Dr. James P. Beirne
Gynaecological Cancer & Gynaecological Surgery
Education
MB BCh PhD MRCOG MRCPI PGCCE CEGO
Dr James P. Beirne is one of the few surgical oncologists in the UK and Ireland who is dual-clinical fellowship trained and, formally, dual-clinical academic trained. He completed general training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Northern Ireland. He also completed a Clinical Research Fellowship, with the support of the Northern Ireland Public Health Agency Research and Development Department, for which he was awarded a PhD for investigating the underlying molecular biology of high grade serous tubo-ovarian carcinoma. Following this, Dr Beirne embarked upon a combined, GMC-approved, Clinical Academic Training Lectureship and an RCOG-approved Sub-Specialty Training Fellowship in Gynaecological Oncology at Queen’s University, Belfast, and the Northern Ireland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer. He subsequently completed an Advanced Training Fellowship in Gynaecological Surgical Oncology at the Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer in Brisbane, Australia.
Special Interests:
- Complex abdomino-pelvic surgery
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Vaginal Surgery
- Risk reduction surgery for hereditary gynaecological cancers
- Sentinel lymph node techniques
- Advanced cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer
- Exenterative surgery for abdomino-pelvic malignancy
- Quality improvement and patient safety in surgery.
Dr. Beirne consults on:
- New and recurrent gynaecological cancers
- Ovarian Cysts
- Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain
- Fibroids
- Prolapse
- Period Problems
- Menopause
- Vulval Problems
Clinical research
Throughout his Sub-Specialist and Advanced Fellowship Training, Dr Beirne maintained an integral role in translational research at the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen’s University, Belfast. This resulted in the development of a bespoke research programme focused on the identification and validation of biomarkers for ovarian cancer.
He is currently a Senior Lecturer at both Trinity College, Dublin, and Queen’s University, Belfast.
Dr Beirne has ongoing academic interests in surgical clinical trials and translational research. His current focus is on the development of DNA methylation liquid biopsies using digital PCR technologies. He is co-founder, and Chief Medical Officer, of GenoME Diagnostics Ltd a spin-off biotech firm developing blood tests for several cancers. He is also a co-investigator on The All-Ireland Cancer Liquid Biopsies Consortium (CLuB) funded by the HEA North-South Research Programme 2021.
Dr Beirne is widely published with over 50 peer-reviewed publications, chapters, and conference abstracts. He has presented over 100 oral and poster presentations at international conferences and regularly delivers invited lectures. He has been recognised for his work with several awards. He is also a peer-reviewer for a number of international journals.
Read more here
Fellowship training
Professional Bodies
Irish Medical Council (registration number: 429644)
General Medical Council (registration number: 6143943)
Colleges and Societies
Member of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Member of the British Gynaecological Cancer Society.
Member of the British Society of Colposcopy & Cervical Pathology.
Member of the Irish Society of Gynaecological Oncology.
Member of the Ulster Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society.
Associate Member of the International Gynaecological Cancer Society.
Member of European Society of Surgical Oncology.
Member of European Society of Gynaecological Oncology.
Founding Member of the Audit & Research in Gynaecological Oncology Collaborative.
Member of Gynaecology DSSG - Clinical Trials Ireland.