Today (8th October), Ireland's Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, launched Phase 2 of the country’s leading and largest ever cancer research programme, Precision Oncology Ireland (POI).

POI is a cancer research consortium dedicated to advancing personalised cancer research and care. Its mission is to develop tailored diagnostic and therapeutic solutions using cutting-edge technologies and data, ensuring every patient receives the right treatment at the right time.

The programme is an ambitious and unique strategic partnership model, co-funded through Research Ireland, industry and the not-for-profit sector, coordinated by the Systems Biology Ireland centre based at University College Dublin (UCD), which is led by Professor Walter Kolch.

Minister Lawless said: “Breakthroughs in cancer research are most likely when clinicians, scientists, industry leaders, patients, charities and other stakeholders come together with a shared purpose. The first phase of Precision Oncology Ireland stands as proof that strong, sustained collaboration can unlock innovation and accelerate transformative solutions. I congratulate the team on the advances made to date and wish them every success as they embark on this next phase of funded research.”

Professor Walter Kolch said: “Research is the engine behind new medicines. POI-2 is all about linking top notch cancer research to clinical translation. This includes the development of advanced computer simulations of the disease, so that we can design the best diagnostic and treatment approaches for each individual patient.”

UCD Professor of Gynae-Oncology, Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist at the Mater Hospital, and Deputy-Director of POI, Professor Donal Brennan said: “The first phase of this programme delivered significant achievements. We now aim to strengthen collaboration with clinical partners and move towards embedding research within standard cancer care, so that patients and society across Ireland – and beyond – can benefit from improved outcomes, enhanced healthcare innovation, and more sustainable delivery of cancer services.”

The first phase of POI established a pioneering cross-sector collaborative model, bringing together academics, industry partners, charities, and patients.

Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO, Research Ireland, said: “The highly-impactful Precision Oncology Ireland strategic partnership is enabling breakthroughs in cancer biology, supporting the development of new treatments, training the next generation of researchers, nurturing biotech start-ups, and strengthening critical research infrastructure.

“This programme has built a unified community that is creating a lasting impact on how we approach cancer research in Ireland. Phase 2, now, represents a substantial increase in investment, scale and ambition, as we work to deliver the next generation of cancer care.”

Patient advocate and researcher Siobhan Gaynor supports the launch of POI-2. Siobhan lives with advanced breast cancer which is a life-limiting disease. She volunteers on several cancer research committees and conducted a survey via Cancer Trials Ireland in 2023 to capture never before-seen input from stage IV cancer patients. Her research was awarded the Irish Cancer Society Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) project of the year in 2025.

Following the survey, Siobhan was also behind the creation of an Advanced Cancer Patients Council, which ensures dissemination of the survey results and campaigns for changes in Irish advanced cancer care by patients and for patients.

Speaking at the launch, Siobhan said: “Most Stage IV cancers are incurable, although thanks to science and research, we are now living longer. The challenge has moved to focus on quality-of-life needs as well as the need for more real-world data to be gathered to better inform service delivery and hopefully improve our care. In addition, we are hoping to better educate the public and the health service about the realities of living with an advanced cancer diagnosis.”

POI-2 will build on the success of Phase 1 by deepening interdisciplinarity through stronger clinical engagement, broadening scientific scope and infrastructure, enhancing patient and public involvement, expanding training opportunities, and fostering collaboration across the cancer research and healthcare communities from the outset.

UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact, Professor Kate Robson Brown said: “The launch of POI-2 marks a pivotal step in realising our collective strategic vision to advance precision medicine, accelerate interdisciplinary collaboration, and harness the transformative power of AI and digital technologies. Most importantly, it reflects our unwavering commitment to translating groundbreaking research into tangible improvements in patient care and outcomes. This programme exemplifies the future of healthcare research and innovation and we are proud to be at the forefront.”