Breast Cancer Ireland announce new research funding
Almost 3,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Ireland each year and 30% of these cancers are in women who are under 50 years of age. To mark World Cancer Day on Monday, February 4, Breast Cancer Ireland announce the awarding of a new research fellowship that explores a type of breast cancer more prevalent in younger women – Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.
With funds raised through the Great Pink Run with Avonmore Slimline Milk that took place in Dublin and Kilkenny last October, Breast Cancer Ireland called out to research teams nationally to present, for consideration, applications on research projects focusing on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. The projects would examine new and improved targeted treatment therapies. Following an external review by an international panel of senior scientists and clinicians, Dr Paul Mullan, from the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology at Queens University Belfast, was the successful applicant.
The award, which will be spread over three years, has maximum funding of €200,000. Dr Mullan’s research team will focus on cancer pathways for cell invasion, growth and drug response in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer patients. His research will seek to identify new targeted treatment therapies for more positive outcomes.
Commenting on the investment in research, CEO of Breast Cancer Ireland Aisling Hurley says, “We have met so many young women diagnosed with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer and identified the lack of research available, so our investment into this aspect of the disease will hopefully offer new improved targeted therapies for patients going forward. We decided that funds raised from our successful Great Pink Run with Avonmore Slimline Milk, and our partnership with Glanbia plc, could this year be channelled into this unique piece of research, allowing us to continue our efforts to improve the landscape for many patients diagnosed into the future.”
The Triple-Negative Research Fellowship is just one of several projects funded by Breast Cancer Ireland. The charity also funds research into metastasis of the disease at laboratories in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), as well as funding specialist breast cancer research nurses, who are located in the eight designated cancer centres. Their role is to collaborate nationally, collect tissue and serum samples into one large centralised location, and thereby advance research discovery times. The charity also supports and funds education and awareness programmes nationally on the importance of good breast health for women of all ages.
Last week, ahead of World Cancer Day, Breast Cancer Ireland hosted a gathering of scientists, surgeons, specialist nurses, patient ambassadors and their families so as to update them on developments in research, with the focus on younger women diagnosed with the disease and the associated factors.
Breast Surgeon, Head of RCSI’s Medical School and Chairman of Breast Cancer Ireland, Professor Arnie Hill – along with clinicians in the area of breast cancer research, diagnosis and treatment – shared their insights into how the landscape of the disease is changing in Ireland.
Breast Cancer Ireland has ambitious and exciting plans for events and initiatives to raise significant funding throughout 2019.
