The AICRIstart programme is a Foundation Stone for the All-Island Cancer Research Institute (AICRI) and will build critical mass in Precision Cancer Medicine on the island of Ireland. In March 2022, the programme was awarded €4 million in funding under the HEA North South Research Programme.
Ten academic institutions (UCD, TCD, RCSI, TU Dublin, DCU, QUB, UU, NUIG, UL and UCC) are involved in the project and UCD is the administrative lead.
AICRIstart is an all-island doctoral and post-doctoral research training programme, which will create a unique network of excellence in cancer research, as well as an exceptional training environment for emerging researchers.
Ten PhD students (one based at each academic institution) are working on innovative projects in precision cancer medicine over a four-year period. The majority of the PhD students began their projects in autumn 2022 and are now well progressed in their research.
As part of the programme, many PhD students have undertaken 12 months outside their host institution, supported through a mobility grant. These research visits can be organised as one continuous placement or split into several shorter stays. Host institutions for these placements include other AICRI-affiliated academic institutions, as well as relevant industry partners, clinical sites, or other external organisations, depending on the needs of the research project.
In addition to the PhD cohort, ten postdoctoral researchers are currently working across the AICRIstart programme, further strengthening the collaborative, cross-institutional effort to advance precision oncology across the island of Ireland.
