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New €28M national strategic partnership to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients
Researchers at University College Cork (UCC) will partner with a consortium of Irish Universities, charities and international companies in a unique strategic partnership aiming to deliver next generation cancer care in Ireland.
Today (8th October), Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, launched Phase 2 of Ireland’s leading and largest ever cancer research programme, Precision Oncology Ireland (POI-2).
POI-2 has received a total of €28M over a five-year period under the Research Ireland Strategic Partnership Programme. The programme is dedicated to advancing personalised cancer research and care. Its mission is to develop tailored diagnostic and therapeutic solutions using cutting-edge technologies and data, ensuring every patient receives the right treatment at the right time.
Coordinated by University College Dublin, POI-2 builds on the success of Precision Oncology Ireland (POI), an initiative first launched in 2019 that was the first of its kind in Ireland in terms of combining expertise from third level institutions, charities and industry to co-develop precision medicine for cancer patients.
Minister Lawless said: "Breakthroughs in cancer research are most likely when clinicians, scientists, industry leaders, patients, charities, and other stakeholders come together with a shared purpose. The first phase of Precision Oncology Ireland stands as proof that strong, sustained collaboration can unlock innovation and accelerate transformative solutions. I congratulate the team on the advances made to date and wish them every success as they embark on this next phase of funded research."
Professor Mark Tangney of Cancer Research@UCC will lead on the OncoBioMaps Ireland work package, focusing on the identification of the cancer microbiome. OncoBioMaps will build a platform for biological mapping of cancer patients across Ireland, underpinned by the microbiome as a common biomarker.
"The funding allocated to UCC under this strategic partnership will enable us to develop a standardised national platform to collect and analyse multiple sample types from cancer patients across Ireland. With Cancer Research@UCC at its centre, this uniquely positions Ireland in having multiple laboratories studying the same patients in different ways, to develop 'biological maps' of patients", said Professor Tangney.
Professor Roisin Connolly, Director of Cancer Research@UCC said: "We are delighted to support this exciting POI-2 initiative which bridges state of the art microbiome research with our patients at regional and national cancer centres. Collaboration across academia and healthcare is critical to move the needle for improving cancer outcomes and we are excited to see tangible patient benefit in the coming years under Professor Tangney’s leadership."
Cork University Foundation (CUF) is the charity partner and will also fundraise for the project. Kerry Bryson, CEO of CUF stated: "The current delay between cancer research and patient benefit is too long. This is due in part to the challenges coordinating efficiently the interface between academic researchers and patients for high quality cancer research. Through the creation of a national platform, this project will provide a step change in the pace of cancer research across Ireland and ultimately bring innovations to patients faster. Cork University Foundation is proud to partner with UCC on this transformative project."
Professor John F. Cryan, UCC Vice President for Research and Innovation said: "Congratulations to Professor Mark Tangney and his team in Cancer Research@UCC on the key role they will continue to play in Precision Oncology Ireland, a major national strategic programme aiming to develop new diagnostics and therapeutics for personalised cancer treatment in Ireland. Their work in developing biological maps of patients using the microbiome as a biomarker will play a major role in cancer treatment for patients."