Molecular Therapeutics for Cancer Ireland (MTCI)

http://www.nicb.dcu.ie/nicb_mtci.html

Molecular Therapeutics for Cancer Ireland (MTCI), a Science Foundation Ireland funded, Strategic Research Cluster, which is hosted by the National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology at Dublin city University, represents one of the largest biomedical research programmes to date in the oncology arena in Ireland (5.6 million euro, excluding overhead). Co-ordinated by Professor John Crown, MTCI comprises a multi-institutional partnership between 4 academic centres and affiliated teaching hospitals in Dublin, namely Dublin City University (lead), University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, with demonstrated excellence in translational cancer research.In addition, MTCI benefits from close inter-sectoral collaboration with several major pharmaceutical/major biotech companies (e.g. Pfizer, Novartis, Roche, Amgen) and other industrial parties.The core strategic mission of MTCI is to exploit our understanding of the molecular determinants of response and resistance to targeted anti-cancer therapies towards improved treatment approaches.The 5-year research programme, which commenced in October 2009, underwent a rigorous scientific and impact review during the middle of 2012, and passed with glowing colours.

MTCI investigators have published over 75 articles (including articles in New England Journal of Medicine, Oncogene, Cancer Research, Cancer Discovery, and Clinical Cancer Research), 20 review articles (including Nature Reviews Cancer and Drug Discovery Today), 55 conference papers (including multiple presentations at AACR and ASCO), 6 conference abstracts, 4 book chapters, and 1 book.Additionally, the Cluster has been invited to participate in 90 international presentations, 60 national presentations, and has hosted 35 conferences/workshops (including two EMBO conferences on Cancer Proteomics).Moreover, there have been 22 highly-acclaimed scientific awards won by members of MTCI (including 3 successive St. Luke's Young Investigator Awards).Critically, MTCI-derived observations have led to the establishment of several new translational and interventional clinical trials with our clinical trials partner ICORG (the Irish Co-Operative Oncology Research Group).

As MTCI has developed over the years, it has engaged with other leading cancer researchers in Ireland, with the aim of developing a truly comprehensive national research entity.In June 2013, a series of MTCI-sponsored meetings culminated in a public forum held with support from the Irish Research Council at the Herbert Park Hotel Dublin.The attendance of over 85 cancer researchers heard presentations from national and international experts and agreed that there was a need for a multi-institutional, independent, national, cancer research centre in Ireland.As a result, on August 23rd 2013, the National Cancer Research Centre of Ireland (NCRCI) was inaugurated.   ghi