate cancer (INTERVAL-MCRPC). INTERVAL-MCRPC is a global study involving researchers in countries across 3 continents and is a large scale multi-centre trial designed to test the effects of exercise on prostate cancer progression and treatment side effects. I have also been recently awarded EU-H2020 funding for an international collaborative project involving nine research institutions from Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, this is a large transdisciplinary project to provide better support to people with cancer and their family caregivers.

I was a key contributor to the creation and development of the new National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Living With and Beyond Cancer (LWBC) Research Group.  I am a member of the national inter-disciplinary Executive Group that takes a strategic role, providing oversight of the research landscape and proactively identifying opportunities for the work of the Group. Five inter-disciplinary workstreams have been initiated to also identify new opportunities and develop new multi-centre, interdisciplinary trials within their focus areas. I play an active role via my chair of one of the five workstreams: acute care and toxicities.

In addition, I a member of the Board of Global Action on Men’s Health, HPV Action Network Europe, and the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland. 

I have sustained evidence of conducting engaged research that makes a positive contribution to society, with evidence that my research has enhanced public policy and lead to improved health and quality of life. In the United Kingdom, in 2013, the government’s vaccination advisory committee (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation [JCVI]) began to consider whether boys should be vaccinated as well as girls. It was made clear in draft statements that it considered this not to be cost-effective. At this stage I, alongside HPV Action, began to advocate for gender-neutral vaccination. Despite the government initially deciding to not introduce HPV vaccination for boys, we continued to lobby, and in July 2018, the government agreed that boys in the UK should be vaccinated. This was finally introduced in Northern Ireland in Sept 2019.

Current projects:

Prue G (PI), Reid J (2021-2024) Cryotherapy for the management of chemotherapy induced side effects. Paxman Coolers Ltd. 

Santin O (PI), Prue G (2021) Rapid development of a digital COVID support module for cancer carers. HSC NI Research and Development Office.

Reid J (PI), Prue G et al. (2021-2022) DIAdIC: evaluation of dyadic psychoeducational interventions for people with advanced cancer and their informal caregivers. HSC NI Research and Development. 

Prue G (PI), et al. (2020-2021) Developing sustainable interdisciplinary partnerships to address cancer prevention, survivorship and end of life care in Colombia. Northern Ireland Department for the Economy. 

Prue G (PI), Maraveyas A, Turkington R et al. PRECISE - PancREatic Cancer: Individualised Supervised Exercise: a feasibility study. Pancreatic Cancer UK

Brazil K (PI), Prue G, Reid J (2019 – 2022). Dyadic psychosocial and educational interventions for people with advanced cancer and their informal caregivers (DIAdIC): an international randomized controlled trial. EU-Horizon 2020. 

Prue G (PI), Jain S (QUB), O’Sullivan J (QUB) (2017 – 2021). GAP4 Exercise and metabolic Health Project. Movember Foundation Australia. 

Prue G (PI), Jain S (QUB), O’Sullivan J (QUB), Murphy M (Ulster) (2017 - 2021) HSC R&D Division Subsidiary feasibility/pilot trial within the GAP4 Study:  Physical Activity with End-State Prostate Cancer Patients 

I am responsible for teaching undergraduate nurses Health and Wellbeing, which is an amalgamation of life and social sciences. I lecture on the cardiovascular system, the musculskeletal system and pain. 

Given my background in physiotherapy I also teach on the Postregistration CPD Orthopaedics and fracture trauma nursing course. 

I am the School Student Support Officer and Chair the Teaching Excellence Student Support Group. 

I am the academic co-ordinator for the peer mentoring system within the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Profiled in QUB publication 'DNA of Innnovation' November 2015