Meet the Team

Ethna McFerran

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Queen’s University Belfast

Ethna McFerran is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Queen’s University Belfast, a member of the RCN Cancer and Breast Care Forum Committee and sits on the RCN Northern Ireland Research and Quality Group committee. 

Completing a PhD in colorectal cancer screening in 2018, she focused on the use of health economic modelling techniques to examine capacity planning; patient preferences for the inclusion of prevention services and analysing alternative testing regimes in surveillance procedures. Her current research focuses on policy and practice outcomes for cancer across the full patient pathway from the prevention of cancer, early diagnosis end of life care for cancer patients.  

Ethna has worked for many years as an oncology clinical research nurse and in the delivery of acute haematology and bone marrow transplant care. She works passionately to promote the role of nursing and research in driving improvements in patient outcomes and care and completed Postgraduate specialist practice training in oncology in 2010.  

Dr Vanessa Taylor RGN, EdD, MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Cancer Nursing), PGCE, BSc, DPSN

Dr Vanessa Taylor moved into higher education with a commitment to educate pre and post-registration health professionals about cancer, palliative and end of life care. Vanessa’s activities and published work focus on: cancer, palliative and end of life care and education; evaluation of education and its impact on workforce development and clinical practice. As Chair of Steering Group/Lead Author for the RCN Career and Education Framework for Cancer Nursing and Chair of Steering Group/Lead Author HEE (Yorkshire and the Humber) End of Life Care Learning Outcomes, Vanessa has published unique resources that distinguish levels of knowledge, skills and practice for the workforce delivering care in these fields. These resources have informed policy through membership of RCN Breast and Cancer Steering Group and HEE/Skills for Health Working Group for national end of life care learning outcomes.