Mission
The Limerick Digital Cancer Research Centre (LDCRC) is a cancer research centre that was established in 2021 with an aim to bring cutting edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology to cancer research. The LDCRC, led by Professor Aedín Culhane, Chair of Cancer Genomics, integrates basic and translational cancer research at the University of Limerick and University Hospital Limerick (UHL) which is a designated Irish Cancer Centre of Excellence. The clinical lead of the LDCRC, is Professor Ruth Clifford who is also the Director of the Limerick Cancer Clinical Trials Group at UHL which facilitates all cancer clinical trials for the Midwest region of Ireland.
The LDCRC leverages off UL’s strong foundations in mathematics, statistics, data science, artificial intelligence and software development and the aim of the LDCRC aim is to make step change in Irish cancer research exponentially increasing our capacity and impact. The LDCRC objective is to establish UL as an international hub that synergises cancer biomedicine with bioinformatics, big data, and artificial intelligence research and advanced technology.
Research Facilities
The LDCRC houses a state-of-the-art single cell and digital spatial pathology lab’ with facilities for
- Akoya Phenocycler-based spatial proteomics
- automated OPAL based automated IHC (on a Leica Bondmax RX system)
- single cell and NGS short and long read capabilities (Illumina Next Seq, Oxford Nanopore)
- flow cytometry and confocal microscopy
- Seahorse metabolomics
- Dedicated facility technician
This facility forms part of a national network for spatial biology (NaSPro) underpinned by Science Foundation Ireland infrastructure funding. There is a core biomaterials facility and several investigators are developing innovative approaches to develop next generation 3D bioprinting of organoids Bio Materials | University of Limerick (ul.ie)
Teaching Programs
The LDCRC are developing integrated teaching programs in biomedical sciences and clinical oncology, preparing undergraduate and postgraduate students for careers in the expanding biomedical and health sectors. The LDCRC is a member of the all-island cancer research institute AICRI.
LDCRC is also a member of the All-Island – US National Cancer Institute Joint Doctoral Training Program in Precision Medicine in Cancer’ (ALL-CAN-TRAINING) that will facilitate tripartite PhD training across 5 universities on the island of Ireland together with the US National Cancer Institute.
UL hosts masters programs in AI Technology and Data Analytics, Health Informatics and digital health transformation. AI, Technology and Data Analytics | University of Limerick (ul.ie)
UL is also the host to the Science Foundation Ireland Centre for Research Training in Data Science SFI
