Nearly half of people believe cancer is the disease which could be cured by science, research has revealed.
BioPharma Ambition surveyed 1,000 Irish adults and found three out of four people would take part in a clinical trial if they were ill.
Heart disease was cited as the second most likely disease that could be cured by science, followed by dementia and cystic fibrosis.
Investing in more doctors and nurses was deemed most important, with 47% of respondents choosing that option.
Funding for new hospitals came second at 31% and respondents ranked new medicines third when asked to cite what is most important for the future of healthcare.
Almost everyone agreed Ireland should contribute to the development of the global medicines pipeline, with 80% saying it would help fight against disease.
The biopharmaceutical industry, which accounts for 30,000 direct jobs, makes the second most important contribution to the economy after the agri-food sector, the survey found.
The technology industry was cited by 17% as the most important contributor to the economy due to the value of its exports.
BioPharma Ambition 2020 is a stage to celebrate the discovery, development, manufacture and delivery of innovative medicines and technologies for improving human health.
It will hold an event in Dublin in March to showcase the future for medicines innovation.
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It is led by the biopharmaceutical industry’s representative bodies including and the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training.
IPHA chief Oliver O’Connor said: “We hope BioPharma Ambition can catalyse industry-Government-academic partnership so we can prepare for the future of medicines innovation – especially the gains, socially, economically and clinically, this can deliver for Ireland.
“It is critical we get things right across the medicines lifecycle.”
