Breakthrough Cancer Research

In the mid 1990's Professor Gerald C. O'Sullivan established a research team at the Mercy Hospital to investigate the major issues in the genesis and secondary spread of cancer, in order to develop effective strategies for cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Prof. O'Sullivan was inspired to conduct this research based on his own clinical experience with his patients diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.  Despite leaps forward in the surgical options for his patients, the long term prognosis was poor with less than 20% of patients surviving past 5 years.  It was the secondary spread of cancer that was providing the greatest challenge to patient survival.  After achieving significant success in terms of research breakthroughs, Professor O'Sullivan received one million pounds from Atlantic Philanthropies to expand his research team into a Research Centre partnering with multiple teaching hospitals in the Cork area and beyond.  This was the origin of Cork Cancer Research Centre which went on to bring 5 new treatments into clinical trial in under ten years.

Inspired by the quality of the research and motivated to expand the research of this highly effective research idea, Cork Cancer Research Centre has benefited from the generous support of the public for all of its ten year existence and could not have succeeded without it.

But our volunteers have now challenged us to go further.  To take our fundraising as far as our research has gone.  To allow the patients all over Ireland, who have benefited from the treatments we have developed and pioneered, to effectively fundraise for us.  This has led to the launch of Breakthrough Cancer Research, a charity to raise funds nationally for cancer research leading to the development of new therapies that will positively impact patients.  We are working in partnership with clinicians and scientists both Nationally and Internationally, in taking our new treatments and clinical trials to as a many patients as possible and we now need to engage more volunteers to support this effort.

We may have another name, but we are the same people with the same commitment and vision; to significantly impact the number of people who can survive this disease.

Help us to fund the efficient and effective development of new treatments for cancer and bring hope to patients all over Ireland.  Here is how you can Get Involved.