What we do

About our Cluster

The UCD Cancer Trials Cluster is a collaborative initiative between UCD, Ireland’s largest university, and its clinical partners, St Vincent’s University Hospital, the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, and the Cancer Clinical Research Trust. Formed in 2022, our vision is:

to be an internationally distinguished Cancer Trials Cluster that measurably enhances the health of cancer patients through high quality innovative clinical trial research.

The UCD Cancer Trials Cluster contributes significantly to the (opens in a new window)St Vincent's UCD Cancer Centre and the OECI (Organisation of European Cancer Institutes) affiliations of both St Vincent's and the Mater Misericordiae University Hospitals. 

What sets us apart? We're building upon the remarkable accomplishments of our clinical trial units and UCD's Clinical Research Centre. Together, we're embarking on an ambitious journey to boost clinical research and enhance patient outcomes in the fields of oncology and haematology.

So, what's our plan? Let's take a closer look at our strategic objectives:

1. Increasing Patient Participation: We aim to provide more patients with access to cancer clinical trials, increasing the number by 10% before 2026. 
2. Expanded Access:  We're dedicated to providing patients with wider access to a range of cancer trials, including early and advanced stages of common cancer types. We're also committed to exploring rarer cancer types that align with the expertise of our investigators.
3. Fostering Collaboration: Collaboration is key to our success and together, we can achieve change. We're focused on creating a supportive research environment, not only within our cluster but also by deepening our collaborations on a national and international scale. 
4. Training the Future: We're passionate about nurturing the next generation of clinical trialists in the field of cancer. Our cluster is dedicated to developing exceptional clinical research programs that serve as training grounds for these future experts.
5. Engaging Patients and the Public: We believe in going beyond mere participation. We want to better engage and collaborate with patients and the public, ensuring their voices are heard and their experiences shape our research.
6. Integrating Research into Care: Our ultimate goal is to seamlessly integrate cancer research into the delivery of cancer care. By leveraging high-level genomics expertise and molecular tumour boards, we can revolutionise the way cancer is understood and treated.

None of this progress would be possible without the generous cooperative funding that we receive. We're grateful for the support from UCD, St Vincent’s University Hospital, the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, and the Health Research Board (Grant reference CTIC-2021-003).

Together, we're on a mission to transform cancer research and improve the lives of patients. Join us on this incredible journey toward a future where cancer is better understood, better treated, and ultimately defeated.