In doing so they will create the country’s first Breast Cancer Bio Resource of tissue and serum samples. Aviva insurance company has provided the initial funding for the project of €150,000 per year over the next three years. Commenting on her role in this research project, Ms McKeogh said: “I am delighted to be a part of this collaborative research programme with breast cancer centres nationwide. The research will increase our understanding of this disease. Working closely with the breast surgeons in CUH, I will be meeting newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and with their consent collecting tumour samples, blood samples and data for this programme.” The samples that will be studied will help scientists understand the mechanism by which proteins in breast cancer cells interact and potentially help in the treatment of breast cancer.
Ms Louise Kelly, Clinical lead for the Symptomatic Breast Service in CUH said: “Cork University Hospital has a long tradition of academic surgical research and we are delighted to be included in establishing this nationwide bio banking programme, which will ultimately benefit all breast cancer patients through collaboration and innovative research.”
Consultant Medical Oncologist, Dr Oscar S Breathnach of Aviva’s medical council said: “Breast cancer is currently the second most common cancer in Ireland with 2,400 new cases diagnosed every year. BreastCheck, the government funded screening programme, together with this new initiative supported by Aviva will continue to focus the creation of approaches to reduce deaths from breast cancer by discovering and treating the disease at an early stage.”
Patients will have the option to participate in this national research initiative,following informed consent and all the information collected will be confidential and will be used by doctors to improve patient outcome in Ireland.
For further information log on to www.breastcancerireland.com.
