Early phase oncology clinical trials unit opened at Mater

The Republic of Ireland’s first dedicated phase 1 clinical trials unit has been opened at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin.

START Dublin is a collaboration between the Mater Hospital, University College Dublin, and the START Centre for Cancer Research (‘START’) based in San Antonio, US. 

START is the largest early phase oncology clinical trials network globally. Dublin is the eighth site in this growing network, contributing to START’s mission to bring the hope of early phase clinical trials to communities globally and expanded access to latest therapies.

The START network has over 500 active studies ongoing across its three centres in the US and five centres in Europe partnering with over 150 pharmaceutical companies.

START Dublin’s aspiration is to ensure that every Irish patient with advanced cancer has access to a suitable study, thereby broadening opportunities for participation in research and filling a critical gap in the clinical research infrastructure.

Opening the new unit today, Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, said: “It gives me great pleasure to officially open the Republic’s first dedicated phase 1 oncology clinical trials unit. With one in every two of us expected to get cancer in our lifetime, START Dublin will be a vital place to give hope and access to the newest medicines for those with advanced cancer.”

Mr Nick Slack, Chair and CEO of START, said: “The opening of START Dublin expands our commitment to bringing early phase cancer research to communities globally. Located in one of Ireland’s leading cancer centres, we’re providing patients with critical access to novel therapies. This milestone reflects our mission to improve patient outcomes and support drug developers in rapidly advancing breakthrough treatments.”

Consultant Oncologist Dr Austin Duffy is the Director of Research and Principal Investigator in START Dublin. He stated: “About 30,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year in Ireland, many of whom will at some point need access to new breakthrough cancer drugs as they emerge. Now that we have an early phase oncology clinical trials unit here in Dublin, we hope to offer patients access to new and promising drugs years before they might otherwise become available.”

Dr Duffy will be supported by a team of seven others initially in START Dublin and they hope to enrol approximately 50 patients onto trials within the first year of operations, rising to 300 patients in due course.

As the sole dedicated early phase clinical trials unit in the Republic, START Dublin offers an immediate opportunity for sponsors, with access to a robust patient population. The facility is supported by a strong referral network of 70 oncologists and serves approximately 2,750 new patients annually. Additionally, Dublin’s central location makes it accessible to patients across the entire country.

The Goodman Foundation supported the establishment of START Dublin, in addition to supporting a fellowship programme for the training of future investigators, through a donation to the Mater Hospital Foundation.

CEO of the Mater Hospital, Mr Alan Sharp, said: “Advanced cancer is a very difficult diagnosis for any patient. Given the commitment of START Dublin to accelerate the passage from trials to treatment, this should bring hope to patients, their families and the dedicated oncology team here in the Mater.”

Ms Miriam Staunton, a melanoma patient advocate, commented: “Early phase trials are so important for Irish cancer patients. They offer an opportunity for patients who have been failed by the existing available treatments as well as feeding a pipeline of later phase trial activity for a larger cohort of patients.  Those of us who are the beneficiaries of the recent huge strides in cancer treatments know how important it is to support ongoing research and development of new treatments. I am so happy to see this dedicated unit opening here in the Mater.”