World Ovarian Cancer Day: TU Dublin Research Focuses on Life-Saving Early Detection
May 8th marked World Ovarian Cancer Day, a global initiative established in 2013 to unite voices in the fight against ovarian cancer. As we look toward #WOCD2025 under the campaign theme ‘No Woman Left Behind,’ TU Dublin’s Research and Innovation community remains committed to advancing life-saving research that empowers and protects women’s health.
At the Centre for Radiation and Environmental Science (RESC), TU Dublin researchers are developing new tools for the early detection of ovarian cancer, a disease that remains challenging to diagnose in its early stages. RESC was recognised for its impactful cancer research work with the TU Dublin Research Engagement Award in November 2024.
In collaboration with Dr Sharon O’Toole at the Trinity St James’s Cancer Institute (TDJCI), RESC researchers, Prof. Fiona Lyng, Dr Aidan Meade, and PhD student Thaara Rose Wilson, are developing innovative, minimally invasive blood tests to detect ovarian cancer before it advances.
Prof. Lyng commented:
We are delighted to collaborate with Dr Sharon O’Toole, TSJCI, on this PhD project developing a new minimally invasive test for early detection of ovarian cancer. The test will involve biochemical fingerprinting of a blood sample using vibrational spectroscopy. Unfortunately, ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage so a minimally invasive blood test for early detection would result in better outcomes because of earlier treatment for patients.
Their research is crucial, given that symptoms of ovarian cancer often resemble those of benign conditions, leading to late diagnoses and poorer outcomes. Currently available tests, including the CA 125 biomarker and transvaginal ultrasound, have notable limitations in early detection.
This cutting-edge research aligns with the global call to action on World Ovarian Cancer Day to ensure no woman is left behind in the fight against this deadly disease. With continued support and collaboration, TU Dublin researchers are helping pave the way for a future where ovarian cancer is detected early and treated more effectively.
To learn more about RESC and its projects, visit: www.tudublin.ie/resc