About the Consortium

Cancer on the Island of Ireland

The island of Ireland has one of the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in the Western world. Each year approximately 28,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed and 11,000 die from the disease on an island of over 5 million people. Although sizeable progress has been made against lung cancer, overall cancer rates remain above the average for European countries.

To learn more about cancer services in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Memorandum of Understanding

In 1999, a historic memorandum of understanding was signed by representatives of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the U.S. that established the Ireland-Northern-Ireland-NCI Cancer Consortium. The primary goal of the consortium is to enhance the infrastructure for cancer research and cancer care across all of Ireland. In an effort to facilitate interactions among the three jurisdictions, the consortium has developed a number of joint programs covering the entire continuum of cancer. In 2006, the memorandum of understanding was extended for five more years and signed by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Michael Leavitt; Northern Ireland, Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Paul Goggins; and Ireland, Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney T.D. To learn more about the cooperative agreement between Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the United States, view the renewed memorandum of understanding.

The consortium includes scientific programs encompassing:



Mission

The governments of the United States, Ireland, and Northern Ireland are working to:

• Improve the infrastructure necessary for the island of Ireland to further cancer research and clinical investigations
• Facilitate interactions among U.S., Irish, and Northern Irish cancer research communities
• Develop joint programs to enhance the cancer research environment in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the U.S. with the anticipated outcome of improved cancer care
• Develop educational exchange programs for cancer-control personnel

To learn more about the Consortium, view the Consortium Fact Sheet and visit our Programs.