Science of Cancer event in Tullamore
Midlands Science is partnering with Dóchas, the local cancer support service, Let’s Chat Medicine and Precision Oncology Ireland to bring a special event to the midlands for Science Week.
The event is part of the Midlands Science Festival, supported by Research Ireland. It is entitled “People First: New horizons in cancer treatment and science education.” The event will bring together researchers, patients, support services and advocates in Tullamore on November 19. All are welcome to attend and free places can be booked on www.midlandsscience.
John Conroy, Service Manager at Dóchas, said: “We at Dóchas Offaly Cancer Support Group are delighted to partner on this important event that brings science and patients together. At Dóchas, we see every day how advances in cancer treatment change lives, and events like this help bridge the gap between research and real people. It’s inspiring to see the midlands at the heart of these conversations”
The MC will be leading science communicator Dr Craig Slattery of UCD and the event will involve talks on precision oncology research and treatment from postdoctoral researcher Dr. Elan McCarthy of the University of Galway and a presentation on Let’s Chat Medicine with Dr. Maeve McCann.
Precision Oncology Ireland is a consortium of 5 Irish Universities, 6 Irish Cancer Research Charities, and 7 international companies aiming to develop new diagnostics and therapeutics for personalised cancer treatment. The consortium is part-funded by Research Ireland and is coordinated by Systems Biology Ireland.
Let’s Chat Medicine is a collaborative public engagement project which brings together scientific researchers, young people and creative professionals to create meaningful education opportunities and lasting communication centred on the theme of personalised medicine. Bringing scientists, researchers, the public and patients together to talk about research and medicine creates vital conversations about how research in Ireland benefits us all.
Research on cancer treatments in particular affects so many of us and our loved ones. An estimated 44,000 people in Ireland get cancer each year. This figure is made up of both invasive (cancers that can spread beyond the place they started) and non-invasive tumours (cancers that do not spread).
It includes non-melanoma skin cancers, which are the most common type of cancer in Ireland. More people are surviving cancer than ever before.
Over the past 25 years, cancer survival rates have improved significantly both in Ireland and internationally as a result of enhanced clinical care and emerging treatment modalities. It is estimated that the number of cancer survivors is set to double over the next 25 years.
At this event we hope to be shine a light on new advances in cancer research, opportunities for young people to engage in how this research is being developed and hear from attendees about their experiences and opinions on the future of scientific research and education.
The event, People First - New Horizons in Cancer Treatment and Education, takes place at the Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore, on Wednesday, November 19, at 11.30am.
More details on this event and on the work of Midlands Science is available on www.midlandsscience.ie