Clinical Trials

BCNI Clinical Trials

‌See our short film which gives one Irish patient's experience on a clinical trial and gives an overview of clinical trials by Prof Michael O'Dwyer, Director of Blood Cancer Newtork Ireland

BCNI will carry out early phase (Phase I) clinical trials in cancer care centres in Galway, Cork and Dublin. Clinical trials are designed to develop and test new and improved ways to treat cancer in people; help prevent a return of cancer; and improve comfort and quality of life for people with cancer. Advances in treatments for blood cancers depend on clinical trials of new therapies or new combinations of therapies. BCNI trials will focus on novel targeted approaches, including immunotherapy.

Please see here for  Patient information leaflet -Clinical trials‌

Clinical trials are designed to develop and test new and improved therapies

New therapies are usually developed and tested in a laboratory. Then they are thoroughly tested in animals. If the early research (the preclinical trials) shows the therapy is safe and effective, a carefully planned and monitored clinical trial of the drug or treatment will then be conducted in people. 

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Advances in treatments for blood cancers depend on clinical trials of new therapies or new combinations of therapies.

• The BCNI will carry out early phase (phase I) clinical trials in cancer care centres in strategic geographical locations (Galway, Cork & Dublin) under a single unified structure.  

• This will be led by University Hospital Galway, which has well established phase I trial expertise for blood cancers and phase I capability will be rapidly extended to the other centres (St James’s Hospital, Mercy University Hospital, Cork University Hospital, Beaumont hospital and the Mater hospital).

• The cohesive and national structure of the BCNI will make Ireland an attractive place for industry and clinical researchers to carry out their clinical trials. The main advantage of this is that it will provide Irish patients with easier access to novel experimental drugs and provide them with a very high level of care and attention.