Taoiseach Micheál Martin presented the prestigious Research Ireland St Patrick’s Day Medal for 2026 to Prof. Lynne S. Taylor, Retter Distinguished Professor of Pharmacy at Purdue University, and Dr Sarah O’Keeffe, group vice president for product research and Development at Eli Lilly and Company, at a ceremony in Washington DC.
The Research Ireland St Patrick’s Day medal each year honours exceptional academic and industry leaders with strong Irish roots who, from their positions in the United States, continue to champion and support Ireland’s research community.
Prof Lynne S. Taylor, the 2026 recipient of the Research Ireland St Patrick’s Day Medal for Academia, is the Retter Distinguished Professor of Pharmacy at Purdue University. As a global authority on drug formulation science, her research provides the foundation for critical solubility-enabling technologies that enable the delivery of life-saving treatments for diseases such as cancer and hepatitis C infection.
An Irish citizen, Prof. Taylor has championed Irish pharmaceutical science through her long-standing advisory role with SSPC, the Research Ireland Centre for Pharmaceuticals, collaboration with universities, and PhD student mentorship. As editor-in-chief of Molecular Pharmaceutics, she elevated the international profile of Irish research by dedicating a special 2024 issue to pharmaceutical research from across the island of Ireland. Through her commitment to women in STEM and mentorship of emerging scientists, she has built a formidable talent pipeline, with many former group members now holding prominent positions globally.
Accepting the Research Ireland St Patrick’s Day Medal for Academia, Prof. Taylor commented: “It is a great honour to receive this award from Ireland’s research and innovation agency. For many years I have been involved with championing Irish research and supporting scientists at every stage of their development, across Ireland and globally. Whether serving as a mentor, advisor, collaborator, or guest speaker, these interactions with Irish scientists have been deeply rewarding. It is a privilege to continue playing a role in fostering greater connectivity and knowledge exchange between the United States and Ireland, and I am confident that the long-standing bonds between our two countries will grow even stronger into the future.”
Dr Sarah O’Keeffe, Group Vice President for Product Research and Development at Eli Lilly and Company, is the recipient of the Research Ireland St Patrick’s Day Medal for Industry. A graduate of University College Cork, she has become one of the most senior Irish leaders in global pharmaceutical R&D, overseeing more than 1,000 scientists and engineers who translate discovery molecules into medicines for patients worldwide. Dr O’Keeffe has been central to major advances in drug development, including the development of the investigational drug candidate orforglipron, which was recognised by TIME magazine for its potential global health impact in management of diabetes and obesity.
Dr O’Keeffe began her career with Lilly in Indianapolis, and has played a central role in advancing manufacturing capabilities at the company’s Kinsale site, earning the facility the IPSE Global Facility of the Year Award for Innovation in 2017. Now a central figure in the development of the $4.5 billion Lilly Medicine Foundry, she exemplifies how Irish scientific talent can shape the future of advanced biopharma innovation on the global stage.
Dr O’Keeffe said: “Pharmaceutical research endeavours are a team pursuit, and collective passion and perseverance through times of challenge – and often, failure – is how progress and success happens. It has been a pleasure to have shared my journey to date with such talented colleagues who have the patient front and centre in all that they do.”
Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO of Research Ireland, said: “Prof Taylor and Dr O’Keeffe embody the vision we have for Ireland’s research future: excellence, ambition, and far-reaching impact. Their track records to date demonstrate how Irish researchers and global leaders with strong connections to Ireland, play a critical role in advancing scientific discovery in a spirit of international collaboration. As Research Ireland continues to build a more connected, dynamic and competitive national research system, their achievements remind us of the extraordinary potential of Irish talent on the global stage. We are delighted to celebrate them today, and we look forward to further strengthening the links they have helped forge between Ireland, the United States, and the wider international research community.”
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