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Showcasing 5 years of Philanthropic Impact at Cancer Research @UCC
On November 20th at UCC's Western Gateway Building, Cancer Research @UCC held a Philanthropy Impact Showcase to acknowledge support provided by Breakthrough Cancer Research which enabled the Professor Gerald O 'Sullivan Chair of Cancer Research position held by Professor Roisin Connolly since late 2019.
The Centre team welcomed the family of the late Professor Gerald O 'Sullivan along with regional stakeholders and collaborators, donors, industry and academic partners, patients and their families. Attendees had the opportunity to tour the Centre’s state-of-the-art facilities and engage with the researchers and donors driving change in cancer research.
Dr. Munawar Abbas and Dr. Emilene Da Silva Morais presenting their work to tour group
Over the past five years, the Centre has made significant strides thanks to transformative philanthropic support from Breakthrough Cancer Research. This support facilitated the establishment of the Professor Gerald O’Sullivan Chair in Cancer Research, held by Professor Roisin Connolly. The partnership has been crucial in advancing key initiatives within the UCC College of Medicine and Health which strengthen connections between academia and healthcare regionally.
With Professor Connollys leadership we have seen the creation of a Health Research Board supported clinical trials network (UCC Cancer Trials Group) that strengthens collaboration between UCC and cancer clinical trials units regionally, development of an academic support team for cancer researchers to bring high-quality, patient-focused, investigator-led trials to our cancer centres, and further recruitment of academic oncologists to expand capacity for clinical and translational research.
The partnership with Breakthrough Cancer Research has also enhanced collaboration between UCC and the Health Service Executive through the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) accreditation initiative. This collaboration has developed the CUH/UCC Cancer Centre as an entity and is vital in striving to integrate academic research with clinical practice; ensuring that innovations in cancer treatment and care are rapidly translated into improved patient outcomes.
An Impact Report highlighting the progress and achievements at the Centre was presented by Professor Connolly to CEO of Breakthrough Cancer Research Ms Orla Dolan at the event.
You can read the Cancer Research @UCC Impact Report 2019-2024 here.
Impact and Innovation
In the past five years Cancer Research @UCC has achieved some remarkable milestones:
- UCC Cancer Trials Group launched early 2022
- Global partnership with UPMC announced July 2022
- Recruitment of Ireland’s 1st Chair in Radiation Oncology, Professor Aisling Barry
- UCC sponsored LYSA trial completes accrual of 200 women with breast and gynaecologic cancer
- Patient & Public Involvement Panel established
Voices of Leadership
Professor Roisin Connolly, Director of Cancer Research @UCC, reflects on the Centre’s journey. “I am deeply grateful to Breakthrough Cancer Research for their support, and in particular their critical donation which facilitated my joint appointment with the university and the healthcare system, a position that enables me to advance cancer research regionally and integrate cutting-edge science from our university and partners into patient care.”
“In our Impact Report, we share the significant achievements of the past few years catalysed by my position and a vision to the future where Cancer Research @UCC is a leader nationally and internationally in patient-centred cancer research and clinical trials.
Looking ahead, Professor Connolly confirmed “We anticipate further growth across cancer disciplines over the coming years, strengthening the connection between our regional hospitals and the university, and expanding our portfolio of investigator-led projects that bring the best technology, treatments, and interventions to our regional population living with or at risk of a cancer diagnosis.”
A Global Perspective
University College Cork President, Professor John O'Halloran, commended the Centre’s impact, stating, “Today Cancer Research @UCC is driving the highest quality investigator-led translational and clinical research trials for some of the most challenging and poor prognosis cancers to find the next step change in precision oncology. UCC is deeply grateful for the sustained support from Breakthrough Cancer Research whose vision was a catalyst for transformational change in cancer care and treatment.”
Echoing this sentiment, Professor Helen Whelton, Head of the College of Medicine and Health at UCC, congratulated Cancer Research @UCC “With Professor Connolly’s leadership and vision we have leveraged additional global philanthropic support and have recruited top academic oncologists across cancer disciplines to amplify her efforts.
Beyond the Chair’s impact, additional support from Breakthrough Cancer Research through research grants has been instrumental in enabling us to offer clinical cancer research training opportunities for oncology trainees, expand our PhD programmes, and embark on innovative research projects aimed at improving patient outcomes.”
Highlighted in the Impact Report is the significant growth of core staff at the Centre in the past five years and in acknowledgement of this a presentation was made to Professor Connolly by her team.
As the Centre plans for the future, it remains dedicated to advancing research and improving healthcare outcomes for cancer patients. Its ongoing focus on innovation and collaboration will contribute to the continued development of cancer research and clinical trials on a global scale.