Barcelona, August 24, 2021. Launched back in 2016 by Spanish Association against Cancer (AECC), and organized in collaboration with the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation & Universities and the Spanish Federation for Science & Technology (FECYT), #WorldCancerResearchDay (WCRD) is held annually on 24 September to encourage the active involvement of citizens, institutions and leaders across various fields to support the advancement of research against cancer.
The theme of this year’s campaign is Cancer Research Works, Driving Progress Together. WCRD counts on the efforts and collaboration of entities, leading associations in oncology, research centers including VHIO, and investigators across the globe to raise awareness about the importance of cancer research and recognize the major contributions made thanks to basic and translational science of excellence. WCRD also seeks to ensure that cancer discovery continues to receive the backing, belief and essential funding to improve survival rates and the quality of life of those affected by the disease, now and in the future.
According to the GLOBOCAN 2020 report* on cancer incidence and mortality produced by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases and almost 10.0 million cancer deaths occurred in 2020, and the global cancer burden is expected to be 28.4 million cases in 2040, a 47% rise from 2020. Considering this alarming prospect, VHIO’s Director, Josep Tabernero, said, “Accelerating cancer science and translating insights into improved outcomes for patients as swiftly as possible, must therefore be a top priority for the entire oncology ecosystem as well as the public at large. Rallying and appealing for continued and sustained support is indeed all the more pressing particularly in these turbulent times as we continue to tackle the many challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic”.
He continued, “Only with the crucial support of cancer research will we be able to more effectively combat cancer, raise the bar in advancing precision medicine in oncology, develop and fortify strategies aimed at prevention and early detection, as well as join together to strengthen nationally tailored cancer plans and policies”.
Ahead of the actual World Day, 24 September, leading experts in the field of oncology and cancer research including VHIO’s Joan Seoane, who is also an ICREA Research Professor as well as Secretary General of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR), will discuss the impact of cancer research on the survival and quality of life of cancer patients and state the case for increased funding of cancer science in order to ensure that the advances driven by research reach patients as soon as possible. The other confirmed speakers include: Abubakar Bello, President, the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), Anil D’Cruz, President, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), Clarissa Mathias, President, Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology (SBOC), Hong Gwan Seo, President, National Cancer Center of Korea (NCCK), and David A. Tuveson, President, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).
This virtual session will take place on September 22nd, 16:00 CET.
On behalf of us all at VHIO, we take this opportunity to thank the Spanish Association against Cancer (AECC) for the longstanding support it provide to numerous research talents and groups across Spain and beyond. Such essential funding drives the science that continues to mark essential progress towards solving cancer sooner.
To find out more about World Cancer Research Day, sign the World Declaration for Cancer Science, and lend your support to raise awareness about the importance of cancer research, please visit: www.worldcancerresearchday.com.
Reference:
*Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Laversanne M, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A, Bray F. Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021 May;71(3):209-249.
