Housing

PhD researchers struggling with the cost of living, cancer research charity warns

Research bodies are ‘not able to attract and retain talent’ because people cannot afford to live in the cities where the research is happening

Orla Dolan, chief executive of Breakthrough Cancer Research: ‘We are not able to attract people into the country, or retain talent, because they can’t afford to live in the cities where the universities are and where the research is happening’. Picture: Darragh Kane

The high cost of rent in Dublin is affecting cancer research projects as scientists are seeking higher pay, according to the chief executive of a cancer research charity.

Orla Dolan, chief executive of Breakthrough Cancer Research, said that she needed to raise increasing amounts of money to fund research because the cost of accommodation has made working in Ireland unaffordable for many PhD and postdoctoral researchers.

“We are not able to attract people into the ...