All-Island Cancer Atlas - Development and Delivery between Cancer Registries in Ireland

Lead investigators
  • Dr Damien Bennett (NICR)
Co investigators
  • Prof Deirdre Murray (NCRI)
Topics
  • Map/atlas
Start year
2024
Duration
2 years
Funders

  • Health Research Board (HRB)

  • Public Health Agency

The Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR) and the National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) have a history of working together to produce valuable reports on cancer, such as the first All-Ireland Cancer Atlas. This collaboration has improved the understanding of cancer across the island and highlighted significant differences between the North and South. These findings led to more research funding and studies like the North/South PiCTure prostate cancer study.   

However over recent years there have been many changes in demographics and social factors on the island, such as population growth, ageing, migration, urbanization and changes in education, and employment. Additionally, cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment methods have developed and improved. These changes present an opportunity to compare new cancer cases across the island and uncover hidden patterns. This new, detailed All Island perspective aims to provide valuable insights for policy makers and researchers to enhance cancer policies and understanding.   

The AICA project will look at cancers diagnosed across the island of Ireland for 15 years to 2020 (2006-2020) and use advanced statistical and mapping techniques to:   

  • Describe Cancer Distribution: Map out where cancer cases are located across Ireland, down to small areas, considering factors like socio-economic status and demographics.
  • Research Resource: Create a valuable resource for studying cancer risk factors across the island.
  • Plan and Evaluate Services: Support all-island planning and evaluation of cancer services.
  • Data Collaboration: Promote collaboration in harmonizing, analysing, and reporting cancer data between North and South, and develop processes to support future data updates.   

The project will also encourage the exchange of skills and knowledge and renew beneficial training, management, and leadership connections between the Cancer Registries in Northern Ireland and Ireland.