The Research Ireland St Patrick’s Day Medal honours exceptional academic and industry leaders with strong Irish roots.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, TD has presented Prof Lynne Taylor, a Retter distinguished professor of pharmacy at Purdue University, and Dr Sarah O’Keeffe, the group vice-president for product research and development at Eli Lilly, with the Research Ireland St Patrick’s Day medal.

The medal is awarded each year to academic and industry leaders with established Irish roots, who from their positions in the US, support and champion Ireland’s research community. Previous winners include computer scientist Dr Eamonn Keogh, Stripe founders John and Patrick Collison and Dr Ann Kelleher. 

A global authority on drug formulation science, Taylor’s research provides the foundation technologies that support the delivery of life-saving treatments for diseases such as cancer and hepatitis C. An Irish citizen, she is a vocal advocate for Ireland’s pharma space through her advisory roles with the Research Ireland Centre for Pharmaceuticals and collaboration with universities. 

She is also the editor-in-chief of Molecular Pharmaceutics and is committed to supporting other women in STEM via the mentorship of emerging scientists and has built a formidable talent pipeline, with many former group members now holding prominent positions globally.

Commenting on the award, Taylor said: “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, adviser, 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.”

O’Keeffe is considered among one of Ireland’s most senior leaders in global pharmaceutical R&D and she oversees more than 1,000 scientists and engineers who translate discovery molecules into medicines for patients worldwide. She has been central to a number of major advances in drug development, including in the development of the investigational drug candidate orforglipron, which was recognised by Time magazine for its potential global health impact in the management of diabetes and obesity.

Beginning her career with Eli Lilly in Indianapolis, O’Keeffe 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 and is a central figure in the development of the $4.5bn Lilly Medicine Foundry.

Of her win, she said: “I am delighted and proud to receive this recognition from Research Ireland. I would like, firstly, to acknowledge UCC for being the launchpad for my career in industry. I’d also like to thank all my Lilly colleagues in Ireland, United States and internationally over the last two decades, for their extraordinary commitment and relentless pursuit of excellence. 

“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.”

Presenting both recipients with their medals in Washington DC, Martin stated: “Today, we honour two outstanding scientific leaders whose achievements exemplify the very best of our global research community. Prof Taylor and Dr O’Keeffe demonstrate how members of the Irish diaspora, working at the highest levels in the United States, are helping to shape the future of medicine and strengthen international partnerships. 

“Their respective work has enhanced Ireland’s reputation as a leader in research and innovation, and reflects both the deep and enduring ties between Ireland and the US, and our shared commitment to scientific excellence. I am delighted to recognise their leadership and achievements here today, and to celebrate the impact they continue to make on behalf of Ireland.”

Updated, 3.35pm, 18 March 2026: This article was amended to clarify that O’Keeffe helped Eli Lilly’s Kinsale site earn the IPSE Global Facility of the Year Award for Innovation.

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