The All-Island Cancer Research Institute Launches Newest Public and Patient Engagement Initiative “Behind Walls”

Behind Walls is supported by the Research Ireland Discovery Programme.

During the August bank holiday weekend, the All-Island Cancer Research Institute (AICRI) launched its newest public and patient engagement initiative, Behind Walls, at the All Together Now festival in Waterford. Behind Walls is led by Conway Fellow, Dr Maria Prencipe from UCD School of Biomolecular & Biomedical Science, alongside colleagues and Conway Fellows Prof. William Gallagher (Co-Lead, AICRI and UCD School of Biomolecular & Biomedical Science) and Dr Arman Rahman (UCD School of Medicine), in collaboration with Dr Áine McGill, Ulster University. The Behind Walls concept was developed by Chantal Halley, AICRI Research Programme and Engagement Manager.

Ahead of the All Together Now festival, cancer researchers from UCD and Ulster University, alongside mural artist Aches, ran workshops with community groups across Waterford, including participants from the SOLAS Cancer Support Centre, local teenagers from Mount Sion CBS Secondary School, and members of ethnic minority communities, to understand what themes mattered most to them. The topic of support, whether from family, friends, doctors, charities or researchers, came up repeatedly.

That became the heart of the first piece in the series. Aches explained: “The piece I designed is centred around the feeling of support. I use overlaying hands reaching out to represent this sense of connection, care and encouragement. The use of hands also suggests that they could belong to anyone, serving as a reminder that cancer can, and often does, affect everyone, whether directly or indirectly.”