Dundalk woman honoured for ‘incredible’ contribution to cancer clinical trials

A DunDALk native praised by her colleagues as an ‘incredible support’ towards clinical trials that offer vital hope to patients was honoured at the Irish Cancer Society Research Awards on Monday.

Ashley Bazin (née Smyth), who is originally from the town and is now based in kildare, is Team Leader of the Oncology and Haematology Clinical Trials unit within Tallaght university Hospital.

Since first coming into the role in 2006 she has seen the team grow from three to eight staff, with Ashley performing multiple important functions including as a research nurse, team leader, manager and mentor to others. Her work involves offering patients access to cancer clinical trials that seek to identify improved treatments, and explaining what’s involved, as well as meeting them regularly on their trial journey, and ensuring that all assessments are done and tracking data to prove the trial’s effectiveness.

In her nomination for the award, Ashley was described by those she works with as someone ‘who always strives to bring the best options to patients’, and who is ‘integral’ to the functioning of the unit.

Speaking on her award, Ashley said: “It’s so rewarding working with patients in this role. You’re constantly offering hope with the new treatments available, which is very satisfying.

“When I saw what was written about me for the nomination it brought home all that’s involved in the role which you never really think about day to day. It’s nice to feel that someone thinks you’re doing a good job,” added Ashley, who recently returned from a respected trials conference in San Francisco.

Congratulating Ashley on her award, Irish Cancer Society Acting Head of Research Dr Claire kilty said: “Ashley is an incredibly valued member of her team, which is clear from the glowing tributes paid to her given her extensive experience in bringing cutting-edge clinical trials to patients. This award is truly fitting recognition of her amazing efforts in this space.

“It’s a real testament to the work of our dedicated cancer researchers around Ireland to see such a flourishing environment for forwardlooking research projects including clinical trials, and it’s great to be able to recognise the amazing effort they put into making people’s lives better at such a difficult time.”

The 2023 Irish Cancer Society Research Awards was the first event to be held in person since before the pandemic in 2020.

The event comes ahead of the return of the Society’s Daffodil Day fundraiser on Friday March 24, which provides crucial support for ground-breaking cancer research. For information on how to give or get involved, visit www. Cancer.ie.

Tiffany

Darlene

‘Sword of Damocles hanging over Paypal workers’

PAYPAL workers in Dundalk and Dublin are ‘still none the wiser’ as to whether the company’s announcement of 2,000 job cuts will hit them or not, according to Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú.

The Dundalk TD said he had written to the company last week seeking an update, because it will be one month on Tuesday, February 28, since the American multinational announced a seven percent reduction in its global workforce.

He also raised the matter of PayPal in Dundalk with An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar during Taoiseach’s Questions last week in Leinster House, telling the Fine Gael leader he was worried about the jobs, on the day that Google announced 240 positions would be cut from their Irish operations.

And in a written response to the Sinn Féin deputy last week, Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney said: ‘On 31 January 2023, PayPal’s CEO announced that the company would seek a 7% reduction of its global workforce, or 2,000 people globally.

‘As with any global announcement, it can take some time for the impact at local level to be determined and we currently await detail of the impact on employment in Ireland.

‘The IDA Ireland engages regularly with PayPal as part of the Agency’s ongoing support for the company.

‘The IDA has good relationships with Irish and corporate management at PayPal which is a key employer in the state and the Border Region. Recently, IDA Ireland has actively engaged with PayPal in both Dundalk and Dublin regarding transformation, upskilling and the potential for RD&I activity to be carried out in Ireland.

‘Throughout IDA’s engagement with PayPal, the company has reaffirmed that Ireland is a location is of strategic importance to PayPal’.

Deputy Ó Murchú said: ‘The PayPal quarter four results for 2022, released earlier this month, show an increase in revenue of 7% to $7.4 billion, despite a ‘rough’ 2022.

‘However, despite the announcement on January 31 of 2,000 job cuts worldwide, the workforce in Dundalk and at their other site in Ballycoolin, have not had any indication as to whether they will be affected by redundancies.

‘Having contacted the company last week, on foot of contact with employees at the site in Dundalk who were asking for an update, PayPal has advised me that they ‘don’t have any information in relation to Ireland at present.

‘While I understand that the company has to advise the stock market of the planned reduction, many people were thinking that after the February 9 results announcement, the locations of the cuts would be made clear.

‘This hasn’t happened and it is difficult for anyone to work in a job when the Sword of Damocles is hanging over them’.