AICRI presents to the US Congressional Cancer Caucus in Washington, DC
On 14th March 2024 the AICRI team briefed the US Congressional Cancer Caucus about the staggering benefits of the Ireland - Northern Ireland – US National Cancer Institute Cancer Consortium at a remarkable event in Capitol Hill, Washington DC. The team jointly led by Professor William Gallagher (UCD) and Professor Mark Lawler (QUB) and Ciaran Briscoe (CEO, North East Cancer Research and Education Trust, Ireland) and Professor Jarushka Naidoo (RCSI /Beaumont Hospital, Dublin).
This unique and remarkably successful 25 year collaboration has led to:
The establishment of a cancer clinical trials infrastructure for the island of Ireland - over 35,000 patients on the island of Ireland have since participated in clinical trials, saving thousands of lives;
A 15% improvement in cancer survival on the island and a 550% increase in the quality of collaborative cancer research across the three jurisdictions;
Nearly 500 doctors, nurses, and scientists from the island of Ireland have trained at the world leading US National Cancer Institute and have returned to bolster cancer research and cancer care here;
In the last 20 years circa 70% of Irish trainee oncologists have been trained in top five US cancer hospitals;
The Cancer Prevention Fellowship Programme and the All-Island Hospice/Palliative Care Institute.
The Congressional Cancer Caucus, made up of over 30 Members of the US Congress and Chaired by US Congressman Mike Kelly heard that a 20 year evaluation of the Consortium’s activities found that this partnership significantly increased both the quality and quantity of cancer research across the island of Ireland, contributed to saving thousands of lives and enhanced the quality of life of cancer survivors.
