June 19, 2026
It is #Red4Research Day on 19th June 2026 and the Northern Ireland Cancer Trials Network (NICTN) wore red to recognise all who make research happen. Patients who participate in clinical trials are supported by a team of Clinical Research Nurses and Radiographers. Within the NICTN co-ordinating centre, at Belfast HSC Trust, there is also a team of Data Managers, Clinical Trial Practitioners, Laboratory staff, Administration and Management staff and Pharmacists who support delivery of our trials portfolio.
Together the team co-ordinate and promote cancer clinical trials, spanning the full range of first-in-human phase I to phase IV trials, along with genetic epidemiology, quality of life, questionnaire, translational and other high quality adopted studies.
Across the NICTN the team facilitate delivery of a wide variety of trials derived from the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Cancer portfolio, the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, academia and those developed by local research groups. The NICTN has established strengths in the following areas of clinical and translational research:
- Breast cancer
- Gastrointestinal cancers
- Genitourinary cancers
- Gynaecological cancers
- Haematological malignancy
- Lung cancer
- Paediatric oncology
- Radiation oncology
The NICTN works closely with our funders, the five NI Health and Social Care Trusts, HSC R&D Queen’s University Belfast, University of Ulster, NI Cancer Research Consumer Forum, Northern Ireland Clinical Research Network, Northern Ireland Clinical Research Facility, Northern Ireland Clinical Trials Unit, the service Cancer Network, and our study sponsors, to support the drive for increasing volume and quality of cancer clinical and translational research activity throughout Northern Ireland.
We asked staff what is important to them on #Red4Research day. Here is what they said:
NICTN staff also works closely with patients and carers with lived experience of cancer who are members of the Northern Ireland Cancer Research Consumer Forum (NICRCF). Members of the NICRCF contribute a consumer perspective to research being conducted in Northern Ireland and beyond. The work of the Forum also includes networking, advocating, planning and influencing cancer research to improve outcomes for patients. The Forum provides a visible focus of Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) in cancer research in Northern Ireland.