Aedín Culhane

Professor of Cancer Genomics in the School of Medicine and Director of the Limerick Digital Cancer Research Centre, University of Limerick

A digital research centre is partnering with patients and industry to deliver cancer research supported by cutting-edge data science and AI technology.

The University of Limerick Digital Cancer Research Centre is a growing research centre of excellence, launched in September 2021. The centre has ambitious goals and has attracted almost EUR6 million in funding in its first year.

Experts driving cancer research forward

Clinical director, Prof Ruth Clifford and academic director Prof Aedín Culhane believe creating a diverse interdisciplinary environment will be central to the centre’s success.

“Partnering with our patients, we will inspire multidisciplinary academic, clinical and industry partnerships between the University of Limerick and University Hospital Limerick to catalyse excellence in cancer research,” says Clifford.

Advanced research tools for mapping cancer cells

Clifford and Culhane gained much of their cancer research experience overseas where they saw first-hand the importance of translating academic discovery to clinical impact and are leveraging cutting-edge innovations such as spatial single-cell biology, biomaterials engineering and digital health data science and AI technology to yield new insight in cancer biology and treatments to inform clinical care. “The research tools we have now are very different to what we had five years ago,” Clifford says.

“Today, we can get highly detailed molecular data on every, single cancer cell. It means we can take the molecular portraits of that cell and direct medicines more precisely,” reveals Culhane, professor of cancer genomics.

The research tools we have now are very
different to what we had five years ago.

Dr Ruth Clifford

Creating new detailed maps of cancer

State-of-the-art technologies are measuring and quantifying tens of thousands of molecules in individual cells. Engineers are developing optical and nanosensors to precisely study real-time cell processes and develop minimally invasive, optical sensors to monitor dosage and efficacy of radio and chemotherapy — better tailoring treatment to each patient. 

“These technologies generate large volumes of data, and interpretation requires advanced computational and statistical methodology. Data scientists, software engineers, statisticians and experts in AI/machine learning are critical to the centre,” says Culhane, a leader and developer in Bioconductor — a genomics software used by over 1 million data scientists.

Global partnerships are essential

Translating the immense volume of data into effective treatments requires collaborations. Partnering with Queens University Belfast, the eHealth-Hub for Cancer will train students in best international practices of securely sharing and analysing federated clinical data to further understand cancer at scale. The Limerick Digital Cancer Research Centre is also partnering with Irish and European organisations to support Genomic Data Infrastructure.

“Access to a large data pool brings valuable benefits to patients. When you have large cohorts, you can ask questions that you couldn’t ask before,” Culhane says. “Data opens up new and exciting cancer research opportunities in Ireland and can connect us to ground-breaking international research projects, bringing deeper insights and potentially driving discovery of life-changing treatments.”

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Eva Szegezdi 

Associate Professor in Biochemistry, Director, Blood Cancer Network Ireland, 
Co-ordinator, INTEGRATE Doctorate Programme in Integrative Genomics, 
University of Galway, Ireland  

Experts say that ongoing trials surrounding CAR-T and NK cell immunotherapies have the potential to revolutionise cancer care.

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is a form of cellular immunotherapy known as adoptive cell transfer, targeting tumour-associated antigens in cancer cells. CAR-T cells are typically developed to recognise and attack a patient’s harmful cancer cells. Like CAR-T, natural killer (NK) therapy is a type of cellular immunotherapy. Unlike CAR-T, in addition to a specific antigen, CAR-NK cells can also identify cancerous cells via a range of N-activating receptors.  

CAR-T extending lives of cancer patients 

Dr Su Maung, consultant haematologist at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and current Secretary/Treasurer at Haematology Association of Ireland, says CAR-T is proving successful in clinical trials.  

 “In Ireland, we have approved CAR-T cell therapies for certain subtypes of B cell lymphoma and leukaemia. Clinical trials has an overall response rate up to 82%, which is extraordinary. This includes patients who have a complete response — meaning, they are still alive and well, thanks to their treatments. 

“We believe the very high response rates are due to the fact patients are receiving a living drug that is proactively finding harmful cells and killing them.” However, Dr Maung believes there are still limitations in delivery of service, which must be expedited for patients to better access treatment.  

 “We would also like to be able to better manage the effects of CAR-T treatment which includes toxicity and infections.” 

The drugs currently used for blood cancers have
serious side effects as they also kill healthy cells.

Eva Szegezdi

More adaptable ‘live’ treatment option  

Meanwhile, similar to CAR-T cells, NK cells act as ‘living drugs,’ and they can be from any donor. They are then genetically engineered and processed for cancer treatment.  

Eva Szegezdi, Director of Blood Cancer Network Ireland (BCNI) at the University of Galway, explains: “The drugs currently used for blood cancers have serious side effects as they also kill healthy cells. These drugs also get eliminated from the body very quickly. Whereas, live immune cells are adaptable and can persist for a long time.” 

Genetic engineering by BCNI is focused on generating therapeutic CAR-NK cells, which can eliminate cancerous cells and without affecting healthy ones. “Currently, we test these NK cells on biobanked patient samples. When we progress further, we will engage in clinical trials.” She expects the first trial in Ireland to be with 20 or 30 patients. “If that is successful, it will probably become an international trial.” 

Potential for improved cancer treatments 

With these findings and trials ongoing, patients in Ireland could potentially have access to more targeted treatment options, alongside traditional chemotherapy treatment.  

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With one in six deaths still caused by cancer, experts are searching for new digital health innovations that could one day turn the tide in the fight against it.

Many notable innovations have recently emerged in oncology, including CAR-T cell therapy, liquid biopsies and CRISPR-based treatment — most stemming from biological science fields such as genomics, pathology and immunology. 

However, the rapid rise of digital and data-driven technology in healthcare — such as artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT) and robotics — could offer unprecedented potential in the fight against cancer.  

Digital health computing cancer cures  

The rise of computational tools has unlocked new approaches to treatments. In particular, AI and machine learning hold the potential to revolutionise how drugs are matched to patients, taking personalised cancer care to the next level. Such technologies could also drastically transform the timeline for the development of new drugs, making it a matter of months rather than years. 

Other frontier tech applications are in the works too; for instance, quantum computing could have the potential to rapidly advance drug discovery and clinical trials. New multi-sectoral partnerships are being formed around quantum computing in medicine, with oncology as a key focus area. 

Going beyond the pill: prevention and diagnosis 

Beyond developing and integrating new treatments, AI shows incredible promise to vastly improve early detection and prevention rates. Missed or incorrect medical diagnoses are a serious concern in healthcare, and oncology is one of the highest-risk specialities.     

Leading research and medical institutions are applying the latest AI advancements to diagnose common cancers, including lung cancer via CT scans and colon cancer via endoscopy, where algorithms can spot difficult-to-detect cancers more effectively than humans. This technology is still maturing but could soon produce a step change in the percentage of cancers caught early. 

However, authorities must ensure the responsible use of these new technologies by putting in place appropriate regulatory mechanisms and ethical guidelines, given potential safety concerns with automation and security and privacy concerns with patients’ health data. 

New digital technologies may not only
transform health outcomes but also
support a better patient experience.

Digitising the patient journey  

New digital technologies may not only transform health outcomes but also support a better patient experience. A wide variety of established digital tools, often including mobile applications and telehealth, have been employed to help patients and families manage some aspects of cancer care from the relative comfort of their homes.  

Emerging evidence even suggests that virtual reality could become a potential tool for cancer care across a variety of use cases, including patient education and anxiety management. Some virtual solutions for pain management have already received FDA approval, and similar technologies could one day be translated into oncology. 

Expanding global access to care for all 

With as many as 70% of cancer deaths occurring in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), it is crucial that these new technologies reach the most vulnerable — especially as they already have shown great promise in low-resource settings such as rural India.   

However, some LMICs face various roadblocks to digital health uptake, such as limited financial resources, inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of skilled healthcare professionals. International funding and support will be key to bridging the technology and health gaps. In total, the World Health Organization has called for at least 140 billion dollars to be invested by 2030 to ensure 90% coverage of cancer services globally.  

As digital innovations in the fight against cancer continue to advance, global leaders must take steps to ensure that successful innovations reach those who need them most and that the digital health revolution helps produce a more equitable and sustainable global health system.   

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Brenda Byrne BA MSc

Principal Physicist and Radiation Protection Adviser, UCD Assistant Clinical Professor

SIRT is routinely used in the USA, UK and throughout Europe for the treatment of many liver tumours. In Ireland, however, there is no national funding agreement for SIRT, leaving patients with fewer treatment prospects. 

Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) is a targeted treatment for some liver tumours that delivers millions of tiny radioactive beads, called SIR-Spheres, directly to the site of the cancer.  

Liver cancer treatment improves quality of life  

Dr Cormac Farrelly, interventional radiologist at Mater Misericordiae University Hospital Dublin, explains: 

“The treatment has been around for about 20 years. Patients may have tumours that start in the liver — known as primary liver cancer (Hepatocellular carcinoma) — or they may have tumours that have spread to the liver from a cancer in the bowel — which is known as secondary liver cancer or metastases. Patients with metastatic disease that may benefit from SIRT are not generally surgical candidates, so it’s about aiding quality of life. Results depend on how far the cancer has spread when they get the treatment.  

“SIRT can also be used for hepatocellular carcinoma that cannot be surgically removed, where the objective is to shrink the tumour and potentially make it surgically removable.” Brenda Byrne, principal physicist at Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, says benefits include selective injection, so healthy liver is spared, and the ability to tailor the dosing to each patient’s disease. 

SIRT can also be used for used for hepatocellular
carcinoma that cannot be surgically removed.

Brenda Byrne BA MSc

Alternative to chemotherapy that directly targets tumours 

However, Dr Farrelly adds that patients who found chemotherapy difficult to manage or ineffective may also benefit massively. “Many patients are weakened from extensive chemotherapy, but this treatment is generally administered only once or twice and does not leave the patients needing to isolate, as it is very accurate at only targeting cancerous tumours.”  

Unlike traditional radiotherapy delivered from outside the body, SIRT allows delivery of the radiation directly to the tumour, allowing for higher doses and less damage to surrounding healthy cells. This is achieved by using a catheter placed in the femoral artery to feed the radioactive beads directly into the liver blood supply. 

Equity of provision of treatment  

Despite SIRT being routinely publicly funded in the UK, no funding arrangements are in place in Ireland. Consequently, the hospital providing the treatment is also the sole bearer of the cost of the treatment in the current environment. This is unsustainable in the long-term.  

Brenda, who ensures the radiation dose is tailored to each patient to maximise efficacy and safety, says: “There are other hospitals in Ireland that could actually do the treatment. Yet, we are the only ones in Ireland using SIR-Spheres at present. Other hospitals can’t build the resources or expertise because they can’t get funding.” If Ireland invests in this treatment, more people with liver cancers could benefit.  

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A small number of people (less than 1%) with Barrett’s oesophagus can develop oesophageal cancer. Therefore, this condition must be regularly monitored to ensure cancer prevention. 

The National Barrett’s Oesophagus Registry and Biobank were established in 2009 to meet the Oesophageal Cancer Fund’s aim of preventing Oesophageal Cancer through early detection.  

Barrett’s oesophagus can pose cancer risk 

Barrett’s oesophagus is a condition that is caused when persistent or long-term acid reflux (heartburn) damages the inner lining of the oesophagus (food pipe). Over time, because of this damage, the normal cells that line the oesophagus can become abnormal. Although the condition itself is not cancerous, it is known as a pre-cancerous precursor — meaning the risk of developing oesophageal cancer is slightly higher.  

Since 2009, over 9,000 patients have been recorded on the National Barrett’s Registry in Ireland. The Registry helps medical professionals identify at-risk patients earlier and regularly track their progress using endoscopies and bioscopies.  

Learn more about the symptoms of Oesophageal Cancer.

Early, effective treatment following diagnosis 

Cellular changes such as dysplasia and or cancer can be diagnosed and treated much earlier. The data manager records and monitors a range of follow-up data for all Registry patients across the six hospital sites.  

Barrett’s patients who show progression in their disease are offered radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy — a highly effective HALO procedure that destroys diseased tissue and allows healthy, new tissue to regenerate.  

Cellular changes such as dysplasia and or cancer
can be diagnosed and treated much earlier.

Oesophageal cancer research using samples 

The National Barrett’s Biobank operates in tandem with the Barrett’s Registry. Tissue and blood samples from consenting Barrett’s patients are collected, stored and used for vital patient-focused research that is helping medical professionals to better understand what factors drive the progression to oesophageal cancer.  

To date, the Oesophageal Cancer Fund has provided over €2 million in funding towards the National Barrett’s Registry and biobank, linking six national hospitals — St. James’s, St. Vincent’s, Beaumont, Mater Misericordiae, Dublin, Mercy Hospital Cork and University Hospital Galway. Since 2020, the Oesophageal Cancer Fund has co-funded — with Science Foundation Ireland — the National Barrett’s Registry and Biobank.  

Getting help if experiencing symptoms  

If you’re experiencing the main symptom of Barrett’s oesophagus, which is persistent acid reflux (heartburn), over a long time or notice yourself constantly reaching for heartburn medication, then consult your GP. Symptoms may also include regurgitation; nausea and pain in the upper abdomen; chronic sore throat.  

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Rates of colorectal cancer in under-50s have almost doubled in just 25 years, highlighting the need for those under the screening age of 60 not to dismiss symptoms. 

In Ireland, around 2,562 people each year develop bowel cancer, also known as colon, rectal or colorectal cancer. Bowel cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death. It is the second most common cancer in men and the third most common cancer in women.  

Trend of increasing bowel cancer cases 

Worrying figures from the National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) show that the incidence of colorectal cancers among those under 50 is rising rapidly, having almost doubled between 1994 and 2019, with 1 in 10 diagnoses being someone aged under 50. 

This trend is also something The Marie Keating Foundation sees within its support group, Positive Living — a support group for those living with stage 4 or metastatic cancer’s has seen a significant increase in the number of people under 50 with a late stage colorectal cancer diagnosis signing up.  

Early Diagnosis: 

Early diagnosis of cancer is crucial and would lead to a reduction in the number of avoidable deaths from cancer and improve overall survival rates.  Early detection leads to more positive outcomes and the likelihood of curing the cancer, therefore it is of the utmost importance we focus on this as a society. Go to your GP and get checked if you have any concerns about changes in your body.  

Early diagnosis of cancer is crucial and would
lead to a reduction in the number of
avoidable deaths from cancer.

Colorectal cancer: the facts 

• In Ireland, around 2562 people each year develop cancer of the bowel, also known as colon, rectal or colorectal cancer 
• Bowel cancer affects both men and women; 1,467 are men and 1,095 are women 
• The risk increases with age; most diagnoses are in people over 55 but can occur in people under 50 years of age 
• When caught at its earliest stage, 65% will survive for +5 years 

Colorectal cancer: signs and symptoms 

• Blood in, or on, the poo (stool or bowel motions); blood may be bright red or dark in colour 
• A change in normal bowel habits such as diarrhoea or constipation for no obvious reason, lasting longer than six weeks 
• Unexplained weight loss 
• Pain in the abdomen or rectum (back passage) 
• Feeling of not having emptied your bowel properly after a poo (bowel motion) 
• Other diseases apart from bowel cancer can cause all the above symptoms. However, if you experience any of these symptoms, make an appointment with your GP to get checked. 

[1] Ireland, N.C.R., Cancer in Ireland 1994-2019: Annual report of the National Cancer Registry. NCRI, Cork, Ireland. National Cancer Registry Ireland (2021)
[2] Benitez Majano, S., et al., 1558O – Worldwide comparison of colorectal cancer survival by topography and stage at diagnosis (CONCORD-2). Annals of Oncology, 2018. 29: p. viii562.
[3] Zaborowski, A.M., et al., Characteristics of Early-Onset vs Late-Onset Colorectal Cancer: A Review. JAMA Surg, 2021. 156(9): p. 865-874.
Siegel, R.L., et al., Cancer Statistics, 2021. CA Cancer J Clin, 2021. 71(1): p. 7-33.
[4] O’Reilly M, Linehan A, Krstic A, Kolch W, Sheahan K, Winter DC, Mc Dermott R. Oncotherapeutic Strategies in Early Onset Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel). 2023 Jan 16;15(2):552. doi: 10.3390/cancers15020552. PMID: 36672501; PMCID: PMC9856676.

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Due to population growth and ageing, it is expected that the number of cancer cases will increase significantly, with the most optimistic projections being 50% higher by 2045.

The National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) collects information on all cancers in Ireland since 1994. This information is analysed to produce statistics about cancer every year. In the most recent NCRI report, there was an average of 24,327 cases of cancer diagnosed each year between 2018–20, excluding non-melanoma skin cancers.

Modifiable cancer risk factors

Cancer is the most common cause of death in Ireland with approximately 30% of all deaths attributable to cancer. There are many factors contributing to the development of cancer. Some of these factors are unavoidable, such as one’s age, sex, race, ethnicity, family history and genetics.

However, there are other risk factors associated with lifestyle that are termed ‘modifiable risk factors,’ meaning, if you avoid them, you lower your risk of cancer — irrespective of the factors you can’t avoid.

A 2020 report by the NCRI examined the potential link between a number of modifiable risk factors and cancer. The report found that 3 out of 10 cancers were attributable to one or more of the modifiable risk factors examined. This suggests that at least 6,240 cancer cases were potentially preventable in Ireland in 2016. The two biggest risk factors associated with cancer were smoking and overweight/obesity.

Smoking is the most common risk factor

Smoking — including passive smoking — was associated with 13% of cancers (2,779 cases). Smoking is attributable to 76% of lung cancer cases. As the population increases, the NCRI projects that by 2035, the number of cancers due to smoking will rise to 4,662 cases.

Smoking is attributable to 76% of lung cancer cases.

Obesity as a common risk factor

Overweight/obesity is associated with 5% of cancers (1,061 cases). It is attributable to 23% of kidney cancer cases. By 2035, the number of cancers due to overweight/obesity is projected to rise to 1,788.

How to lower your risk of cancer

If smoking rates decreased to 5% of the population by 2035, there will be 1,000 fewer cancer cases due to smoking compared to what is projected. Similarly, it  has been projected that  283 cases of cancer could be avoided by 2035 if the percentage of people who are overweight/obese is reduced by just 5%.

Other ways to decrease your risk of cancer include eating healthily, being physically active and reducing alcohol consumption.

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As cancer patients are often able to live longer with modern interventions, a multidisciplinary team in Galway are addressing survivorship, recovery and treatment to ensure the best possible quality of life.

The prognosis for breast cancer patients in Ireland has improved significantly since the introduction of the breast cancer screening programme and improved therapies, including radiation and targeted treatments. The overall prognosis is now 85% — an improvement of 5% in the last 10 years.

Cancer survivorship and tackling treatment issues 

“Most patients diagnosed through the breast cancer screening programme will be diagnosed in the early stages, and we would consider their disease to be curable. There is a five-year survival rate for early-stage breast cancer (stage 1) of 98%,” explains Professor Aoife Lowery, a Consultant Surgeon at Galway University Hospital and Professor in the Discipline of Surgery and clinical lead at the clinical research facility at the newly launched Institute for Clinical Trials at University of Galway.

Professor Lowery is heading research — supported by the Irish Cancer Society Women’s Health Initiative and the National Breast Cancer Research Institute — focused on evaluating pathways for identifying, managing and overcoming side effects of cancer therapies.

Improved chances of survival mean patients face challenges, not just of diagnosis and disease, but of the effects of the treatment they go through. “We are trying to address survivorship issues,” she explains. “This means understanding the burden of cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment. There’s a broad range of issues that patients can face. A lot of them are related to quality of life and the symptoms, side effects and consequences of cancer treatment.” 

We involve patients in our research from
the beginning, as they are the ones
who have experienced cancer.

Addressing issues through multidisciplinary study 

The advantage of the multidisciplinary approach is that people from various disciplines with different perspectives and expertise come together to address a problem. This includes support from dieticians, physiotherapists, translational scientists and bioengineers.

“For example, thanks to funding from DTIF, I am working with a group of bioengineers and anatomists, scientists and a start-up company developing devices that prevent or reduce the toxic side effects of chemotherapy. As doctors, we often view these challenges from a treating clinician’s perspective. An engineer may see it totally differently — bringing those perceptions together is the best way of coming to an innovative solution,” explains Professor Lowery. 

The research is based on the survivors’ experiences. “We involve patients in our research from the beginning, as they are the ones who have experienced cancer and cancer treatment,” she says. “This is the best way to ensure we are doing research that is relevant to them. Similarly, there may be issues clinicians see as an unavoidable side effect of effective cancer treatment that can be hugely challenging to patients.

Improving the care pathway for cancer patients 

The University of Galway Women’s Health Initiative team is leveraging expertise in both cancer care and cardiology to develop a care pathway for cancer patients who are at increased risk of developing heart disease during cancer treatment.

“Cardiovascular disease is one of the main killers of women in Ireland,” says Professor Lowery.” We know cancer treatments can have consequences for the heart, so we are developing a specialised care pathway to identify the magnitude of the risk to our female breast cancer patients. This is being done by conducting blood tests, imaging tests and evaluating patients’ quality of life.” 

Measuring impact on patient care and outcomes 

The research examines the best way to support patients from diagnosis through to survivorship. Professor Lowery concludes: “At University of Galway, we recently launched Ireland’s first Institute for Clinical Trials. The ability to deliver clinical trials is already having an impact because patients who are in the trials are benefiting from the interventions. Also, having an active cancer research environment improves care.

“We need to continue to generate evidence that dedicated multidisciplinary survivorship pathways do improve quality of life. We would then like policymakers to fund this important component of clinical cancer care.” 

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An ongoing trial known as ‘Darolutamide Augments Standard Therapy for Localised Very High-Risk Cancer of the Prostate’ (DASL-HiCaP) can potentially benefit men with aggressive prostate cancer types in addition to standard treatment.

DASL-HiCaP is a prostate cancer trial for patients with aggressive types of prostate cancer that remain confined to the prostate area. The purpose of this study is to see if a new drug — combined with modern radiotherapy and hormonal treatment — can improve outcomes for people with localised prostate cancer that is considered to have a high risk of recurrence.

Improving treatment for aggressive prostate cancer

The trial is randomised and controlled. This means that, in addition to the best standard treatments, half the participants in the trial will receive the new drug, and the other half will receive a placebo — a substance that has no active medicine in it. To be clear: All patients receive the current standard of care plus or minus the drug being studied.

The main aim of the study is to see if the addition of the study medication (darolutamide) to standard treatment is better for improving the outcomes of people with this type of prostate cancer compared to standard treatment.

The drug has already been shown to be beneficial in men with advanced prostate cancer, and the question to be answered by this trial is: Will this drug improve the rate of cure for patients with localised but aggressive prostate cancer?

Will this drug improve the rate of cure for patients with localised but aggressive prostate cancer?

Additional outcomes the trial aims to determine

• The impact of the new medicine on prevention of recurrence and survival
• How safe the new treatment is
• Whether the medication is cost-effective
• The effects of the new treatment on quality of life
• Differences in the costs of care for people on the new treatment
• Tests that might identify people who are more or less likely to benefit from this kind of treatment

Clinical trials ongoing in sites across Ireland

The study opened here in the summer of 2021 and has recruited participants at nine sites around the country: Bons/UPMC Cork, St. Luke’s Rathgar, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Mater Private Hospital, Tallaght University Hospital, SLRON at St. James’s Hospital, Cork University Hospital, Galway University Hospital, and the Beacon Hospital.

The trial has now recruited over 1,000 patients globally and is on target to complete recruitment by the end of June this year. This includes a significant contribution of 76 participants, so far, randomised across Ireland and the UK. If successful and properly distributed, it can improve outcomes for prostate cancer patients and complement existing treatment.

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Prof William Gallagher

Full Professor of Cancer Biology at UCD,
Co-Lead of the All-Island Cancer Research Institute

Biology and medicine are morphing into data-driven sciences. The dream of personalised medicine — finding the right medicine for the right patient at the right time — is coming into reach. 

This digital transformation is particularly visible in oncology, where genome sequencing in the clinic has shown the importance of data analysis in enabling clinical decision-making, and the development of computational models that allow us to interact with and do bespoke analyses of data.  

At the leading edge, cancer researchers at UCD have received strategic investment in key interdisciplinary projects covering fundamental biomedical science to computational biology, data science and AI.  

Using the power of data for personalised medicine 

UCD-based research centre Systems Biology Ireland (SBI), led by international leader in personalised medicine Prof Walter Kolch, is leading the charge towards clinical adoption of digital twin models (DTMs) in cancer treatment.  

SBI’s approach is to analyse computer models of patients and understand every individual’s tumour, enabling the design of the best therapeutic intervention via computer simulation. “The goal is for real cancer patients to receive the optimum treatment — the treatment most likely to work on their cancer with fewer harmful side effects,” says Prof Kolch.  

This endeavour has been boosted by national investment in groundbreaking consortium Precision Oncology Ireland, led by SBI, which unites the efforts of five universities and associated hospitals, six cancer charities and seven industry partners. 

As a community, we need to overcome narrow,
single institution mindsets so we can build
sufficient critical mass, inclusively.

Leveraging research networks 

UCD’s Professor William Gallagher co-leads the All-Island Cancer Research Institute (AICRI), which — together with colleagues in the US and Europe — is building a global collaborative network to evolve the research and innovation (R&I) ecosystem in cancer research.  

“As a community, we need to overcome narrow, single institution mindsets so we can build sufficient critical mass, inclusively — to gain a better understanding of cancer and develop more personalised treatment options to ease suffering and save lives,” explains Professor Gallagher.  

Making fundamental discoveries with real, far-reaching impact for people and our planet.

This virtual institute, involving 10 academic institutions and linked clinical centres, provides an overarching framework for cancer research from discovery to implementation across the island of Ireland — where one in two people will develop cancer during their lifetime. 

So far, AICRI has attracted funding to pursue ‘compelling ideas’ from the cancer research community in the areas of personalised cancer medicine, liquid biopsies and eHealth, including a doctoral and post-doctoral training programme in personalised cancer medicine called AICRIstart.  

“This project will train the next generation of cancer researchers in cutting-edge scientific approaches, with an emphasis on inter-institutional collaboration,” concludes Professor Gallagher. “AICRIstart will provide a roadmap of even greater collaboration.” 

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