AICRI hosts Academic Workshop to discuss National Cancer Mission Hub

On 8th March 2024, AICRI hosted an academic workshop in the UCD Conway Institute to discuss the establishment of a National Caner Mission Hub (NCMH) in Ireland. The NCMH is part of the EU Cancer Mission-funded ECHoS project which is establishing National Cancer Mission Hubs across Europe. In Ireland, the project is being led by the NCCP and AICRI, in collaboration with the Department of Health. In order to help define the shape of the NCMH in Ireland and its vision and objectives, a series of workshops have been organised. To date the NCCP has hosted three workshops:

 1) Oncology Consultants National Cancer Mission Hub Workshop (September 2023)
2) Patients and Patient Advocates National Cancer Mission Hub Workshop (October 2023)
3) Nurses and Health & Social Care Professionals National Cancer Mission Hub Workshop (October 2023)

AICRI was responsible for organising the fourth and final workshop with the academic community, as it is important that the input of academic investigators is included in the process. Twenty-five leading investigators from seven academic institutions (UCD, TCD, RCSI, DCU, UoG, UL and UCC) attended this hybrid event, including Dr Amanda Drury (DCU) who is a member of the EU Cancer Mission Board. The discussions were very engaging and there was a fantastic exchange of ideas.

Many topics were discussed including:

• What is a National Cancer Mission Hub?

• Creating a shared vision and key objectives

• Can we realise a shared vision in a National Cancer Mission Hub?

After collating the feedback collected in the four workshops, a bespoke model for the National Cancer Mission Hub in Ireland will be prepared and presented to the Department of Health later in 2024. Thanks to all the participants in the four workshops for getting involved in this process and for sharing their valuable insights and knowledge.