Ireland’s Largest Cancer Research Programme Enters Phase 2
Ireland is accelerating its commitment to personalized cancer care as Precision Oncology Ireland (POI) enters its second phase. With a newly approved €28 million co-funding package, POI aims to scale its cross-sector model and deepen patient involvement, turning research breakthroughs into real-world diagnostics and treatments.
What POI Is and Why Phase 2 Matters
POI is Ireland’s largest cancer research consortium, launched in 2019. It brings together five Irish universities, six cancer charities, and seven industry partners to advance precision oncology—diagnostics and therapies tailored to individual patients. Phase 1 established a collaborative framework that links academic discovery with clinical translation, industry development, and patient voices. Phase 2 will build on that foundation by expanding interdisciplinary research and increasing patient and public involvement in the research process.
Leadership and Funding
The programme is led by Prof Walter Koch at the System Biology Ireland Centre, University College Dublin (UCD). Phase 2 is co-funded by Research Ireland, industry, and the not-for-profit sector, with an additional €28 million dedicated to advancing the work. This funding supports enhanced clinical engagement, expanded training, and stronger pipelines from bench to bedside.
A Vision for Clinical Translation
According to Prof Koch, “Research is the engine behind new medicines.” POI-2 focuses on linking cutting-edge cancer research to practical clinical applications. A key element is the development of advanced computer simulations of cancer, which can help design the best diagnostic and treatment strategies for individual patients. By integrating data across labs, clinics, and industry, POI hopes to shorten the path from discovery to patient benefit.
Stronger Patient Involvement and Public Engagement
POI’s second phase places greater emphasis on patient participation. Siobhan Gaynor, a patient advocate and researcher who lives with advanced breast cancer, welcomed the expansion. Her work includes gathering real-world input from stage IV patients and helping shape care policies. Gaynor notes that while many stage IV cancers are not curable, advances in science are extending lives and improving quality of life. Enhanced patient involvement will help ensure research addresses the practical needs and concerns of those living with advanced cancer, from symptom management to access to services.
A More Integrated, Patient-Centered Model
Phase 2 aims to deepen clinical engagement by fostering closer collaboration among clinicians, researchers, charities, and industry. Training opportunities will expand to grow expertise across disciplines, while patient voices will influence research agendas, trial design, and care delivery. The result should be more robust evidence for real-world effectiveness and a faster translation of discoveries into improved patient outcomes.
What This Means for Ireland
As a coordinated national effort, POI-2 supports Ireland’s broader research and health agendas by developing precision medicine capabilities, strengthening the healthcare system’s capacity to deliver personalized care, and increasing Ireland’s competitiveness in biotech innovation. The programme embodies a collaborative model that could serve as a template for other countries aiming to align academia, charity, industry, and patient communities around shared goals.
Looking Ahead
With phase 2 underway, POI will advance computational models, expand clinical trials, and foster education and public understanding of precision oncology. The collaboration signals a commitment to high-impact research that not only uncovers new medicines but also ensures patients are at the center of every decision. As Gaynor and many others continue to advocate for more informed care, POI’s journey in Ireland illustrates how science, patients, and society can converge to drive meaningful improvements in cancer care.
