Industry Partnerships
By partnering with industry partners, DCU cancer research teams can accelerate breakthroughs and develop new treatments. The University has shown itself to be a trusted partner that delivers on industry investment through impactful research.
Molecular Therapeutics for Cancer Ireland (MTCI)
As the lead institution for the MTCI, a major SFI Strategic Research Cluster, DCU spearheaded a multi-institutional effort to bridge the gap between academic research and the clinic, in collaboration with industry partners. The initiative established a high-impact network with global pharmaceutical leaders, including Pfizer, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, and Roche, focusing on overcoming drug resistance and identifying the molecular drivers of tumour growth to inform the next generation of precision treatments.
Over the course of five years, MTCI secured €1.4m funding from industry collaborators and produced 60 journal publications, 18 reviews, and more than 200 international and national presentations as well as hosting over 50 workshops and conferences.The initiative featured in the DCU Faculty of Science and Health’s ‘40 Discoveries in Science and Health.’
ACORN and Puma Biotechnology
DCU developed a flagship industry partnership with US firm Puma Biotechnology Inc. through the ACORN Programme.
Led by Professor John Crown and Dr Denis Collins, aims to further investigate the activity of the HER2+ breast cancer drug, neratinib, as well as its potential use in the treatment of other cancer types. The partnership supported the work of four researchers and advanced the development of state-of-the-art research techniques.
Current Industry Partnerships
Precision Oncology Ireland (POI)
DCU is a core member of the Precision Oncology Ireland (POI) consortium which also includes 10 industry partners. POI is aiming to develop new diagnostics and therapeutics for personalised cancer treatment. The consortium is part-funded by Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland under their Strategic Partnership Programme and is coordinated by Systems Biology Ireland.
The project’s industry partners include: AstraZeneca, Celgene Institute for Translational Research Europe (CITRE), Cell Stress Discoveries, Genuity Science, Helsinn Group, pHion Therapeutics and OncoMark.
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Research Ireland Enterprise Partnership Post-Doctoral Fellowship is a flagship placement stream designed to enable world-class researchers to pursue high-impact research alongside leading global enterprise partners. Under this initiative, Dr Grace Colley from the School of Biotechnology at Dublin City University—working in collaboration with Associate Professor Alex Eustace—will be hosted by AstraZeneca for a project titled: Identification and Prioritisation of Digital Biomarkers as Companion Diagnostics in AstraZeneca’s Key Oncology Therapy Areas.
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Working with Omnispirant, the ACCEPT project aims to enhance the potential of the company’s proprietary OmniSome technology to increase its effectiveness in tumour elimination. Project title: ACCEPT- Antibody Coated extraCellur vEsicles for imProved Therapy
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DCU researchers are working with CASPDx to develop an innovative blood-based screening test for colorectal cancer (CRC). Project title: CASPDx – a novel blood test for early detection of CRC
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In collaboration with AstraZeneca, DCU researchers are investigating the potential of new targeted drug combinations across difficult-to-treat cancers. Project title: Rational therapeutic combinations with DXd-based ADCs
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Working with Pleco Therapeutics BV, Dr Naomi Walsh, School of Biotechnology, is leading a project titled “Targeting metal-chelation to develop novel strategies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.” This project is investigating new treatments that sensitise cancers to current therapies.
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In collaboration with Abbvie Inc, Dr Gary Lawrence, School of Biotechnology, is leading a project exploring aspects of tumour growth, “Sensitivity of autonomic neurons in rodents to different types of recombinant botulinum neurotoxins.”
Email: lsi@dcu.ie
