Professor William Gallagher:

A key focus of AICRI going forward will be furthering of international collaboration. As part of an initial approach last July, the AICRI vision was presented at a panel discussion titled, The Future of Precision Medicine: Fast-Tracking Innovation, at the British ambassador's private residence at Glencairn, Dublin. Later in the same month, a productive meeting took place with the US ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Claire Cronin, on furthering engagement and collaboration with the US on cancer research. Indeed, tripartite collaboration between the US National Cancer Institute, Ireland and Northern Ireland has its roots in the Good Friday Agreement, with an implementation committee now in place following reinvigoration of this initiative in March 2021.

The first of a planned series of onsite engagements for AICRI in the US took place recently, with a highly successful trip to Boston in late November 2022. This included a networking evening, Cancer Research Across Borders - Ireland's Reach, organised by the Ireland America Science Forum, Boston College, the Consulate General of Ireland in Boston and UCD alumni. Bringing together a sizeable contingent from the Irish diaspora in the Boston area, the event provided an opportunity to highlight AICRI and focus more broadly on US-Ireland collaboration in cancer research and areas for future potential partnership. The AICRI team were glad to find unanimous support for the AICRI vision, especially in terms of cross-border and inter-institutional partnership.

Later in February and March, it is intended to have similar engagements, including further Irish diaspora outreach in the New York and Washington D.C. areas. Next week at the New York Irish Center in Long Island city, AICRI will bring together different stakeholders for a discussion and networking event, Cancer Research Across Borders: US Influence on the Good Friday Agreement. Support for this event has been received from the Consulate General of Ireland in New York and the Ireland America Science Forum, as well as UCD and Queens University Belfast alumni. The Washington visit, taking place in the week leading up to St. Patrick’s Day will include a joint Queen’s University Belfast-National Cancer Institute symposium entitled, Cancer Knows no Borders – Celebrating Tripartite Cooperation to Enhance Cancer Research, at the world-renowned US National Cancer Institute, where both past successes and future activities for cancer research and cancer care on the island of Ireland will be discussed, including an update on AICRI activities and plans.

Queen’s University Belfast is also hosting a major event in mid-April 2023 in relation to the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and this will include a special showcase on cancer, Cancer Knows No Borders, with speakers and panellists from the island of Ireland, including AICRI members, and international speakers.

In summary, AICRI has made very significant progress since the original concept was put forward in 2020. Critical foundation stones have now been put in place via funding under the HEA North-South research programme. However, we have only begun our mission. To fully achieve our goals, there is a requirement to attract additional funding to establish a large-scale co-centre for cancer research to fully harness our best skills and expertise across Ireland and Northern Ireland, together with our colleagues in Great Britain. Calls for similar co-centres in the climate and food security areas are now live, with funding to be provided by Science Foundation Ireland, Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and UK Research and Innovation, with co-funding from industry. AICRI investigators have also been very actively involved in seeking and acquiring funding under a range of European Union programmes focused on cancer research, such as the EU Mission on Cancer. Finally, very active interest is being taken by the AICRI team in the potential offered by the PEACEPLUS programme in facilitating cross-border collaborative cancer research.

In closing, we should remember that one in two people on the island of Ireland will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime. This could be any one of us, our loved ones or friends. Cancer research is cancer’s enemy. We know that patients treated in research-active hospitals have better outcomes than those who are not. It is critical that we each play a role in helping to secure a better future for our families and society.