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Read more about the recommendations made by Health Research Charities Ireland (HRCI) for elected representatives and policy makers in 2024 through the publication of their Position Paper. Within this paper, you will learn about new legislation in key areas, the need for investment in research infrastructure and how health research charities are responding to the needs of the public to accelerate the impact of this vital research.

View the paper here.

Thank you to the excellent Kickys on South Great Georges Street, who ran a campaign supporting the work of Biobank Ireland which raised over a thousand euros during the busy month of December, our two founders Ciaran Flanagan and Professor Eoin Gaffney met Richie Barrett and Eric Mathews yesterday to receive this wonderful donation. This campaign also helped to support greater awareness of the importance of biobanking to critical medical research. Kickys will be supporting Biobank Ireland at other stages throughout this year and we would like to thank them for this ongoing and important support. 

A big thank you to the 5th year pupils of St Michael’s College in Ballsbridge, who through their hard work over Christmas raised €1000 towards the work of Biobank Ireland from their annual christmas tree sale, this helps to support medical research through our network.

Thank you Mr Sheridan and all the team!

#biobankireland #biobanking #cancerresearch #cancerawareness #cancersupport

Trinity St. James’s Biobank Network (TSBN) launched their first  newsletter! This first newsletter will explain who they are and features some highlights from the group. The TSBN is a working group of representatives from biobanks in Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and its associated hospitals.

View the Newsletter here.

What is Blood Cancer?

Blood cancers affect blood cells. Cancer can affect red blood cells (RBCs) that carry oxygen throughout your body, and platelets help your blood clot. Furthermore, there are also types of cancers that affect the lymphatic system. Consequently, the lymphatic system is responsible for White Blood Cells (WBCs), which are critical in fighting disease and infection.

Therefore, when someone has any type of blood cancer, their cells grow and divide rapidly, inhibiting the blood’s necessary functions. For example, your blood might not clot if you scrape your knee, or if you get sick, your body will have a weakened immune system to fight the illness.

Types of Blood Cancer:

The disease has various forms, and each type is further categorized. Below are the most common types:

1. Leukemia – Affects the bone marrow and WBC.
2. Lymphoma – Affects the lymphatic glands.
3. Myeloma – Affects plasma cells.
4. Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) – Affects the bone marrow. It is also known as Bone Marrow Failure.

Ireland Blood Cancer Statistics:

1. Doctors diagnose approximately 485 people with a form of leukemia each year.
2. Doctors diagnose approximately 1000 people with a form of lymphoma each year.
3. Doctors diagnose approximately 380 people with a form of Myeloma each year.
4. Doctors diagnose approximately 175 people with a form of MDS each year.
5. Lymphoma is the 5th most common type of cancer diagnosed in men and children.
6. Leukemia is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in children.

Signs and Symptoms:

Each form of blood cancer presents unique symptoms, but some of the most common symptoms are:

1. Coughing/chest pain
2. Frequent infections
3. Fever or chills
4. Unexplained rash/bruising/bleeding
5. Loss of appetite/nausea
6. Night sweats
7. Persistent weakness/fatigue
8. Shortness of breath
9. Swollen, painless lymph nodes

Risk Factors:

Although blood cancer’s causes are not fully understood, there are risk factors for development:

1. Family History: Some forms of cancer can be caused by inherited genetic mutations.
2. Smoking: Smoking can cause cancer almost anywhere in the body, including the blood.
3. Radiation/Chemical Exposure: Exposure to certain chemicals or cancer radiation can also increase risk for developing a form of the disease.
4. Viral Exposure: HIV, Epstein-Barr virus, and human T-cell lymphoma/leukemia virus can also increase the risk for developing leukemia or lymphoma.

Treatment:

Doctors will treat blood cancer based on the type, stage, genetics, blood cell counts, overall health and specific symptoms. However, there are some common forms of treatment.

1. Chemotherapy – Drugs to treat the cancer.
2. Immunotherapy – Utilize natural immune system defenses.
3. Radiation – High frequency waves to kill cancer cells.
4. Stem Cell Bone Marrow Transplantation – Full replacement of cells that can grow into healthy blood cells.

If you or anybody you know may be affected by blood cancer, please contact your physician to seek a professional opinion.

What is a Sarcoma?

A Sarcoma is a bone, cartilage, or soft tissue (nerve, fat, and muscle) cancer. These cancers are malignant, rare, and aggressive. This type of cancer can affect any part of the body, but 80% of the time, they are found in soft tissues. Therefore, Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS) is the most common type of this cancer. Additionally, more than 60% of diagnoses are found in the leg. 

Doctors diagnose approximately 220 people a year with Sarcoma in Ireland. However, A study conducted by the National Cancer Registry Ireland concludes that STS survival is 75.6% after one year. 

Risk Factors of Sarcomas:

Sarcomas’ causes are relatively unknown, but there are a few risk factors:

1. Genetic mutations: disease inheritance is known to increase the risk of developing cancer.
2. Lymphedema: a consistent swelling of lymph fluid caused by a damaged or blocked lymph system can cause a special type of cancer called angiosarcoma. 
3. Exposure to chemicals: chemicals can also increase the risk of developing a tumor, especially that of the liver. 
4. Cancer radiation treatment: Radiation can treat cancer but also cause sarcomas later.
5. Viral Exposure: Exposure to human herpesvirus 8 can all increase risk for developing a Sarcoma called Kaposi’s sarcoma. 

Symptoms of Sarcomas:

Each tumor presents with different symptoms, and some early stage STS tumors do not have any signs or symptoms at all. However, the most common symptoms, when presented, are:

1. A mass under the skin. It may or may not be painful.
2. Bone pain.
3. An unexpected broken bone caused by little to no injury.
4. Abdominal pain.
5. Weight loss.

Sarcoma Treatment:

Each tumor is all treated differently, depending on the diagnosis. However, there are three main types of treatment:

1. Surgery: This is the most common treatment for this type of cancer.
2. Radiotherapy: Especially if diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma in the legs or arms, doctors may use high-energy waves to kill the cancerous cells.
3. Chemotherapy: Using anti-cancer drugs is beneficial, especially when teamed with other forms of treatment.

If you or anybody you know may be affected by a sarcoma, please contact your physician to seek a professional opinion. 

What is personalised medicine? 

Personalised medicine is an approach to healthcare that takes into account an individuals unique genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors in order to tailor medical treatments and preventive measures to their specific needs. The goal of personalised medicine is to provide more targeted and effective treatments that can improve outcomes, reduce side effects and save costs. 

So, why are biobanks important?

Biobanks are important for the development of personalised medicine because they provide a large repository of biological samples and associated data that can be used to identify genetic and environmental factors that contribute to the development of diseases. This information can then be used to develop targeted, personalised treatments that are tailored to an individuals specific genetic makeup and medical history. 

Ways biobanks support personalised medicine development:

• Large samples sizes: Biobanks typically contain large numbers of biological samples from individuals with a wide range of medical histories and genetic backgrounds. This provides researchers with a large diverse pool of data to study, which can help to identify genetic variations that contribute to disease development and progression. 
• Longitudinal data: Biobanks often collect longitudinal data, which means that they track changes in an individual’s health over time. This type of data can be used to identify biomarkers that may be used to predict disease onset or progression, which can help to inform personalised treatment plans. 
• Genetic and phenotypic data: Biobanks collect both genetic and phenotypic data, which provides researchers with a comprehensive view of an individual’s health. This information can be used to identify genetic mutations that may contribute to disease, as well as environmental factors that may influence disease development. 
• Improved treatment outcomes: By identifying genetic variations that contribute to disease, researchers can develop targeted, personalised treatments that are tailored to an individual’s specific needs. This can lead to improved treatment outcomes and better patient outcomes. 

Overall, biobanks provide a crucial resource for researchers who are working to develop personalised medicine. By studying large number of biological samples and associated data, researchers can identify genetic and environmental factors that contribute to disease and develop targeted treatments that are tailored to an individual’s specific needs.