Ireland-Australia cancer research fellowship launched
Posted on: 27 August 2026
Dr Tim Nugent has been appointed the first recipient of the Ireland Funds Trinity St James’s Global Fellowship and will undertake advanced cancer research at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne.
Dr Nugent, who is based in Dublin, will move temporarily to Australia next July. The fellowship will provide an opportunity to work within an internationally recognised cancer research environment and strengthen links between cancer researchers and clinicians in Ireland and Australia. While there, he will be part of one of Australia’s leading comprehensive cancer centres for a period of international clinical and research collaboration. His fellowship will focus on surgical oncology and translational cancer research, building on his clinical and academic work in gastrointestinal malignancies.
Dr Tim Nugent
On his return to Ireland, Dr Nugent will bring new skills and experiences to improve care and outcomes for patients.
The fellowship represents a significant collaboration between the Trinity St James’s Cancer Institute (Ireland’s first comprehensive cancer centre) and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing cancer research, education, clinical excellence and patient outcomes through international collaboration.
Dr Nugent is currently a specialist trainee in general surgery with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and works in the upper gastrointestinal surgery service at St James’s Hospital in Dublin. He graduated from Trinity in 2017 and is currently pursuing an MD in surgical oncology through the department of surgery at Trinity.
He has co-authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to a range of national and international collaborative research projects, including randomised controlled trials. His research has focused particularly on gastrointestinal cancers, with interests spanning colorectal cancer, tumour biology and translational oncology.
Professor Michael Kelly from Trinity’s School of Medicine said this is good news for Irish patients. ‘Programmes like this provide a unique opportunity to develop international collaborations and conduct advanced clinical research to improve treatment stratification and patient outcomes for those undergoing cancer care. We are extremely grateful to the Ireland Funds Australia for their support.’
Trinity St James’s Cancer Institute Professor Gerry Hanna said: ‘By bringing back new techniques and procedures, this fellowship helps ensure that Irish patients receive the world’s best cancer care. We also hope this fellowship programme, the first of its kind between Ireland and Australia, will strengthen exist research collocations between Trinity College Dublin and the University of Melbourne.’
The fellowship has been championed and supported by The Ireland Funds Australia, which worked to identify philanthropic support for the initiative. Their contribution has been central to establishing the fellowship and creating an opportunity for an emerging Irish surgical researcher to undertake research and develop international collaborations within a leading Australian comprehensive cancer centre.
The partnership reflects the growing importance of the comprehensive cancer centre model, which brings together research, clinical excellence, innovation, education and patient-centred care. By connecting leading cancer centres internationally, such collaborations can accelerate the translation of research discoveries into improved approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
The Ireland Funds Trinity St James’s Global Fellowship is intended to provide not only an opportunity for individual academic and clinical development, but also to strengthen enduring institutional links between Trinity St James’s and Peter MacCallum, creating opportunities for future collaborative research, education and clinical innovation.
About Trinity St James’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre
Trinity St James’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre brings together Trinity College Dublin, St James’s Hospital and their research, clinical and educational communities with the aim of advancing cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care. As Ireland’s first Comprehensive Cancer Centre, it integrates research, clinical excellence, innovation, education and patient-centred services across the cancer pathway.
About the Ireland Funds
The Ireland Funds Australia has played a key role in championing the Trinity St James’s Global Fellowship and securing philanthropic support for the initiative, helping to create new opportunities for international collaboration between Irish and Australian cancer researchers and clinicians.
About Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne is a leading Australian cancer research, education and clinical care institution, bringing together cancer scientists, clinicians and educators with a focus on improving outcomes for people affected by cancer.