By Martin Fenton | Treasurer, Karen Fenton Ovarian Cancer Fund
The Genexus machine was purchased and commissioned in 2021 for Cork University Hospital with the help of a significant donation of €80k from the fundraising efforts from the Fenton family and the Karen Fenton Ovarian Cancer Fund. The significant funds raised have been the culmination of a number of years of fundraising through events such as the Karen Fenton Memorial Run and also through this GlobalGiving platform. The intent is to continue to raise funds for ovarian cancer research and continue to provide support to CUH and cancer services in the Cork region. We will continue with the annual Karen Fenton Memorial Run for example.
So far we have raised over €140,000 and we donated €80,000 portion of these funds to CUH to purchase the "Genexus Integrated Sequencer” in Cork. The machine will leave a lasting legacy to cancer patients in the Cork and wider Munster region. In July 2022 some of the Fenton family met with CUH for a photo cheque presentation (Covid challenges has delayed this) and to provide an opportunity to see the machine and to hear from Dr. Dearbhaile Collins and from Reiltin Werner who manages the lab and uses the machine day to day.
It was great to see the machine and to hear how our fundraising efforts are now benefiting cancer patients in the Munster region. Reiltin and Dearbhaile explained about the time saved analysing cancer mutations (results in 24 hours after sample prepared, then Reiltin and lab can review and prepare report for the doctors, before it could be 3/4 to 6 weeks to get results from Dublin or UK). Dearbhaile indicated that she can have results before she meets with patients and can prescribe targeted and more precise treatments.
As things stand the machine is being used mainly for lung cancer given the significant number of mutations and the greater accuracy in determination of treatments based on these different mutations but is used for others also and CUH will continue to expand the use of it.
We are pleased that our fundraising efforts will help to leave a lasting legacy for Karen who spent much of the final 2 months of her life at CUH.
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