Relaunch of Irish Prostate Cancer Outcomes Research registry with Movember funding

The month of November brings men's health into sharp focus with the Movember campaign, which has raised millions of euros to support critical research and life-saving projects that address prostate and testicular cancers, mental health, and suicide prevention.

Movember’s €2.5 million investment in the Irish Prostate Cancer Outcomes Research (IPCOR) registry reflects its ongoing commitment to tackling men’s health issues on a global scale, particularly prostate cancer.

This second edition of the novel prostate cancer outcomes registry is led by Associate Clinical Professor David Galvin, UCD School of Medicine, Mater & St Vincent Hospitals with co-investigator and Conway Fellow, Professor William Watson from UCD School of Medicine.

IPCOR aims to analyse clinical quality trends and drive improvements in prostate cancer care for men in major hospitals of Dublin and Galway. It is now a completely digital registry, based on a cloud-based Dacima environment implementing a smart and appropriate solution for abstraction of the multidisciplinary and extensive prostate cancer datasets.

IPCOR team (L-R): Associate Clinical Professor David Galvin, Mater & St Vincent Hospitals (PI); Dr Wasfa Farooq, Research Project Manager:; Professor William Watson, UCD School of Medicine & UCD Conway Institute (Co-PI); Dr Noa Gordon, Postdoctoral Research Fellow. 

In addition to collecting clinical data, the registry will track patient-reported outcomes such as side effects and quality of life. For the first time, it will collect biological samples, such as blood, urine, and tissue to support ground breaking research. Hospitals will be able to use IPCOR’s new electronic reporting system to access real-time patient data, helping doctors provide more personalised, responsive care and policymakers to address disparities in treatment access and outcomes. This data will shape the future of prostate cancer treatment, driving new discoveries and improving outcomes for Irish men.

Prostate cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Irish men, affecting 1 in 8 men during their lifetime. IPCOR will play a crucial role in understanding trends and gaps in how prostate cancer is diagnosed, treated, and managed in Ireland.

LEAP Men for Prostate Cancer 

Public and patient involvement in research is pivotal to the work of the IPCOR team. They brought together a group of men who have experienced diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. This Lived Experiences Advisory Panel (LEAP) is an extremely valuable resource. They co-developed the participant consent-taking and patient reported outcome measures collection processes as well as reviewing all patient communication documents and advising on addition of standardised tools at various time points that address issues important to patients. 

The LEAP group has also initiated efforts to engage their caregivers and partners to further understand issues that affect household and personal relationships during the prostate cancer journey. IPCOR continues to work with its LEAP group to create a platform of available resources for men and connect with those suffering from the hidden disabilities associated with prostatic symptoms and interventions.

This November, the IPCOR team are calling on the Irish public to join them in making a difference. Whether you choose to grow a moustache, take on a physical challenge, host an event, or make a donation, your support is crucial to funding projects that save lives and improve the future of cancer care. Visit www.movember.com to register.

For collaborations and queries: E: ipcor@ucd.ie