"A CAST studentship seemed like the perfect compromise for me, allowing me to research while also maintaining connections with industry"

Megan O' Sullivan is a PhD student in a CAST studentship funded by iREACH Health and Exploristics (a company specialising in biostatistics) and supervised by Professor Adele Marshall and Professor Judy Bradley. Her project aims to uses recent advancements in AI to improve clinical trial design.

In this blog entry, we sit down with Megan and one of her supervisors Professor Judy Bradley to explore the real-world impact of collaborative research. This conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Megan's CAST project is providing solutions with industry relevance and helping to shape the future of clinical trials in Northern Ireland. 

What drew you to apply for a CAST studentship?

In the final year of my undergraduate degree, I was undecided on whether to pursue a position in industry or to focus on academia and apply to PhD positions. A CAST studentship seemed like the perfect compromise for me, allowing me to research while also maintaining connections with industry.

Having worked in a niche between industry and academia do you feel better prepared for a career in research or industry, or both?

I genuinely feel quite prepared for both. While most of my time has been spent in an academic environment, this studentship has allowed me to work with experts in my area from both academic and industry backgrounds. This has allowed me to see how different the approach to conducting clinical trials is between the two sectors. This studentship has equipped me with the ability to explore innovative trial designs while understanding the need for efficiency to achieve regulatory approval.

Has the CAST studentship provided opportunities for networking, attending events, or opened future job prospects that you may not have otherwise had if you went straight into industry or pursued an academia-only PhD?

I’ve had the opportunity to meet some of the staff members at MMS and I hope to attend the PSI (Statisticians in the pharmaceutical industry) conference next year, something I possibly wouldn’t have heard of if not for that industry link. I’ve attended a few academic conferences, so it’ll be great to be able to network in a setting that’s more industry focused to chat to companies about job opportunities in other areas.

For you what has been the most valuable aspect of being in a CAST PhD?

It’s having the ability to contact the team at MMS. If I’ve gotten stuck on something, being able to chat to someone who does similar work on a daily basis is invaluable. Even if we don’t come up with a solution, having someone to point out avenues I hadn’t previously considered is incredibly helpful.

Would you encourage other students to pursue a CAST PhD? If so, why?

Absolutely, in my opinion research should always be a collaborative effort and pursing a CAST PhD helps facilitate this. I believe that your research only stands to benefit by having people from multiple backgrounds available to offer their advice and expertise if you’re ever looking for guidance during your PhD.

 

"CAST studentships are purposefully translational, driving research that can lead to tangible improvements in clinical processes, methods, or technologies." 

Professor Judy Bradley is the CEO of iREACH Health, director of the Northern Ireland Clinical Research Facility (NICRF), and one of the supervisors on Megan's CAST PhD project. 

What unique opportunities does the industry partnership bring to your research? 

The outcome of this project provides the opportunity to improve trial design which will have a positive impact on the work we carry out at the NICRF. 

Overall, the CAST programme also helps to foster closer ties between academia, NHS, and industry. This complements our efforts within the NICRF and iREACH Health to help provide a pipeline for innovation to help make Northern Ireland a region of choice for clinical trials. 

Can you speak to how the CAST structure supports real-world applicability and innovation in academic research? 

The CAST model embeds industry-led problem-solving into the PhD framework, ensuring research addresses genuine clinical or commercial needs.  

Because the research addresses needs defined by industry and academia, outputs are more likely to be adopted into practice.  

From the students’ perspective, they gain access to data/facilities/mentorship through the industry partner that may not be accessible otherwise as well as immersion between both academic and industry environments. CAST studentships can help turn transactional partnerships into enduring alliances, with tangible benefits for the clinical research ecosystem of Northern Ireland. 

How has your relationship with industry evolved as a result of the studentship? 

The NICRF has previously established partnerships with industry, and routinely host a variety of industry-lead trials. The CAST studentship has provided a unique opportunity to deepen trust and collaboration with industry in ways that traditional projects sometimes cannot. Successful collaboration on CAST studentships will likely open further opportunities for collaboration such as follow-on funding or spin-out ventures. 

What would you say to other academics considering supervising a CAST student for the first time? 

I would urge them to go for it! 

Some advice would be to carefully select an industry partner whose strategic goals align closely with the research project. For example, in Megan’s project, both iREACH Health and the industry partner Exploristics share a strong commitment to advancing clinical trial design. This shared vision made it seamless to align on the project expectations, deliverables, and long-term objectives from the outset. 

How does the CAST studentship enhance the real-world impact of your research team’s work? 

At the NICRF and iREACH Health we're uniquely positioned to witness the real-world impact of successful clinical trials. The research questions explored through CAST projects directly complement our work by enhancing critical aspects like trial design - helping to improve both trial success rates and benefits to patients. 

How does the CAST programme help attract top-tier talent to your department? 

CAST studentships appeal to strong candidates seeking to combine academic excellence with real-world industry experience. The programme enables students to pursue meaningful research in their chosen field while simultaneously developing valuable professional connections - equipping them with both the expertise and networks needed to excel in their future careers. 

In what ways does the industry collaboration accelerate research outcomes compared to conventional funding? 

Aside from the previously mentioned built-in translational goal of the studentships which are targeted to accelerating research, CAST students often also have access to additional resources as they can use both university facilities as well as industry ones. This can help to “turbocharge” research outcomes.  

The call for 2026 industry partners is now open. Is your organisation interested in becoming a partner on a CAST studentship? 

Queen's University Belfast has committed to a number of studentships (funded by the Department for the Economy NI and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Doctoral Training Programme), commencing in October 2026, for projects across the Institution that will involve significant work with a non-academic partner. Partnerships with private sector industry, government departments, agencies and voluntary sector organisations that meet the appropriate criteria will all be considered.

Get in touch to learn more!