Since launching the Value of Cancer Trials report on 10th November, there have been further notable developments in the sector. On Thursday, 20th November, Cancer Trials Ireland’s CEO, Angela Clayton-Lea, attended the launch of the National Clinical Trials Oversight Group (NCTOG) Final Report and Recommendations at Iveagh House, officiated by the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. Following the meeting, Angela had the opportunity to speak with the Minister, during which she highlighted the significance of our Value of Cancer Trials report.
The NCTOG report includes figures relating to the Isa-RVD trial, which Cancer Trials Ireland provided to the Department of Health. We are very pleased to have directly informed the NCTOG report, and we also sought to align the Value of Cancer Trials report with the recommendations we anticipated would emerge from NCTOG.
It is striking that the NCTOG report followed so quickly, just over a week after the launch of our own report at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Our event was well attended (you can read a summary here), with representation from the Health Research Board and industry, participation from the Irish Cancer Society, our Board, oncologists and haematologists, and, most importantly, patients.
Seamus Cotter of our Patient Consultant Committee gave a moving contribution on the day and participated in an RTÉ interview, which was broadcast several times on national radio and television, alongside Prof Seamus O’Reilly and Angela Clayton-Lea. In the days since the launch, Angela has also taken part in numerous radio interviews across the country, with more media coverage expected to highlight the importance of funding for cancer clinical trials.
The overall response to the Value of Cancer Trials report has been overwhelmingly positive, both from colleagues across the clinical oncology research community, including those Angela met at a gathering on 21st November, and from trial sites, where we have distributed hard copies for patients to take home from clinic waiting areas.
It is heartening to see such strong engagement and commitment to communicating the value of cancer trials to government. This is a priority we are deeply invested in at Cancer Trials Ireland, and we will continue to keep you updated as our work in this area progresses.