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You are cordially invited to attend the Professorial Lecture by Professor Joanne Reid, Professor of Cancer and Palliative Care, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast.

"The complexity of cachexia: a multifactorial syndrome with multidimensional impact."

Cachexia is a wasting syndrome underpinned by complex metabolic pathophysiology which is associated with the advanced stages of various serious illnesses. There is a profound holistic impact on individuals who have cachexia and their informal carers, and cachexia is a major contributor to morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. There are currently no standardised treatments for cachexia. Joanne leads a programme of research into cachexia which is underpinned by active patient public involvement and engagement (PPIE), and includes a multidisciplinary international working group. This research provides empirical, theoretical and Cochrane review data to evidence both the personal impact of cachexia and the potential for multimodal interventions which work synergistically to target the multifactorial pathophysiology associated with cachexia, such as the current MMIEAD feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial, funded by the Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund.