Breakthrough Alliance Unites Irelands Top Universities In Fight Against Cancer

A groundbreaking all-island cancer research alliance has been launched by University College Dublin (UCD) and Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), bringing together the collective expertise of two renowned institutions to drive innovation and collaboration in the fight against cancer. The three-year partnership aims to foster a culture of interdisciplinary research, knowledge-sharing, and student mobility, with a focus on identifying joint research initiatives, innovation activities, and training programs.

By pooling their resources, UCD and QUB will create cutting-edge inter-institutional programs that tackle some of the most pressing challenges in cancer research, including precision medicine and tumour growth. This ambitious partnership builds upon the All-Island Cancer Research Institute (AICRI), which has already brought together 10 academic institutions from across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The AICRI’s successful model provides a platform for UCD and QUB to further expand their cancer research capabilities, leveraging the strengths of both institutions to tackle complex health issues. The partnership is particularly significant in light of the ongoing development of precision medicine, which has shown great promise in improving cancer treatment outcomes.

Researchers at UCD and QUB will be able to develop innovative therapies that target specific tumour growth patterns, offering new hope for patients across the island. According to Prof Kate Robson Brown, UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation, and Impact, “This collaboration will foster world-class academic-clinical partnerships in cancer research, driving tangible benefits that improve patient outcomes and quality of life on an all-island basis.”

Prof Mark Lawler, QUB Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Digital Health, highlighted the partnership’s strategic significance. “We’re announcing this partnership at a pivotal moment – the 25th anniversary year of the Ireland–Northern Ireland–US National Cancer Institute Cancer Consortium. It’s time for us to come together as one island community, united against our common enemy – cancer.”

Both UCD and QUB have established themselves as leaders in cancer research, with recent collaborations showcasing their expertise in innovative treatments. For instance, QUB partnered with US biotech company Aviceda Therapeutics to develop new therapies for cancer, while scientists from UCD collaborated with the University of Bern on groundbreaking research into the ‘dark genome’ of human DNA – a discovery that could significantly enhance our understanding of tumour growth and lead to improved cancer treatments.

As this all-island cancer research alliance takes shape, researchers at both institutions are optimistic about the potential for transformative breakthroughs. With their combined expertise and resources, UCD and QUB will drive forward a new era of cancer research, poised to make a lasting impact on patients across Ireland and Northern Ireland.