Dear Consortium Colleague:

A link to information about the new Joint Research Fellowships in Cancer is now available on the Ireland-Northern Ireland-National Cancer Institute Cancer Consortium Web site at http://www.allirelandnci.org.
As part of its 2005 Consortium activities, the Health Research Board in Ireland in association with the National Cancer Institute in the U.S. announced this new annual fellowship programme for post-doctoral researchers. Interested researchers are encouraged to review online information about the requirements and application process.

Prof J Armstrong, Consultant Radiation Oncologist at UCD, examines the biological behaviour and treatment of prostate cancer

The biological behaviour of prostate cancer can be predicted using clinically- available data. The combination of clinical stage, tumour grade (usually described as Gleason score, a method of grading histology — high scores have a bad prognosis) and the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) can be used to predict the risk category of individual patients. The TNM staging system is described it Table 1.

Hematology Association of Ireland Clinical, Education and Scientific Research Sub-Committees

Research and Education / Travel Grants
The Haematology Association of Ireland invites submissions from interested individuals to the Scholarship fund for the following awards.

The Taoiseach Mr Bertie Ahern recently opened the new €1.5 million Mater University Hospital Institute for Cancer Research, the new Department of Postgraduate Education and the Fintan Gunne Lecture Theatre, all at 48 Eccles Street, Dublin.

Tánaiste, Mary Harney, Minister for Health and Children will focus on the need to harness research and development potential within the Health Services, tonight, 7 October 2004, when she opens a seminar organised by the Health Research Board.

Thursday September 30, 11:28 am ET
By Linda A. Johnson, AP Business Writer

Merck Stops Vioxx Sales Due to Data Showing Increased Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke; Stock Falls
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. is halting worldwide sales of its blockbuster arthritis drug Vioxx, once viewed as possibly being able to prevent some cancers, because new data from a clinical trial found an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Its stock price plunged more than 26 percent as the company said the recall will hurt its earnings.

The listings for the Irish Abstracts Presented at ASCO 2004

Minutes of Meeting held by Irish Council for Bioethics on ethical requirements for clinical trials on 23rd March in the Royal Irish Academy

Attendees: Ethics committee chairmen and secretaries, Health Research Board and ICORG. Prepared by : Siobhan Gaynor 24th March 2004

Speaker: Mr Tom McGuinn Chief Pharmacist Dept of Health & Children

Scientists say EU is delaying life-saving drugs – The Irish Times 12 September 2003