Cancer research in the CMNHS is multidisciplinary. Approaches to understanding the initiation, progression and treatment of cancer, involves researchers across all CMNHS prioritised research themes as cancer is multifactorial. 

Cancer research at NUI Galway spans basic, through translational into clinical (e.g. the role of inflammation in cancer, molecular pathology, chromosome biology and genome stability, tumour immunology, the role of stem cells as diagnostic or therapeutic vehicles, diagnostic imaging technologies, clinical trials) via a network of interconnecting themes and research facilities. 

The research spans basic to translational to clinical, and facilities include the Human Biology Building, the Lambe Institute for Translational Research and the Advanced Therapies and Cancer Group of the HRB-CRFG. Additionally, Saolta and NUI Galway have developed a Managed Clinical Academic Cancer Network (MCAN) with a €100m budget, to deliver care to the West/Northwest of Ireland (~22% national population). Cancer Researchers in the CMNHS have an extensive track record in publications, awards and securing research funds, nationally and internationally, totalling over €30 million. Examples including the National Breast Cancer Research Institute (NBCRI), Irish Cancer Society, Enterprise Ireland, the Health Research Board, the Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland. Internationally funding has been awarded from Wellcome Trust, Breast Cancer Now, National Institutes of Health, European Research Council, Horizon 2020. The Advanced Therapies and Cancer Group of the HRB-CRFG deliver investigator-led trials in haematology and oncology and will advance further clinical trials in cooperation with the Cancer MCAN and Blood Cancer Network Ireland. The basic and translational research pipeline at the SoM informs and collaborates on the clinical network activities.  

The Advanced Therapies and Cancer Group of the HRB-Clinical Research Facility Galway deliver investigator-led trials in haematology and oncology and will advance further clinical trials in cooperation with the Cancer MCAN and Blood Cancer Network Ireland