Inaugural All-Island Paediatric Oncology Conference, 2025
A catalyst to enhance patient care and family support through joint efforts in research, education, and clinical innovation, across the island of Ireland
29 Deireadh Fómhair 2025
News
The inaugural All-Island Paediatric Oncology Conference was held in Dundalk from 16-18 October – this was the first ever childhood cancer conference to bring together experts and stakeholders from across the island of Ireland. The two-day event was hosted in collaboration with Children’s Health Ireland, Childhood Cancer Ireland, Children’s Cancer Unit Charity, and the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
Delegates included national and international experts from across the healthcare sector, including clinicians, healthcare providers, researchers, academics, and patient advocacy groups and highlighted a strong appetite to deepen existing collaboration between children’s and young people’s cancer services across the island of Ireland.
The event was formally opened by Northern Ireland’s Minister for Health, Mike Nesbitt MLA, who emphasised the importance of collaboration:
“This conference marks an important step in exploring how we can strengthen collaboration between the paediatric oncology centres in Belfast and Dublin to improve outcomes for children and young people with cancer. It’s an opportunity to consider how stronger connections between clinicians might be developed, how working groups could improve access to clinical trials, and how sharing data and expertise can benefit patients and families. As Northern Ireland’s Health Minister, I am proud of our world-class cancer expertise, and by building on that strength through greater collaboration, we can help deliver the best possible care, no matter where a child or young person lives.
The Minister also emphasised that “the border in Ireland does not define difference — in fact, when it comes to health, it should be the opposite.” His remarks resonated strongly with attendees and became a central theme driving discussion throughout the event.
On average, each year approximately 230 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer on the island of Ireland (approx. 180 in RoI and 50 in NI). Conference attendees reached a shared consensus that the opportunity to meet should serve as a catalyst to enhance patient care and family support through joint efforts in research, education, and clinical innovation.
“Ensuring equal access for children and young-people to life-saving treatments and clinical trials, regardless of geography, was the uniting factor over these extraordinary couple of days. Collaboration is how we create new possibilities, better outcomes, and brighter futures for the children we serve. Children’s Health Ireland will support these efforts to ensure every child has equal access to the best possible cancer care and treatment. Our sincere thanks to all those who contributed to making this event a success, in particular our own Prof Cormac Owens and all our staff from the National Children’s Cancer Service.
Themes and ambitions discussed at the conference included:
- Exploring the creation of an All-Island Paediatric Oncology Alliance to strengthen collaboration between centres in Dublin and Belfast.
- Considering the creation of a working group on clinical trials access, to support more equitable participation for children and young people across all regions.
- Encouraging data sharing and joint research, drawing on combined expertise to enhance outcomes and reduce treatment toxicity.
- Exploring opportunities for greater integration of care, including pathways for collaboration and alignment of approach where appropriate.
These ambitions reflect a collective commitment to building a more connected, equitable, and innovative system of care for children and young people with cancer across the island of Ireland.
Those attending the conference include some of Ireland’s leading experts in paediatric oncology, among them:
- Dr Cormac Owens, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist, Children’s Health Ireland.
- Prof Owen Smith, National Clinical Advisor for Children Adolescents and Young Adult Cancers at the National Cancer Control Programme and Consultant Paediatric Haematologist, Children’s Health Ireland.
- Dr Anthony McCarthy, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
- Dr Robert Johnston, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
- Dr Scheryll Alken, Consultant in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer, Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin and St. James’s Hospital