Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) are to launch a new ambitious international alliance to boost the progress of the fight against cancer.
CRUK is the world’s largest fundraising medical research charity and AACR is the world’s first and largest professional organisation dedicated to advancing cancer research.
The overall goal for this alliance is to stimulate leading discoveries in cancer research that will ultimately help to save lives lost to the chronic disease.
The number of people who receive a diagnosis of cancer every year is anticipated to see an extreme rise worldwide from 15.2 million in 2015 to 24 million in 2035.
Sharing the same vision
Both the AACR and CRUK have the shared vision that substantial progress on cancer eradication could be facilitated by providing cancer researchers with the opportunity to collaborate and come together to exchange ideas, irrespective of geography.
With this, over the coming year, the AACR and CRUK will launch a comprehensive portfolio of initiatives that will provide the cancer research community with a platform for building links between laboratories and clinics in the US and the UK.
Building trans-Atlantic collaborations
This alliance will build trans-Atlantic collaborations by establishing training and exchange programmes and catalysing scientific innovation by hosting international meetings and workshops to then unite the community to influence global research policy.
Dr Iain Foulkes, executive director of research and innovation at Cancer Research UK, said: “Cancer is a global challenge and it means that we need to work together in new international partnerships to accelerate the pace of progress in the field.
“Developing this unique and special relationship with the AACR has the potential to open up new opportunities, drive innovation, and further enhance global research collaborations.”
Margaret Foti, PhD, chief executive officer of the AACR, added: “The AACR is thrilled to be a part of this unprecedented alliance with Cancer Research UK to bridge the brain trusts of the US and UK cancer communities, catalysing new opportunities for cancer cures.”
