A group of 16 charities have joined together to form the Medical Research Charities Group (MRCG) to promote, support and source funding for medical research in Ireland.
According to the group, a joint approach makes it easier for charities to impact on policy, legislative and environmental issues relating to the development of therapies for varying conditions from arthritis to diabetes or cystic fibrosis to meningitis.
Speaking at the launch of the MRCG today the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, said: "The Medical Research Charities Group has the capacity to help along smaller charities which, on their own, might not have the resources to tap into the research world. I would strongly advocate to other charities with an interest in medical research to join this alliance."
The chairman of MRCG, Michael Griffith, added: "Individual research charities have achieved wonderful success in the implementation of their research to date and people are alive today or live better lives as a direct result of their work.
"This work must be supported and expanded and we believe our combined efforts will help us achieve this and obtain the funding required for the vital research to improve the broad spectrum of health problems in Ireland".