Translating Discovery Into Care Professor Stephen Maher On The Future Of Cancer Therapy

Nov 6, 2025

Professor Stephen Maher, a leading expert in translational oncology and radiation research at Trinity College Dublin, dives into the complexities of cancer treatment. He discusses the role of microRNAs in influencing how tumors respond to therapies like chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Stephen explains how cellular behavior changes and why certain genetic mutations drive tumor evolution. With a commitment to bridging lab discoveries and patient care, he shares insights on the future of anti-cancer therapeutics and the importance of understanding treatment resistance.

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INSIGHT

MicroRNAs Are Master Regulators

MicroRNAs are tiny regulators that control hundreds to thousands of genes and shape cell behaviour.
Their disruption can both cause cancer and be a consequence of cancer development.

INSIGHT

Radiation Works — Until Biology Says No

Radiation treats over half of cancer patients and is broadly effective but can fail for biological reasons.
Studying molecular causes of resistance helps explain why some tumors respond while others do not.

INSIGHT

A MicroRNA Controls Drug Trafficking

MIR31 controls chemotherapy movement from the cell edge into the nucleus and affects treatment sensitivity.
Detailed mechanistic studies reveal how single microRNAs can alter drug access to DNA.

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In today's episode, we are joined by Professor Stephen Maher, an expert in translational oncology and radiation research at Trinity College Dublin, where he also serves as the Director of Postgraduate Studies for the School of Medicine.

Stephen's work focuses on understanding why some cancers respond to treatment while others resist it — particularly in relation to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. His research explores how factors like microRNAs, the DNA damage response, and tumor hypoxia influence treatment sensitivity, with a strong emphasis on oesophageal and pancreatic cancers.

Hit play to explore:

The future of anti-cancer therapeutics.
The ways that radiation research is evolving.
Why translational oncology is so important for improving patient outcomes.

After completing his Ph.D. in Oncology at RCSI and a fellowship at the National Cancer Institute in Maryland, Stephen has built a career dedicated to bridging lab-based discovery with patient-focused care. He leads national and international collaborations in cancer biology and has helped develop cutting-edge radiotherapy and hypoxia research cores at Trinity's Translational Medicine Institute.

Click here to learn more about Stephen and his important work!

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C

🛍️ Recommended Books from This Episode:

📖 The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee – A sweeping and deeply human history of cancer, from ancient times to the modern era of targeted therapies. 👉 Get it here

📘 The Biology of Cancer by Robert A. Weinberg – The definitive textbook on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of cancer, used across graduate‑ and medical‑school curriculums. 👉 Check it out

📙 The Cancer Chronicles: Unlocking Medicine's Deepest Mystery by George Johnson – A personal and provocative journey into cancer research, exploring how scientists are redefining the disease and our fight against it. 👉 Explore it here

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