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Members of Johnston Cancer Research Centre’s (JCRC) ProEx team, which includes researchers, clinicians and administrators, received the prize at the special anniversary ceremony where attendees also heard a moving testimony from Bishop Alan Abernethy, a former patient and current champion of ProEx whose life was saved by the team.

“I Shouldn’t Be Here. But I Am.” This powerful statement sums up Bishop Abernethy’s journey with prostate cancer and how an opportunity for a clinical trial offered by gave him new hope.

“When your back is against the wall, you say yes to anything that gives you hope. I trusted Joe and the team with my life.”

Bishop Abernethy has talked about how the treatment was intense and draining but eventually led to him being given some very good news.

“Joe brought us in, showed us the scan. And the cancer was gone. Completely gone. My wife, Liz, who’s a retired medical doctor, asked to see it again because we could hardly believe it.”

Bishop Abernethy’s story represents one of the many important aspects of ProEx’s work. The scope of the Centre of Excellence explores questions from the biological underpinnings of prostate cancer development, treatment response and treatment resistance to the social and environmental factors that affect prostate cancer risk. Other research has a strong clinical focus, seeking to translate basic research findings into improving patient outcomes through clinical trials. They also use information from patients to generate ‘big-data’.

The Queen’s 180 award celebrates contributions that embody the spirit of the University’s 180th anniversary - showcasing real-world impact across areas such as health and wellbeing, social value, community collaboration, technological innovation, or environmental sustainability.

“Well done to all our prostate cancer researchers,” said JCRC Centre Director . “You have demonstrated how cancer research can save lives.”