New ways to battle cancer: The technology helping medical science make breakthroughs

Confidence in finding lifesaving treatments is at an all-time high, thanks in part to pandemic medical breakthroughs. We talk to immunologist Prof Luke O'Neill about the ‘Covid dividend’

Prof. Luke O'Neill in his office in Trinity College Dublin. Photograph Moya Nolan

Professor Luke O’Neill became everybody’s favourite scientist during Covid-19. His was a solid, reassuring voice in an uncertain world. “I knew there was a huge level of fear, especially in the over-60s. I felt if I can give them a bit of hope that we are going to get out of this.”

His hope, which steadied us through the pandemic, is something he also feels about cancer treatment. Cancer is the second biggest killer, after heart disease, and half of us are at risk of being diagnosed with it.