Cancer screening research consortium gets €1.25m funding boost
A ground-breaking cervical screening initiative drawing together academic institutions, hospitals and biotechnology companies was granted €1.25m in funding today.
The cancer research consortium, called Cerviva, has been launched to increase awareness and support for research into diseases of the cervix.
The Irish Cervical Screening Research Consortium involves researchers at seven Irish academic institutions, eight hospitals and ten commercial diagnostic/biotechnology companies.
Professor John O’Leary, Professor of Pathology, Trinity College Dublin, Coombe Women’s Hospital and St James Hospital said: “This exciting and potentially powerful research initiative has brought together a group of 34 scientists, gynaecologists, microbiologists, pathologists, histopathologists, genitor-urinary physicians, virologists and health economists amongst others from seven Irish universities, eight hospitals and ten commercial diagnostic/biotechnology companies across the country.
“Over the next five years these experts will conduct revolutionary research and find ways for all women to have access to the very best cervical screening procedures and the very best treatment opportunities. We are also fully committed to ensuring that all women living in Ireland understand that exposure to Human Papilloma Virus can cause cervical cancer and understand the appropriateness of receiving a vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus to prevent cervical cancer, in conjunction with regular screening.”
The consortium which was given €1.25m by the Health Research Board is expected to advance high quality peer-reviewed research programmes which provide information on the delivery of cervical screening services to women living in Ireland.
It is expected the consortium will deliver the results of its research within five years.
The National Cancer Registry estimates Ireland has one of the highest rates in Western Europe with around 200 new cases of cervical cancer and 70 deaths from it every year. Around 1,000 new cases of cervical pre-cancer, where abnormalities are detected in the cervix, are reported every year.
There is currently no free nationwide cervical screening programme in operation in Ireland although the Government has promised to roll it out by 2008.
HRB Chief Executive Dr Ruth Barrington said: “We are investing in research and development projects that will provide quality evidence that can be used to address particular challenges of health, social well-being and service delivery in Ireland.
“I am confident that this cervical screening project will have both a significant impact on increasing the research capacity of Irish health services, and have a positive impact on healthcare and service delivery in an area where there is a clear need.”
The aims of Cerviva include increasing the awareness and support for research into diseases of the cervix. It will involve informing the public of issues and advances in the area of cervical screening.
The consortium will support and develop outreach programmes to increase awareness among both Irish women and GPs of screening, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination and intervention.
The main risk factors for developing cervical cancer include exposure to HPV and a lack of screening.
The consortium will assess the current practices applied to women diagnosed with cervical cancer and will lobby for the effective deployment of resources to ensure the best possible treatment of women diagnosed with it.
Professor O’Leary said Cerviva will be examining the effect of introducing a HPV vaccine into the Irish population.
