Highlights
- •The All-Ireland Cancer Consortium led to:
- ○Increased research outputs on the island of Ireland.
- ○Enhanced collaboration.
- ○Improved citations and enhanced impact.
- ○Improved cancer services and increased cancer survival.
- ○
Abstract
Aim
In 1999, a cooperative tripartite cancer research and training agreement was signed
between Ireland (IE), Northern Ireland (NI) and the United States (US) National Cancer
Institute, giving rise to the All-Ireland Cancer Consortium (AICC). We wished to consider
if AICC increased the amount/impact of cancer research on the island of Ireland and
what effect this enhanced research activity had on cancer services and cancer outcomes.
Methods
As comparator, we chose the city regions of Copenhagen and Lund & Malmö, whose physical
connection was greatly improved following construction of bridges between Denmark
and Sweden around the time AICC was established. We analysed cancer research outputs
from all four geographical regions in the Web of Science (1988–2017), with a particular
focus on citations and journal impact factors. We evaluated disability-adjusted life
years (DALYs) as an indicator of change in health status.
Results
Research outputs increased in all four regions, but more in IE/NI than in the Scandinavian
cities, while collaboration between IE and NI and both the US and the Rest of Europe increased
even more substantially. Citation scores also showed a greater improvement for IE
and NI. Journal citation impact factors indicated that IE/NI papers were increasingly
being published in more highly cited journals. Research-enabled cancer service provision
improved on the island of Ireland, with concomitant increases in cancer survival.
Conclusion
The AICC collaborative agreement delivered significant additionality on the island
of Ireland, promoting transnational cooperation, enhancing cancer research activity,
and underpinning improved cancer services and better cancer outcomes.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 27, 2020
Accepted:
January 21,
2020
Received:
January 17,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
