The National Breast Cancer Research Institute in Galway has received a €4 million investment to pursue life-changing advancements in patient care.
The investment, which is part of a partnership with the University of Galway, was formally launched this month by Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.
The NBCRI philanthropy will enable enhanced research and diagnostics for the benefit of patients, including digital imaging currently not available in Ireland, the expansion of clinical trials and more international collaboration on the analysis of clinical samples.
The multimillion-euro charitable funding is being provided as part of a new Signature Partnership between NBCRI and the University which will provide for new, critical academic and research posts.
The partnership and philanthropy build on a legacy of relations between the two organisations going back more than three decades, with a specific focus on enabling scientific and clinical research over the last 15 years.
The Signature Partnership was officially signed and formally launched at an event in the University’s Lambe Institute for Translational Research.
Minister MacNeill said that this funding will “not only enhance patient care and outcomes but also pave the way for groundbreaking advancements in research and diagnostics.”
“As breast cancer is one of the most common cancers, with 1 in 7 women in Ireland receiving a diagnosis during their lifetime, today’s announcement marks another important step forward in supporting women affected by this disease.”
Professor Peter McHugh, Interim President of University of Galway, welcomed the funding, which he said would advance the “longstanding and impactful collaboration” the university has with the NBCRI.
“Our partnership goes back many years and we have no doubt that this generous philanthropic investment will make a significant difference to outcomes for cancer patients, as well as the wider impact that our University can have as a research-intensive institution, rooted in the community and committed to the public good.”
A national charity, the National Breast Cancer Research Institute (NBCRI) has been instrumental in advancing the development of the breast screening and symptomatic clinics at University Hospital Galway and the development of clinical and fundamental breast cancer research at the Lambe Institute at University of Galway.
The new NBCRI funding investment will support:
- University of Galway’s translational breast cancer research, including metastatic breast cancer; genetic risk; biomarker discovery and detection; cell communication within tumours; stem cells and cell therapy.
- The Cancer Biobank and collaboration with expert national and international partners which enables the use of clinical samples to investigate how the disease develops, is diagnosed and is treated.
- Specialist diagnostics through state-of-the-art digital spatial imaging equipment.
- Clinical trials into diagnostics, treatment and survivorship, including breast surgery and telemedicine.
- The development of a European-accredited comprehensive cancer centre through the research programme and advocacy for improved cancer treatment infrastructure as part of the HSE West and North-West – University of Galway Cancer Centre designation as an Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) Cancer Centre.
- Academic and research appointments and roles including a Chair of Medical Oncology; Scientific Director; clinical trials nurses; postdoctoral scientists and PhD students; cancer research summer scholarships.
Chairperson of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute, Caroline Loughnane, said, “The mission of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute is to raise funds in support of world-class breast cancer research that has a real and measurable impact on outcomes for breast cancer patients.”
“We are delighted to be making this investment of €4 million in the breast cancer research programme at University of Galway, led by Professor Michael Kerin and his team.”
“Research means new discoveries, more effective treatments and better outcomes for breast cancer patients. Building on more than three decades of support, NBCRI is excited to extend its commitment to the breast cancer research programme at the University of Galway”.
