The Weiss Medal is given by the Association of Radiation Research (ARR) and is the only award given for radiobiology research in the UK. The prestigious prize is reserved for individuals who have made distinguished contributions to radiation science.

The decision to nominate a recipient for the medal is made by the Chair of the ARR. Professor Chris Talbot nominated Professor Prise after consultation with senior members of the radiobiology community.

“The Chair of the ARR highlighted the breadth and depth of my radiation research across a broad range of radiation research areas related to physics, chemistry, biology and clinical translation,” explained Professor Prise. “He also highlighted the significant role I had played in mentoring many students and post-docs over the years, building a strong, internationally recognised radiation program at Queen’s.”

The ARR was established in 1958 and set out to bring together workers from different disciplines who have a common interest in radiobiology, as well as its ‘allied subjects’ of radiation chemistry and radiation physics. Professor Prise has been a member of the ARR since 1986, serving as its treasurer from 1992-1996.

“Receiving this award will highlight the ongoing work of the Advanced Radiotherapy Group and continue to recognise the investment that Queen’s University Belfast has made in this area over the years,” said Professor Prise. “It also attests to the vision of Paddy Johnston to set up a translational radiation research program back in 2007 as part of the development of what is now the PGJCCR.”

When inviting Professor Prise to give his Weiss Medal award lecture at the ARR Conference in Birmingham in June, Professor Talbot told attendees:

There are two things that stand out from Kevin’s career and fully justify this prestigious award. Firstly, not just the quantity of his contribution to the published research literature in radiobiology, but to the wide range of papers which demonstrate that Kevin has made a substantial contribution to almost every aspect of the field from mechanistic insights to highly applied research at the clinical interface. Secondly, Kevin has built up an excellent radiotherapy research group at Queens, many of whom are themselves making great contributions to radiobiology; by all accounts Kevin has been a superb mentor to colleagues in Belfast and around the world. For all these reasons we are proud to award Kevin the Weiss Medal of the Association for Radiation Research.

Professor Prise’s work in PGJCCR focusses on Radiation Biology Research, aiming to optimize the use of radiation(s) as advanced radiotherapy modalities and minimising the risk associated with uncontrolled exposures. He works with a multidisciplinary team of Radiation and Cancer Biologists, Bioinformaticians Radiation Physicists, and Clinical Oncologists.