Nominations are now open: The Conroy-Hastings Memorial Prize
UCAN Ireland is proud to announce that nominations are now open for the Conroy-Hastings Memorial Prize, established in partnership with the eHealth Hub for Cancer and the North South Research Programme.
This prize honours the memory of two extraordinary people who shaped UCAN from its very beginning: Niamh Conroy and James Hastings.
Niamh was a founding member, Secretary, and driving force within UCAN, as well as a co-founder of Bowel Cancer Ireland. Her energy, determination, and unwavering voice for equity, transparency, and meaningful patient involvement shaped everything our organisation stands for today. James was also a founding member as well as founding Cholangiocarcinoma Ireland. He tirelessly amplified the voices of those affected by rare and less common cancers, using his own story to highlight the urgent need for timely access to life saving treatments.
Those of us who worked with Niamh and James knew their energy and tenacity, they took on the biggest policy fights without hesitation. And for both of them, as for us it was never abstract. It was real people, real families, real lives. That’s what this prize is about, and why it matters so much to us.
The Conroy-Hastings Memorial Prize recognises people, teams, projects, and initiatives that put patients at the heart of meaningful change, built around three pillars: Action, Impact, and Participation. It’s a way of ensuring that the spirit Niamh and James brought to this work — always pushing for more, always centring the patient voice — continues to be recognised and celebrated in others.
Carrying forward their legacy means more than remembering what they did. It means continuing to do it and recognising the people who are doing it now.
Do you know a person, a team, a project, or an initiative that embodies the spirit of patient-centred change? We’d love to hear about them.
Eligibility: Nominees must be based on the island of Ireland. Anyone can make a nomination, and nominees do not need to be informed in advance, they will be contacted separately if selected.
How to nominate: Nominations are made via a short nomination statement (maximum 300 words). Please tell us why you are nominating this person, team, project, or activity, describing how they have demonstrated action, participation, and meaningful patient involvement, and the impact their work has had on patients. Nomintate here
Judging: A panel drawn from the eHealth Hub for Cancer and UCAN will select the winner.
The prize: One overall trophy will be awarded during the Conroy-Hastings Memorial Session at the All-Island Cancer Data Forum, taking place on 18 January 2027 at the University of Limerick
You can register to attend the Forum here.
Nominations close on Friday 30 October 2026.
email ehealth@ul.ie with any questions