BISEACH - Improving Cancer Outcomes Through Collaborative Research
Sharing expertise, exchanging knowledge, and learning from each other is the foundation for good research collaboration and positive change - bringing brilliant people together to generate brilliant ideas.
Cancer researchers at the NUI Galway Lambe Institute, and Notre Dame’s Harper Cancer Research Institute have come together to establish the Biseach Initiative, a strategic cancer biology and translational research collaboration, which aims to build on the ideas, talent, and infrastructure of both Universities for a global impact in cancer research.
BISEACH is Irish for IMPROVEMENT, HEALING, RECOVERY
Cancer Research Environment
Global knowledge transfer can have regional impact.
The Harper Cancer Research Institute, under the direction of Professor Sharon Stack, comprises multidisciplinary researchers - pre-clinical scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and physicists - from the University of Notre Dame and Indiana University School of Medicine South Bend.
Cancer research in NUI Galway spans the research continuum from basic and translational science to clinical and societal research, with programmes led out the Lambe Institute for Translational Research, Centre for Chromosome Biology, Apoptosis Research Centre, Blood Cancer Network Ireland, the HRB-Clinical Research Facility, and Saolta University Health Care Group.
The West and Northwest of Ireland has the poorest outcomes in Ireland for some common cancers. NUI Galway is the academic partner of the Saolta University Health Care Group, which delivers cancer care to the people of this region, positioning the University and the Kylemore Centre perfectly in this ambitious cancer research initiative.
Professor Michael Kerin, Director of the NUI Galway-Saolta University Cancer Network, recognises that:
“There is a wealth of scientific and clinical research and training expertise in both the Harper Institute and NUI Galway. The Biseach initiative, enabled by the Notre Dame Kylemore Global Centre, harnesses the appetite for collaboration, to further cancer research and provide educational and professional development opportunities for our students and research leaders” -
Lisa Caulfield, Director of the University of Notre Dame's Global Centre at Kylemore, acknowledges the benefits to both Universities and the wider community:
“The Kylemore Global Centre situated in the heart of Connemara is a place where the University of Notre Dame engages with the landscape and the wider Irish community in meaningful and authentic ways. Together with our local partners such as the National University of Ireland, Galway - we strive to provide multi-disciplinary programming for leaders, thinkers, and creators with a focus on advancing research, forming community and nourishing collaborations such as the Biseach Initiative”.
Fostering Research Through Student Engagament
The Study Abroad in Galway programme enables Notre Dame students to undertake an internship with NUI Galway cancer research teams. Students take on a range of practical tasks – laboratory techniques, literature appraisal and report writing - throughout a semester, under the guidance of academic researchers.
In 2018 Jenna Koenig completed her research internship with breast cancer research principal investigator Dr Emer Bourke, at the Lambe Institute
To date, nine Notre Dame students have engaged in this programme, with an additional six more planned for the Spring Semester 2022.
Building Our Partnership
February 2019
- Harper Cancer Research Institute directors, Professor Sharon Stack and Dr Andy Bullock visited NUI Galway.
September 2019
- NUI Galway research leaders visited Notre Dame in 2019, supported by HEA Academic Mobility Awards and the NUI Galway International Office.
Dr Emer Bourke (NUI Galway), Lisa Caulfield (Director of ND Kylemore Centre), Michael Pippenger (VP Internationalisation, ND), Dr Kieran O’Connor (NUI Galway), Dr Andrew Flaus (NUI Galway), and Dr Eimear Dolan (NUI Galway)
February 2020
- Dr Micheal Pippenger, Vice President and Associate Provost for Internationalisation, Notre Dame visited NUI Galway.
February 2021
- Biseach Initiative Symposia were held virtually, showcasing research programmes from Harper and NUI Galway.
November 2021
- Horizon MSCA Doctoral Training Networks Application – Professor Ciaran Morrison (NUI Galway Centre for Chromosome Biology), Dr Emer Bourke (Lambe Institute and Centre for Chromosome Biology) and Professor Siyuan Zhang (Harper Cancer Research Institute).
- Breast cancer research collaboration - Professor Michael Kerin and Professor Siyuan Zhang
June 2022
Originally scheduled for June 2020, the Harper and NUI Galway research retreat will take place this summer at the Kylemore Centre.
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