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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
Following a postal/fax ballot in December 2000, the ICORG executive for the 4 year term starting January 2001 is as follows:
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.
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.
The ICORG membership has grown steadily since its inaugral roster of 32 back in October 1996 and is now 126. The recent growth has been due mainly to the addition of members from north of the border.
Following discussions with the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) in the early part of 2000, and representations made to the board on ICORGs behalf by John Crown, John Armstrong and John Kennedy the board of the society have decided to increase the ICORG central office annual funding substantially. The executive of ICORG are very grateful to the ICS for this essential support.