CANCERWISE- ICORG Article Summer 2002

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

The Membership of ICORG has grown steadily since October 1996 when 32 attended the inaugural meeting.

ICORG can currently count amongst its members all radiation, clinical, medical, haematological, and paediatric oncologists on the Island of Ireland, and also the great majority of surgeons who treat cancer.

CANCERWISE- ICORG Article March 20th 2002

What is ICORG ? – Irish Clinical Oncology Research Group
BACKGROUND
The Irish Clinical Oncology Research Group was formed in October 1996, and consists of specialists working in the oncology field who have the common goal of increasing the level of clinical cancer research in Ireland, thereby maintaining and improving all forms of cancer treatment in Ireland. In June of 2000 following agreement with the Northern Ireland Clinical Trials Unit ICORG became an all Island entity. This has very significant repercussions in terms of the ability of this expanded group to obtain significant infrastructure funding under the terms of the tripartite All-Ireland agreement.

First all-Ireland trial at St James’s for ICORG

Medicine Weekly on 23 January 2002

The success of the first trial set up by the Irish Clinical Oncology Research Group (ICORG) involving patients from both the Republic and Northern Ireland should lead to growing interest internationally in Ireland as a location for leading haematological research.

‘Significant Irish involvement in International leukaemia study’

Irish Medical News on Monday, January 21, 2002
By Hilary Martyn

Ireland’s significant contribution to an international Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) research study will lead to a growing interest internationally in Ireland as a location for leading-edge haematological research, the Irish Clinical Oncology Research Group (ICORG) has said. This was the first trial set up involving patients from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland since the organisation became an ‘island of Ireland’ entity, and marked a major achievement for the Group.

ICORG cancer trials online: Medicine Weekly

Cancer patients will now be able to access details of clinical trials operating in Ireland following the launch of a new online search facility by the Irish Clinical Oncology Research Group (ICORG).

190 Irish Women at the Heart of the Battle against Breast Cancer

The Irish Clinical Oncology Research Group (ICORG) a charity-based organisation founded in 1996 by Irish hospital doctors who treat cancer is pleased to announce Irelands most significant contribution ever to cancer clinical research.Between November 1998 and June of this year 190 Irish women with early breast cancer agreed to participate in an international study in the course of their treatment. The aim of this study was to determine whether the drug, taxotere used in the treatment of advanced breast cancer would be of benefit to patients with earlier stage disease.

ICORG article in the Irish Times

Website to give access to clinical trials by Dr. Muiris Houston, Medical Correspondent

Cancer patients will be able to access the details of clinical trials with a view to participating in the latest research following the launch of an online search facility.
The Irish Clinical Oncology Research Group (ICORG), a charity-based organisation of doctors in Northern Ireland and the Republic, said its service will allow Irish cancer sufferers to access new treatments through participation in clinical trials.

Constitutional Amendment update

The two constitutional amendments also on the ballot papers were also heavily supported but unfortunately not enough members voted to meet the 66% of current membership rule.

The executive have decided to put these two amendments to the membership again early in the new year and encourage all members to ensure they cast their vote.

ICORG becomes an all-Ireland entity

Following discussions with the leaders of the Northern Ireland Clinical Trials Unit in March of this year and culminating with a meeting in May in Dublin, ICORG became an all-Ireland organisation. This resulted in an increase in the membership in recent months of 21 consultants from north of the border.