Recent years have seen astonishing and rapid advances in the understanding and treatment of cancer. Technological innovations have resulted in more rational drug design, bringing hope of better treatments to patients who have been diagnosed with advanced cancer but who may have stopped benefitting from traditional treatments such as chemotherapy. For Irish patients it is difficult however to gain access to the cutting edge of drug development and accessing new drugs is a serious issue for patients and doctors in this country. To address this, The Mater Hospital has partnered with The START Centre for Cancer Care, a US physician-owned clinical trials group and one of the global leaders in early phase oncology clinical trials. Early phase (or Phase 1) trials are where new and exciting drugs are first evaluated in patients for safety and the first signs of efficacy. START Dublin is Ireland's first and only Phase 1 clinical trial site and is physically located at and operated by The Mater Hospital. This exciting venture will meet a national need, giving our patients the opportunity to access exciting and innovative drugs that they would not otherwise be able to access in the context of a well-run and closely monitored program.Informal enquiries can be made to Ciara Clancy, Assistant Director of Nursing, or