A major investment in breast cancer research has been announced in Galway.
The €4 million allocation has been provided entirely from donations and fundraising carried out on behalf of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute.
It will be used for a range of initiatives aimed at improving treatments, enhancing diagnoses, and earlier identification of genetic risk.
As well as providing for a number of new specialist academic and research posts at the University of Galway, the funding will provide new digital imaging technologies not currently available in Ireland.
It is hoped that these facilities will lead to improved outcomes for patients, as well as enabling the expansion of clinical trials, to drive new and more effective treatments.
Professor Sharon Glynn, who specialises in breast cancer research, said the initial focus will be on carrying out niche studies on samples contained in an extensive biobank at the Lambe Institute for Translational Research, on the grounds of University Hospital Galway.
She outlined how the new imaging techniques allow scientists to conduct more detailed analysis, in a much faster timeframe.
"It opens up what we can tell from the tumour straight away, just looking down the microscope. That gives us a much more nuanced view of things, which feeds into the types of therapies that are most suitable.
"It opens up information and will help us adapt and respond, much more rapidly to the patient, when they are undergoing treatment. It’s a really, really exciting technology".
Describing the advancement as a "game changer", Prof Glynn said that it would greatly enhance the research programmes supported by the institute.
"We have some really excellent cancer research already here but this brings it to the next level and will open doors for us internationally in terms of the ongoing effort to tackle cancer.
"This technology could be used for any human diseases, because essentially they’re all things that involve our tissues, our organs, I see it as a fantastic opportunity" she said.
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The institute and the university have collaborated extensively for over 30 years.
As well as expanding their current studies, scientists are planning an enhanced focus on cell communication within tumours, biomarker detection and the development of new therapies.
University Interim President Peter McHugh described the collaboration as a research intensive approach that brings improvements to people with a cancer diagnosis as well as leading to discoveries that have international benefits.
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Chair of the Lambe Institute Caroline Loughnane said the announcement is only possible due to the efforts of thousands of people all over Ireland.
"This is the story of the inspirational power of volunteers, ordinary people going out, doing a 5k walk, sometimes running a marathon, getting in the sea in October when it's freezing for Breast Cancer awareness month, hosting a coffee morning ... small acts of kindness like that all add up to this €4 million donation towards breast cancer research."
Ms Loughnane said the institute is committed to ensuring those efforts will yield tangible results.
"We’ve seen huge progress across all aspects of our research in the last ten years. This initiative is aiming to drive that forward and improve outcomes for patients.
"Breast cancer affects one in seven women, and the vast majority achieve good outcomes. But every case is different and without research there’s no moving forward, there’s no making advancements.
"So it’s about new treatments, better diagnostics, personalised plans, new drugs … all the things that will deliver even better patient outcomes."
The investment programme will be officially launched by Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill at an event in Galway today.
