NCI and WHO Renew Commitment to Collaboration through the WHO Collaborating Center for Global Cancer Control
, by Doug Perin, J.D., M.P.H., and Kalina Duncan, Dr.P.H., M.P.H.
WHO and NCI colleagues at the launch of the WHO Collaborating Center for Global Cancer Control re-designation on June 18, 2024.
The National Cancer Institute Center for Global Health (CGH) has coordinated the World Health Organization Collaborating Center (WHOCC) for Global Cancer Control since 2016. We are now entering into our third cycle of activities, following re-designation on March 11, 2024. The WHO and the Pan American Health Organization designated CGH among their more than 800 collaborating centers in more than 80 countries, and we are looking forward to further engaging with WHO in promoting global cancer control through several initiatives.
Drs. Kalina Duncan and Ann Chao, directors of the WHOCC for Global Cancer Control, offer leadership and guidance to several initiatives put forward through this collaboration, along with many other NCI experts. Dr. André Ilbawi, head of the WHO Cancer Unit, acts as the technical officer supervising the activities of the WHOCC.
We have continuously supported WHO in working with countries to strengthen their health systems and improve their outcomes related to cancer control. Throughout our 8 years of activity, the WHOCC has—
- Coordinated technical exchanges and scientific meetings between NCI and WHO to share goals, prioritize, and align strategies
- Offered technical guidance on how to prevent cancer, care for survivors, and develop and implement cancer control plans
- Developed workshops, manuals, analyses, and tools to control cancer and disseminate cancer research
- Guided research, strategy, and implementation of the WHO global cancer initiatives
Among the renewed focus areas, we will continue to assist with planning for global cancer control as WHO supports countries in the development, implementation, and costing of cancer control plans, especially looking into aspects of governance and accountability through policy implementation research. We are well-positioned to support this work, as NCI co-convenes the International Cancer Control Partnership, bringing together United Nations agencies including the WHO, other NCI-Designated Cancer Centers, governments, and non-governmental organizations, to help countries develop and implement evidence-based national cancer control plans. Science-based cancer control planning is essential as countries strengthen their health systems and prioritize cancer control while preparing to address the growing burden of cancer. Understanding the mechanisms that support this process is an important priority, to facilitate development and implementation across different settings.
In addition, our Collaborating Center will further provide support to the WHO Global Cancer Initiatives in cervical, breast, and childhood cancers, to enable progress towards achieving their established targets, through cancer surveillance, the utilization of health data, and the effective implementation of strategies that are relevant to localized contexts within a country. Among several others, these activities will include the development, evaluation, and dissemination of tools and strategies to measure the progress of the WHO Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative in reaching its screening and treatment targets; and technical support for the implementation and tracking of the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative.
Finally, our WHOCC for Global Cancer Control will engage early career scientists in global cancer research. We strive to provide opportunities for cancer researchers and fellows who are in early stages of their career to analyze, synthesize, and disseminate available cancer data in connection with WHO initiatives and programs, while offering support to in-country cancer control priorities. This effort serves the purpose of advancing their careers in global cancer research and control, while amplifying the use and dissemination of cancer data for the benefit of the scientific community and the public overall.
We look forward to continued progress in this important partnership as we work together with WHO to advance global cancer research to benefit people everywhere and reduce cancer suffering worldwide.