The Cork Cancer Research Centre (CCRC) was established in 1999 as a collaboration between the Cork University Hospitals and University College Cork and was officially opened by the Minister for Health, Mr. Michael Martin in 2000.
Since its inception, CCRC has been active in developing new treatments for cancer patients through research focused on providing tangible benefits to those most in need of breakthroughs. Cancer research at the Centre is focused on oesophageal, breast, colon, kidney and leukaemia cancers and is directed at four different themes: Cancer Prevention, Cancer Cell Biology, Drug Delivery Systems, and Cancer Gene Therapy / Immunology. The progress and success at the Centre has been through the scientific and personal collaborations that the CCRC has established with groups both in Ireland and internationally.
In less than 10 years we have grown from two to over 30 researchers and staff engaged in cancer research at the Centre, under the direction of Prof. Gerald O'Sullivan, with laboratories and offices located at both the Mercy University Hospital and the Biosciences Institute, UCC. The scientists, nurses and clinicians have proven their research meets the highest international standards, as evidenced by their publication record (120 peer review publications) and the Centre's ability to successfully secure nearly EU20 million in grant funding for our research programmes. Funds for the Centre are generated through research grants, voluntary fundraising efforts and private donations.
However, more important than all of this, is how the CCRC has been able to directly and positively impact the patients who are currently afflicted by this disease. The research work carried out at the Centre since its inception has translated into three unique clinical studies, two focused on using less invasive surgery to treat inoperable cancers, and a third on the impact of diet and probiotic bacteria to reduce the risk of developing colon cancer.
The Drug Delivery Research team, using the novel therapy called Electrochemotherapy, has demonstrated greatly improved treatment of cancer nodules previously unresponsive to radio- and chemo- therapies. Over 85% of the cancers treated have responded positively to this groundbreaking treatment, which essentially uses a small, safe pulse of electricity to make cancer cells more permeable and receptive to a simple and effective drug therapy that the body otherwise would deflect. The treament therefore provides an extremely effective localised treatment to solid tumours without the side effects of a more systemic chemotherapy regimen. The next phase of this research, currently underway, is the application of this therapy to internal cancers, such as the oesophagus, bladder or colon.
Learn more about our current focus.
