Charity
Our many collaborations with charities have been critically important in helping DCU cancer researchers to deliver on our mission: “Transforming cancer outcomes through translational science”.
The case studies below give a snapshot of the ways in which working with charity organisations helps us to strengthen national and international collaborations, develop new research talent and deliver better outcomes for patients. The support we receive from cancer charities helps to fund additional researchers, target specific cancer types and ensures we can maintain our patient-focused approach to research, work that translates lab discoveries into improved treatments.
Cancer Clinical Research Trust (CCRT)
DCU maintains a long-standing partnership with the CCRT.
The charity, based in St Vincent’s University Hospital, is directed by Professor John Crown, who is the Thomas Baldwin Chair of Translational Cancer Research at DCU.
This collaboration has been instrumental in securing numerous PhD and postdoctoral positions at DCU through the Research Ireland Enterprise Partnership Scheme (formerly IRC).
By bridging the gap between clinical expertise at St Vincent's and laboratory innovation at DCU, CCRT-funded researchers focus on translational oncology, ensuring that academic discoveries are directly informed by the needs of cancer patients.
The Caroline Foundation
Through its long-term fundraising for the CCRT, The Caroline Foundation has been a key supporter of DCU cancer research for many years.
It was established in memory of Caroline Dwyer-Hickey, a prominent advocate for cancer research, who died in 2013 after a nine-year battle with breast cancer. She was a pioneer of cancer research in that she was the first in Ireland to participate in some trials through the CCRT.
Breakthrough Cancer Research
In partnership with Breakthrough Cancer Research, DCU researchers are central to the AllCaN (PanCan) programme, an All-Ireland pancreatic cancer research network, launched in 2026.
This initiative is co-led by DCU’s Dr Naomi Walsh and targets one of the most difficult-to-treat cancers by funding multi-institutional research and specific PhD grants.
Irish Cancer Society
DCU’s leadership in large-scale consortia is exemplified by its involvement in Breast-Predict, the first National Collaborative Cancer Research Centre.
Funded by the Irish Cancer Society and co-directed by DCU’s Professor John Crown, this major project established a template for DCU’s current patient-focused research by integrating laboratory scientists with clinical oncologists across Ireland to predict how breast cancer patients would respond to specific treatments.
This legacy continues to influence DCU’s current clinical trials.
Email: lsi@dcu.ie
