Register for the 2025 Cancer Retreat
Event Details:
📅 Date: Friday, 9th May 2025
🕘 Time: 09:00 – 13:15 (followed by networking lunch)
📍 Venue: College Hall, RCSI, Dublin
🌐 Format: Primarily in-person to support interactive discussions. Hybrid access available for select sessions (excluding breakout groups).
Overview
Join us for a half-day event focused on preparing for the upcoming Health Research Board (HRB) grant cycle. This forum will provide a space to reflect on the successes and challenges of the current funding cycle, spotlight emerging opportunities, and facilitate collaborative discussions among clinical researchers, programme leads, research nurses, and industry partners.
Theme
Preparing for the New HRB Grant
Reflections on the current funding cycle and exploring new pathways for development and collaboration.
Opening Session (Hybrid)
09:00 – 09:30
- Welcome & Opening Remarks
- Ms Averil Power, CEO, Irish Cancer Society
- Representative from the Health Research Board (HRB)
Keynote Address (Hybrid)
09:30 – 09:50
Prof. Donal Brennan
Findings and Interim Recommendations from the Clinical Trials Oversight Committee
Session One: Learnings from the Current HRB Grant (Hybrid)
09:50 – 11:15
Short presentations from each cluster on key successes, challenges, and evolving research landscapes. Presenters include:
- Prof Michaela Higgins (UCD / SVUH, Mater)
- Prof Patrick Morris (RCSI / Beaumont, OLLHD, Connolly)
- Prof Roisin Connolly (UCC / CUH, Bons, UHW)
- Prof Sinead Brennan (TCD / IRROG – SLRON, BonS UPMC, UHG (RT), CUH (RT), Beacon
- Dr Cormac Owens (UCD / CHI)
- Ms Cathy Enright (TCD / SJH, TUH, MRHT)
- Dr Janusz Krawczyk (UHG)
- Prof Christina Fleming (UHL)
Break
11:15 – 11:30
Session Two: Interactive Discussions (In-person only)
Part 1: Facilitated Discussion
11:30 – 11:50
Group reflection on the presentations and exploration of how to expand and enhance clinical research funding.
Part 2: Breakout Groups
11:50 – 12:20
Attendees will divide into four focused discussion groups:
- Improving Time to First Patient
- Securing More Studies
- Trials Without Drugs
- Career Development & Opportunities
Part 3: Group Feedback & Industry Collaboration
12:20 – 13:05
- Feedback presentations from each group
- Open discussion on enhancing industry engagement and collaboration with pharmaceutical partners
Closing Remarks & Networking Lunch
13:05 – 13:15
Closing comments followed by a light networking lunch.
