Official Launch of the St Vincent's UCD Cancer Centre

On 28 November 2023, St Vincent’s Healthcare Group and UCD School of Medicine launched the St Vincent’s UCD Cancer. By combining the academic and clinical expertise of Ireland’s largest university, UCD, and the St Vincent’s Hospital Group, this collaboration aims to enhance patient outcomes by combining world-class care with cutting-edge research.

Not only is this partnership vital in directly advancing outcomes and care for people with cancer, it also aides in the pursuit of OECI (Organisation of European Cancer Institutes) accreditation. Comprehensive Cancer Centre designation by the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI), is a central goal for the St. Vincent’s UCD Cancer Centre.

Through improvements in care, quality, and research, the OECI is a non-governmental European organisation which aims to:

 “accelerate the application of multidisciplinary personalised care approaches to reduce mortality and to guarantee an equitable access to care to all cancer patients.”

The UCD's Cancer Trials Cluster plays a pivotal role in the pursuit of OECI accreditation, driving forward the research agenda and expanding access to clinical trials for people with cancer. The designation of comprehensive cancer centre would solidify our place among the elite Comprehensive Cancer Centres in Europe, reinforcing our pledge to provide exceptional care and drive progress in healthcare and research.

Research is the largest differentiator between standard Cancer Centre and Comprehensive Cancer Centre designation. To be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Centre, sites need to demonstrate significant research publication activity, have over 75 actively recruiting research studies, and have over 10% of newly treated patients recruited onto interventional studies.

In 2023, the UCD Cancer Trials Cluster operated over 50 unique studies at St Vincent's University Hospital, with over 250 patients. Alongside our oncology partners at the Cancer Clinical Research Trust and haematology partners within St Vincent's University Hospital, the UCD Cancer Trials Cluster is an integral component to achieving Comprehensive Cancer Centre accreditation in the future.  

Our joint effort aligns with the EU Cancer Plan 2021, advocating for a pan-European network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres. At a national level, the Irish National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 emphasises the importance of such centres. This collaboration stands as a testament to our commitment to meet and exceed these standards.

Find out more about the St Vincent's UCD Cancer Centre (opens in a new window)here. 

To find out about the studies available at St Vincent's Hospital, click here.