Prof Lynne Taylor and Dr Sarah O’Keefe awarded 2026 St Patrick’s Day Medal

The Analysis Eire St Patrick’s Day medal honours distinctive educational and business leaders with robust Irish roots.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has introduced Professor Lynne Taylor, a Retter distinguished professor of Pharmacy at Purdue College and Dr Sarah O’Keeffe, the group vice-president for product analysis and growth at Eli Lilly and Firm, with The Analysis Eire St Patrick’s Day medal.

The medal is awarded every year to educational and business leaders with established Irish roots, who from their positions within the US, help and champion Eire’s analysis group. Earlier winners embody laptop scientist Dr Eamonn Keogh, Stripe founders Jack and Patrick Collison and Dr Ann Kelleher. 

A world authority on drug formulation science, Taylor’s analysis offers the inspiration applied sciences that help the supply of life-saving remedies for ailments resembling most cancers and hepatitis C. An Irish citizen, she is a vocal advocate for Eire’s pharma area via her advisory roles with the Analysis Eire Centre for Prescribed drugs and collaboration with universities. 

She can also be the editor-in-chief of Molecular Pharmaceutics and is dedicated to supporting different ladies in STEM by way of the mentorship of rising scientists and has constructed a formidable expertise pipeline, with many former group members now holding distinguished positions globally.

Commenting on the award, Taylor stated, “It’s a nice honour to obtain this award from Eire’s analysis and innovation company. For a few years I’ve been concerned with championing Irish analysis and supporting scientists at each stage of their growth, throughout Eire and globally. 

“Whether or not serving as a mentor, advisor, collaborator, or visitor speaker, these interactions with Irish scientists have been deeply rewarding. It’s a privilege to proceed enjoying a task in fostering better connectivity and information trade between the USA and Eire, and I’m assured that the long-standing bonds between our two international locations will develop even stronger into the long run.”

O’Keeffe is taken into account amongst one in every of Eire’s most senior leaders in international pharmaceutical R&D and she or he oversees greater than 1,000 scientists and engineers who translate discovery molecules into medicines for sufferers worldwide. She has been central to a lot of main advances in drug growth, together with within the growth of the investigational drug candidate orforglipron, which was recognised by TIME journal for its potential international well being affect within the administration of diabetes and weight problems.

Starting her profession with Eli Lilly in Indianapolis she earned the ability the IPSE World Facility of the Yr Award for Innovation in 2017 and is a central determine within the growth of the $4.5bn Lilly Medication Foundry.

Of her win, she stated, “I’m delighted and proud to obtain this recognition from Analysis Eire. I would really like, firstly, to acknowledge UCC for being the launchpad for my profession in business. I’d additionally prefer to thank all my Lilly colleagues in Eire, United States and internationally during the last twenty years, for his or her extraordinary dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence. 

“Pharmaceutical analysis endeavours are a crew pursuit, and collective ardour and perseverance via instances of problem and infrequently, failure is how progress and success occurs. It has been a pleasure to have shared my journey thus far with such gifted colleagues who’ve the affected person entrance and centre in all that they do.”

Presenting each recipients with their medals in Washington DC, Taoiseach Micheál Martin acknowledged, “Immediately, we honour two excellent scientific leaders whose achievements exemplify the easiest of our international analysis group. Professor Taylor and Dr O’Keeffe show how members of the Irish diaspora, working on the highest ranges in the USA, are serving to to form the way forward for medication and strengthen worldwide partnerships. 

“Their respective work has enhanced Eire’s status as a pacesetter in analysis and innovation, and displays each the deep and enduring ties between Eire and the US, and our shared dedication to scientific excellence. I’m delighted to recognise their management and achievements right here in the present day, and to have fun the affect they proceed to make on behalf of Eire.”

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