Congratulations to Katie Quinn on LifeArc Conference Success

We are delighted to congratulate Katie Quinn on taking first place in the flash talk competition for doctoral students at the LifeArc conference earlier this month.

Katie impressed judges and delegates with a powerful and deeply personal presentation exploring the lived experience of becoming a carer for someone with Fragile X. The annual LifeArc conference brings together doctoral researchers from across the UK, challenging them to present their work in concise and impactful talks. Katie’s presentation stood out for its clarity, compassion and relevance.

Her flash talk traced her journey into caregiving from a parent’s perspective and shone a spotlight on an often overlooked area, the need for more research into the emotional, physical and psychosocial impact of caring on family members. This is an issue that resonates strongly with many families affected by Fragile X.

Katie is a PhD researcher at Queen’s University Belfast, based in the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences. Her doctoral research focuses on the psychosocial and health impacts of caregiving for Fragile X Syndrome, the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability.

Through her work, Katie aims to address critical gaps in evidence, policy and support, helping to ensure that family carers are better recognised and supported. Her research aligns closely with the ongoing partnership between Queen’s University Belfast and the Fragile X Society, which is focused on raising awareness, strengthening research involvement and improving support for families across Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. By bringing together academic expertise and lived experience, this collaboration is helping to build a stronger evidence base and advocate for meaningful improvements in care and services.

Colleagues and peers have warmly congratulated Katie on her achievement, recognising not only the academic strength of her work but also its ability to give a voice to families who navigate the challenges of Fragile X caregiving every day.

We would like to say a huge thank you to Katie for her dedication, insight and commitment to raising awareness of Fragile X. Her success is richly deserved and we look forward to following the impact of her research in the years ahead.