The Blood Cancer Network (http://www.bloodcancers.ie ) is a collaboration of clinicians, scientists, and population health experts with a shared interest in blood cancer research. Members of the national network are based at the National Cancer Registry, National University of Ireland, Galway/ University Hospital Galway, University College Cork/ Cork University Hospital and Trinity College Dublin/St James Hospital. The key investigators involved are Professor Michael O’Dwyer, Professor Mary Cahill, Professor Paul Browne, Dr Eva Szegezdi and Dr Harry Comber.
Within the Network, the National Cancer Registry is developing a specialised blood cancer registry which will provide much more detailed clinical, and other, data than is currently collected by the general population-based registry. Beginning with a small number of cancers and sites, we plan to expand coverage over the next few years to include most haematological cancers and hospitals. In addition to clinical data, we plan to collect long-term follow-up data and patient-reported data, such as quality if life and functional status.