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Marking 5 years of prostate cancer research

The Irish Cancer Society recently hosted a celebration of five years of collaborative research into prostate cancer in Ireland. The celebrations were marked with the launch of a report highlighting the research achievements over the last five years. 

The Prostate Cancer Research Consortium (PCRC) is a co-ordinated group of researchers and clinicians from universities and hospitals in Dublin whose aim is to improve the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. 

Established in 2004 with funding from the Irish Cancer Society, the PCRC aimed to link like- minded researchers from different academic institutions and hospitals to maximise research potential in this disease.

Speaking at the event, Professor William Watson, Conway Fellow and co-founder of the PCRC, described some of the most notable achievements of the Consortium. Perhaps the most significant contribution has been the establishment of a prostate cancer biobank, the first biobank in Ireland to be approved and licensed by the Data Protection Commissioners.  Over 550 patients have been recruited to the biobank in the last five years and this valuable resource is the cornerstone of the research projects undertaken by scientists in the consortium. Professor Watson acknowledged and wholeheartedly thanked the prostate cancer patients who donated samples to the biobank for their very generous and selfless involvement, and said that without the patients, the Consortium would not exist.

In the past five years, this group of scientists have published over 30 articles in international peer-review journals, received 19 awards and have made a number of significant discoveries.  For example, PCRC researchers have identified a new panel of biomarkers which could be used to help diagnose the prostate earlier.  

The training of 33 young dedicated prostate cancer researchers and doctors has facilitated the development of important international collaborations with groups in Europe, Australia, Canada and the USA. 

Mr Declan Lynch, a prostate cancer survivor and biobank donor, and Therese Murphy, a young researcher who was recently awarded her PhD in prostate cancer epigenetics from Trinity College Dublin, also spoke at the event.

The Consortium includes four clinical sites;  Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, St James’s Hospital, Beaumont Hospital and the Adelaide & Meath incorporating the National Children’s Hospital and four research institutions; UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin;  Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin; RCSI-Education and Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University.