Almost 31,000 patients have taken part in over 780 cancer clinical trials in Ireland between 2000 and 2020, Clinical Trials Ireland has said.

It is highlighting the key role of clinical trials ahead of its inaugural Cancer Retreat, a conference aimed at the cancer research community, which takes place on May 21.

With HRB funding structures for cancer clinical trials set to change in 2022, this is “a watershed moment for the cancer trials and cancer research community to reflect and plan, as a group, for the next five years”. 

The day-long online event aims to look at what challenges and opportunities may emerge in the coming years. The morning session will be open to patients, advocates and other members of the public, while the rest of the event will be open to Cancer Trials Ireland members only.

“We have all become very aware in recent times of the role of clinical trials in developing new Covid-19 vaccines which, once tested for their safety and effectiveness, have since been rolled out for the benefit of millions of people.

“A recent survey of 1,000 people undertaken by Cancer Trials Ireland found that one in two people are willing to participate in a clinical trial. This is very good news and shows the willingness of people to not only access the latest treatments for themselves, but to pave the way for others to access potentially life-saving therapies,” commented Prof Ray McDermott, clinical lead of Cancer Trials Ireland.

He noted that while not all trial treatments work, “in circumstances where patients may have run out of treatment options, many promising trials have extended and improved thousands of lives, while others have saved lives”.

Meanwhile, Cancer Trials Ireland is continuing its ‘Just Ask’ campaign, which urges people who have been diagnosed with cancer to ask their oncologist if there is a cancer trial suitable for them.

Almost all cancer trials available in Ireland are listed here.

If you would like to attend the inaugural Cancer Retreat, register here.