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Leading scientists in the field of cancer research are being brought together under a £4.8 million European scheme aimed at developing so-called “magic bullet” drugs to combat the disease.
The aim of the research cluster is to co-ordinate the efforts of scientists, doctors and researchers in a bid to boost the progress already made in fighting cancer and hopefully come up with revolutionary new treatments.
Head of the scheme, renowned specialist Professor John Crown, said: “We have witnessed fundamental change and enormous progress in the area of cancer drug treatment in recent years.
“The very significant funding provided by Government through Science Foundation Ireland will foster greater and more focused collaboration between existing high-quality cancer research units in this country.”
“Magic bullet” drugs are designed to target cancerous cells in the body while leaving healthy cells alone, but experts can also examine the cancer cells at the molecular level, probing the differences between normal cells and then using those differences to produce drugs to combat the disease.
The Strategic Research Cluster in Molecular Therapeutics for Cancer is funded by Science Foundation Ireland, with Dublin City University the lead institution in the scheme.
Copyright Press Association 2009
