UL researcher Catriona Dowling has been chosen as a recipient of a new cancer research grant awarded as part of the Irish Cancer Society’s €2.5 million investment in cancer research in 2012.

A total of nine research awards were inaugurated by the Irish Cancer Society in order to foster home-grown cancer research talent in Ireland and to ensure new research projects are commenced in a range of cancers including breast, oesophageal, colorectal, gastrointestinal and prostate cancers. The nine research projects being funded span a wide range of research areas and will investigate a number of potentially important topics, such as the response of cancer cells to chemotherapeutics and how they interact with our immune system.

Catríona Dowling, from Tralee in Co. Kerry, has just graduated with a Masters in Life Sciences from the University of Limerick and has commenced her Research Scholarship also at UL. This Research Scholarship is in the area of colorectal cancer and she will be working under the supervision of Dr Patrick Kiely. Caitriona was presented her award by Ray D'Arcy at the annual Irish Cancer Society Research Awards Ceremony in Dublin.

Cancer is a major cause of death and illness in this country and each year there are over 25,000 new cases diagnosed as well as over 7,500 deaths which accounts for almost 25% of the annual national death toll.  Cancer rates are expected to increase and it is estimated that by 2020, 40,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Ireland each year.

Speaking at the Ceremony, Prof. John Fitzpatrick, Head of Research, Irish Cancer Society said, “We are very proud to announce our next round of Fellows and Scholars who will join the battle against cancer by applying their scientific skills in a way that will be make a difference to cancer patients.”

“We are committed to advancing high-quality cancer research in Ireland and funding excellent cancer researchers in various colleges and hospitals throughout Ireland. We thank the many fundraisers and donors throughout the country, who so generously support the next generation of cancer researchers in this country.”

John McCormack, CEO, Irish Cancer Society continued, “This year has been a very exciting year for the Irish Cancer Society’s research programme, with the announcement of its first Collaborative Cancer Research Centre and a €1.65 million investment to fund nine new ambitious Fellows and Scholars. As the largest voluntary funder of cancer research, the Irish Cancer Society depends on on-going fundraising efforts to support the research programme and we encourage others to get involved. You can find out more about our research programme through our website www.cancer.ie.”

Over the past 30 years, cancer research funded by the Irish Cancer Society has led to major advances in cancer research and more than 650 important research findings have been discovered. To find out more about the Irish Cancer Society research programme visit www.cancer.ie.