Developing the Next Generation of Research Leaders in Precision Oncology

2026-07-22

With cancer expected to soon become the leading cause of mortality within the European Union, there is an urgent need for a new generation of scientists and clinicians with interdisciplinary training and intersectoral experience to drive future scientific development and make an impact on the lives and health of EU citizens. While recent advances in genomics, artificial intelligence and computational modelling have provided a new arsenal of powerful weapons in the fight against cancer, there is an acute shortage of skilled scientists and clinicians capable of deploying them, as the scientific progress driving these innovations is compartmentalised into traditional academic disciplines. “Developing the Next Generation of Research Leaders in Precision Oncology” (DevelopMed) is an innovative fellowship programme that provides interdisciplinary training and intersectoral mobility within a learning environment that supports career development, scientific innovation and practical application equally. The programme will fund 12 three-year incoming fellowships to Ireland in the area of precision oncology, with fellows recruited during 2 calls for proposals over the 60-month duration of the project. The aim of DevelopMed is to develop the next generation of skilled researchers who will gain hands-on experience developing cross-disciplinary and entrepreneurial skills through individual research projects with a mandatory 3 month secondment at an accredited research organisation (academic, industrial, philanthropic) or a clinical research centre during their fellowship. DevelopMed thus will generate a diverse, mobile, skilled workforce and will contribute to European research and innovation. DevelopMed will also contribute to sustainable economic growth through supporting evidence-based research to drive innovation and new product development. DevelopMed will provide the international mobility, intersectoral exposure and interdisciplinary research opportunities that are essential to develop the scientific leaders of tomorrow.

Ireland

2026-02-15