How the Good Friday Agreement led to Historic Cancer Research Cooperation
As we approach the 25th Anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, a largely unrecognized impact of the Good Friday Agreement has been its crucial role in supporting cancer research on both sides of the border.
In an article published by the Irish Central, New York, Prof Mark Lawler (QUB) and Prof William (Liam) Gallagher (UCD) highlight the crucial role that the Good Friday Agreement has played in supporting cancer research and its translation to enhanced cancer care on the island of Ireland and the pivotal influence that the United States has played in this success.
On Sunday 3rd October 1999, pursuant to the Good Friday Agreement, a partnership was historically signed at Government Buildings in Stormont between the Departments of Health for Ireland and Northern Ireland and the world–renowned US National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, giving rise to the Ireland - Northern Ireland - National Cancer Institute Cancer Consortium.
The Cancer Consortium articulated its ambitious aim: ‘to reduce cancer incidence and mortality on the island of Ireland through cross-border and transatlantic collaborations in cancer research and education.”
Read the full article here
Professors Lawler and Gallagher outlined their ambitious vision to address one of human health’s greatest challenges at a special event entitled “US Influence on the Good Friday Agreement: Cancer Research Across Borders” which took place in the New York Irish Centre on Tuesday 28th February 2023.
