Prostate cancer takes the lives of 276 men in Northern Ireland and 519 men in the Republic of Ireland each year, and is one of the most common cancers among men across the island with more than 4,500 new diagnoses every year.

The new clinical research facility, led by Professor Suneil Jain and Professor Joe O’Sullivan, is at the heart of PGJCCR and will deliver cutting-edge clinical trials and test new, promising treatments to both improve cancer outcomes and reduce treatment-related side effects.

Iain Creswell is a prostate cancer survivor who spoke about his diagnosis:

“Telling my family was one of the worst things because although I told my wife when I was first diagnosed that it was possible that I would have to go through tests, I didn’t tell the rest of my family. I have two grown-up daughters and a grown-up son and they have children of their own and I didn’t want anybody worrying but when I was told by the oncology specialist nurse: “You have cancer”, it hits you like a sledgehammer.”

Mr Creswell went on take part in Queen’s leading edge ‘SPORT’ clinical trial which he felt was important because, “treatment has to be tried and tested on people first, so I feel that I’ve done something towards that. Because of the trial, I’ve been getting blood tests taken every six months and the blood tests is virtually undetectable so the cancer, as far as everyone is concerned, is gone.”

Suneil Jain, Professor of Clinical Oncology, said: “We hope our work will benefit men and their families who are facing their own very personal prostate cancer journeys.”

Joe O’Sullivan, Professor of Radiation Oncology, added: “We already have a strong track record in Belfast of developing novel clinical research, so we want to build on this to help develop the cancer treatments of the future.”

As prostate cancer research begins a new phase at Queen’s University Belfast, the new Prostate Cancer Centre of Excellence builds on the existing work that took place previously with The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester in 2016.

To date, this work has included a global first, successful clinical trial which has shown how a new combination of radiotherapies has improved the treatment of very advanced prostate cancer in men. It is the first time that this combination of therapies has been tested in a clinical trial and has been proven to be safe and tolerable in this population of men.

Another groundbreaking trial, the first of its kind in the UK, has shown how it is feasible to deliver radical radiotherapy in five hospital visits instead of the typical 20.

Speaking at the launch, Professor Sir Ian Greer, Vice-Chancellor at Queen’s, said:

“Tackling cancer is an integral part of the University’s ‘One Health’ approach and highlights our ability to lead and deliver high quality research with real patient impact. This centre is another example of Queen’s playing a major role in developing cutting-edge treatments and improving patient care to improve the prospects for cancer patients and their families, both here and across the world.”

The Prostate Cancer Centre of Excellence will act as an access point for industrial partnerships, medical devices and pharmaceuticals and will focus on advanced radiotherapy, drug radiotherapy combination studies and big data analysis.

In a boost to the local economy, the centre will create jobs for clinical trial staff, clinical fellows, lab scientists and PhD students, and was made possible thanks to a generous philanthropic donation of £1.6 million.

For more information on giving to Queen's, or the projects that donations support, visit: https://www.qub.ac.uk/alumni/QueensUniversityofBelfastFoundation/ or email foundation@qub.ac.uk