IT was a graduation day to remember for one Portaferry family as three siblings collected university degrees in the same week – including one sister whose pioneering cancer research could help save lives.
Dr Erin McGrattan graduated from Queen’s University along with her sister Gerra, who graduated from Stranmillis University College, and brother Tom gained a BSc from Queen’s.
Erin gained a PhD in Medicine, Gerra graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Studies and Tom’s degree is in Business Management.
The family ties don’t end there; Erin’s cancer research work is supported by the Brian Conlon Foundation, and brother Tom is taking up a graduate job at First Derivatives, the company founded by Brian Conlon, the Queen’s graduate and businessman who died from oesophageal cancer in 2019. Gerra will be heading to Liverpool Hope University to complete a PGCE after working as a classroom assistant.
Following a degree in Food Science, Erin ‘jumped at the chance’ when an opportunity came up to study for a PhD in oesophageal cancer.
Erin said: “The support of the Brian Conlon Foundation enabled me to complete the research without any financial burden. Their investment also meant I was able to travel to national and international conferences to present my work and network with other oesophageal cancer researchers, clinicians and policy makers.
“Meeting with the foundation each year gave me a renewed passion for my research and drove me to create meaningful, relevant results.”
Those results are showing that some patients with the disease could be missed under existing screening criteria, highlighting a need for broader approaches. She explained: “My research focused on asymptomatic oesophageal cancer and Barrett’s oesophagus with the aim of promoting early detection and survival rates. “My findings show that there is a significant proportion of patients being diagnosed with these conditions who do not have reflux symptoms, which is a key criterion for investigating patients.
“These findings are novel and advocate that consideration should be given to widening the pool of eligible participants for Barrett’s and oesophageal cancer screening.”
Away from the research, Erin has balanced her academic achievements with a successful sporting career. Throughout her time at Queen’s, she has travelled from Belfast to her hometown of Portaferry three to four times a week to train and compete with her local senior camogie team.
She said: “My camogie teammates are really my best friends, so seeing them three to four times a week for training or matches was my way of enjoying time with friends and downtime from work.
Camogie always has been my outlet, my way of getting physically active and engaging with friends.” Now she has completed her PhD and been named player of the year, Erin has been asked to represent Co. Down and hopes that this will inspire other young women to continue to play as they pursue their studies.
She said: “I hope that I can show young girls, especially those from my home town, that you don’t have to let your hobbies or studies suffer at the hands of one or the other, that you can do both.”
Speaking about her brother and sister, Erin said: “Tom underwent knee surgery in 2025, just before starting his final year and the work he has put into his studies and rehabilitation is something to be admired. His work ethic and attention to detail is something he should be very proud of. “Gerra will make a fantastic teacher and I’m very proud to call her my sister.”
The Portaferry woman added: “My mum and dad are over the moon that we are all finished. There have been some stressful days in our house, but they were always there when we needed someone to rant to. “They might argue who we take the brains after, but it has been both their love and support that has meant that we are all graduating. As long as we’re happy, they’re happy.”
