Claire Kilty is the Head of Research at the Irish Cancer Society. As part of her role, she leads the research team to oversee the Irish Cancer Society research funding portfolio, implements cancer research strategy, and communicates to the public about evidence-based cancer research and strategies to combat cancer misinformation.

Claire is extremely passionate about ensuring that the patient voice is at the heart of cancer research and manages the Society’s public and patient involvement panel. She works together with people affected by cancer to ensure public and patient partnership in research is central to both the Irish Cancer Society’s research funding processes and the national cancer research community.

Prior to her role in the Society, Claire was Research Manager in UCD working on developing a One Health Research strategy across the university. She has also previously worked as Programme Manager for the UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research; BREAST-PREDICT, Irish Cancer Society's first Collaborative Cancer Research Centre.

Claire has a PhD in Genetics, and three years postdoctoral experience working in ocular drug discovery.