Professor Imran Sulaiman, Honorary Clinical Associate Professor at RCSI's Department of Medicine, has received a €1.87 million Starting Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) for a research project focused on improving the early detection and treatment of lung cancer. This significant funding will enable Professor Sulaiman to explore innovative methods for identifying and diagnosing lung cancer.

Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with an estimated 1.8 million lives lost in 2020 alone. In the European Union it accounts for 12% of all new cancer diagnoses and 20% of cancer deaths. Despite advances in screening programmes, many patients are still subjected to unnecessary invasive procedures due to false-positive results and the absence of reliable biomarkers for early-stage lung cancer.

Professor Sulaiman’s research aims to address these challenges by taking a multi-omic approach to discover new biomarkers specific to lung cancer. By analysing different sample types, with innovative bioinformatic techniques, he aims to find new and accurate markers that could help diagnose lung cancer earlier and more effectively. This could potentially lead to new targeted treatment options and improved outcomes for patients.

Professor Fergal O’Brien, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at RCSI, said: “We are delighted to see Professor Sulaiman recognised by the ERC in such a competitive grant programme. Winning more prestigious ERC awards is a major focus of our ambitious research strategy and this project aligns perfectly with RCSI’s mission to drive innovative research that addresses critical healthcare challenges.

“This work is a great step forward in more effective and less invasive diagnostic methods for lung cancer, ultimately benefiting countless patients.”

The Starting Grants are one of the four core grant schemes offered by the ERC and are highly competitive awards. This year, out of 3,474 proposals only 14.2% were selected for grants totaling nearly €780 million and spanning multiple disciplines of research. They support researchers at the beginning of their careers to launch their own projects, form their teams and pursue their most promising ideas.

On this project, RCSI will collaborate with researchers from New York University Langone Health and Trinity College Dublin.

EU Research Commissioner Iliana Ivanova said: “The European Commission is proud to support the curiosity and passion of our early-career talent under our Horizon Europe programme. The new ERC Starting Grants winners aim to deepen our understanding of the world. Their creativity is vital to finding solutions to some of the most pressing societal challenges... Congratulations to all!”