Objective The Insulin-like Growth Factor I Receptor (IGF-IR) is widely expressed on human tissues and has been shown to promote the growth and invasiveness of cancer cells. It is a potentially important therapeutic target for several major cancers including breast, lung and colon, and has attracted major interest from pharmaceutical companies and clinicians. Currently, at least 70 clinical trials are underway to test several different IGF-IR kinase inhibitors and blocking antibodies. However, unlike some other growth factor receptors the IGF-IR is not amplified or over-expressed in cancer. One of the major challenges to targeting the IGF-IR in cancer is the lack of suitable biomarkers that will a) assess IGF-IR activity in tumours, b) facilitate selection of patients and subsets of tumours that are most likely to respond to inhibitors, and c) monitor responses to IGF-IR inhibition. This programme aims to address this problem by identifying and validating biomarkers for the IGF-IR signalling pathway in cancer. This programme involves a collaboration between researchers at University College Cork who are experts in IGF-I signalling and researchers at Almac Diagnostics who are experts in pharmacogenomic approaches to biomarker discovery in cancer. The research plan will take two complementary approaches: 1) explore the potential of a list of candidate genes that have already been identified in a screen for IGF-IR activity in cancer; and 2) carry out an unbiased genomic screen using a combination of cell models selected as models for IGF-I signalling and proprietary databases that have been collated from different sources, including patient data. The research programme is highly collaborative and includes extensive transfer of knowledge and experience, and exchanges of researchers between the University and Almac. It is anticipated that the results will generate significant interest from scientists, clinicians and the pharmaceutical industry, and have a major impact on an impo Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdatabasesmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugsmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncology Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IAPP - Marie Curie Action: "Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IAPP See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IAPP - Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways (IAPP) Coordinator UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK - NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, CORK EU contribution € 500 093,00 Address WESTERN ROAD T12 YN60 Cork Ireland See on map Region Ireland Southern South-East Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Miriam Collins (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all ALMAC DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES LIMITED United Kingdom EU contribution € 299 377,00 Address SEAGOE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE 20 BT63 5QD CRAIGAVON See on map Region Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Armagh City Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Kennedy Richard (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data