From population to patient:
Towards personalised breast cancer medicine

What is BREAST-PREDICT?

BREAST-PREDICT is a country-wide collaboration between experts in the area of breast cancer research, funded by the Irish Cancer Society. This ‘virtual Centre’ was launched in October 2013 and will run for a period of five years.

Who are we?

BREAST-PREDICT brings together researchers from six academic institutions across Ireland: UCD, TCD, RCSI, DCU, NUIG and UCC, and a nationwide clinical trials group, Cancer Trials Ireland (formerly ICORG).

What do we do?

We collect information and tumour samples from nearly every breast cancer patient in the country, with their consent. Using these valuable resources, we will improve our understanding of how this disease can spread and become resistant to treatment, and find ways to combat this with new and better therapies.

Why are we different to other research initiatives?

This is a multi-disciplinary Centre, which unites breast cancer experts with different skills, to work towards a common goal. This new collaborative approach brings together researchers from different areas, including:

How Can you Help?

  • Connector.

    BREAST-PREDICT is funded entirely on the proceeds of the Irish Cancer Society’s fundraising activities

  • Connector.

    This new collaborative approach to research brings together world-renowned experts with different skill sets

  • Connector.

    To accelerate the pace of scientific discovery and provide more treatment options for breast cancer patients, we need your help!

  • Connector.

    Visit www.cancer.ie or call Mark Mellett, the Irish Cancer Society Head of Fundraising, on
    +353 (0)1 231 0500

Clinical Research

Surgeons
Medical Oncologists
Clinical Trials Staff

Translational Research

Laboratory Scientists
Computer Scientists
Pathologists

Population Research

Population scientists
Statisticians
Biobank staff

What is “Personalised breast cancer medicine”?

Our vision is that each breast cancer patient in Ireland should have their treatment plan tailored for their individual cancer. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer now survive, due to earlier diagnosis and improved treatments. Our goal is to better predict which therapies are best for each patient, thus giving all breast cancer patients the best possible chance at a long and healthy life.

“We now have a significant opportunity to unify the efforts of our national oncology clinical trials network with leading computational biologists, breast cancer clinicians, population scientists and translational researchers, in order to make a real and lasting impact on the lives of Irish breast cancer patients.”
Prof. William Gallagher
Director  - BREAST-PREDICT
“As a breast cancer survivor, I know how important breast cancer research is in offering improved treatments and outcomes for breast cancer patients. I believe in and am excited by this new Collaborative Cancer Research Centre as I see it as an opportunity for those working in research to work with those who are at the bedside, providing care and treatment to patients. Hopefully, by sharing their information and their skills, we will see advancements in breast cancer treatment.”
Sharon Burrell
Cancer Survivor  - Patient advocate
“The Irish Cancer Society Collaborative Cancer Research Centre BREAST-PREDICT will progress new, cutting edge and multi-disciplinary breast cancer research. We believe that this new research model is the way forward for cancer patients. BREAST-PREDICT allows the best of those working within cancer research in this country to share their talent, knowledge and information with each other.”
John McCormack
Chief Executive  - Irish Cancer Society
“The Collaborative Cancer Research Centre is by far the biggest thing the Irish Cancer Society has ever done in the area of cancer research in Ireland. BREAST-PREDICT is the first in a series of such Centres that will lead large-scale international collaborative projects in the oncology area.”
Dr. Robert O’Connor
Head of Research  - Irish Cancer Society

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