Joe O'Sullivan

I am an academic clinical oncologist with a passion for the treatment of patients with Prostate cancer. I am driven by a desire to improve outcomes from all aspects of this disease and to develop new treatments in particular in the fields of External Beam Radiation Therapy, and Bone-seeking radionuclide therapy (also known as Molecular Radiotherapy). I believe that by leading a clinical trial programme in prostate cancer that I can fulfill these ambitions. In my time in Belfast I have lead the development of a team of dediciated researchers who are all committed to excellence in patient care. Through over 20 clinical trials in the past 14 years I believe that I have helped a significant number of patients and their families cope with this often devastating illness. I have received very positive feedback from patients and their families incduding many substantial donations to the local charities I am involved with.

I am also committed to helping translate scientific discovery into clinical practice and have been instrumental in facilitating a number of traslational ideas into clinical trials.

In 2014 I was honoured to appointed as Clinical Director of Oncology at the Belfast Trust, a role I proudly served for 3 years.

I am very involved in charity work relevant to oncology:

• I am a trustee and Honorary Secretary of the Friends of the Cancer Centre. This charity aims to promote radiotherapy facilities both from a research and service perspective.

As well as academic leadership, I believe clinical academics have a major contribution to make to the health service. During the past 14 years I have been appointed to a number of key leadership positions within the NHS Trust in Belfast. These roles have allowed me to advocate for the research and quality agenda and I have maintained a focus on excellence iin patient care.

I was clinical lead for radiotherapy from 2008 to 2014 during which time I led the introduction of a number of new treatment techniques and modalities including Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), Image Guided radiotherapy using gold fiducial markers (IGRT), bone-seeking radionuclide therapy, and radiotherapy imaging protocols. I have encouraged the other members of the multi-professional team to think in innovative and progressive ways and this has resulted in a change in culture which is gradually evolving in Belfast.

From 2014-2017, I was Clinical Director of Oncology at Belfast Trust. Through this role I endevoured to increse the profile of clincal research in the cancer service.

I lead the radiation oncology and prostate cancer clinical research groups at the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre, Belfast, and am currently principal investigator on more than 10 clinical trials. I trained in radiation oncology at St. Luke's Hospital, Dublin and subsequently completed a research fellowship at the Academic Urology Unit of The Royal Marsden Hospital. My research interests include bone-seeking radionuclide therapy, image guided radiotherapy, Irradiation of the retina for Macular Degeneration and translational research in radiation and prostate cancer and have published widely in these areas. I collaborate closely with scientists at the CCRCB in particular Prof Kevin Prise and Prof David Waugh as well as international colleagues.

I am one of the 4 co-Directors of the  Movember Centre of Excellence in Prostate cancer programme grant. The programme is a collaboration with the Christie Hospital Manchester. Known as FASTMAN, the programme is focussed on enhancing the role of radiation in prostate cancer. 

My main teaching focus is with the 4th year medicine oncology module.