Celebrating the impact of UICC’s global partnerships

UICC is grateful for the support of over 50 strategic partners who share the vision of a world where cancer is prevented, detected early, and treated effectively. These partners include cancer organisations, foundations, and private sector companies, who support UICC’s key mission activities as well as a range of UICC programmes that aim to make a positive impact on the lives of people affected by cancer.

“For UICC, embracing partnerships isn’t just a choice, it’s fundamental to driving impactful change in the cancer space, amplifying our collective strength to shape a healthier, brighter future for all.”
– Prof. Jeff Dunn AO, President of UICC President

Partnering with UICC offers a unique opportunity to join its global network of over 1,150 members from more than 170 countries and territories, representing major cancer societies, research institutes, treatment centres, and patient groups. UICC partners gain increased visibility, access, and influence in the global cancer arena, along with opportunities to engage with UICC's leadership and experts. Thanks to its partners, UICC is able to support its members’ work and ensure more people worldwide can access quality cancer services.

An example of successful collaboration between UICC and its partners is the Fellowships programme. Established in 1962, it is one of UICC’s oldest initiatives and part of its work of supporting the cancer community. The Fellowships programme is currently supported by various partners, such as Cancerfonden (Swedish Cancer Society), Prevent Cancer Foundation, National Cancer Center Korea, Princess Margaret Cancer Center, and the Cancer Society of Finland. The Fellowships enable health professionals to gain new skills and knowledge that can be applied in their home institutions and countries.

Another example is the Breast Cancer programme, launched in October 2020, and currently supported by Pfizer, Daiichi-Sankyo, the Center for Global Health in the US National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, Novartis, and Susan G. Komen, which seeks to strengthen and engage the breast cancer community, and support implementation of the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative at local and national levels.

This programme built upon UICC’s long-standing engagement in breast cancer, and between 2021 to 2023, the programme has supported 814 individuals from 420 organisations in 110 countries. Through grants specifically, the programme has also provided seed-funding to 19 new projects focused on early detection of breast cancer. Through these investments, over 45,500 women were examined for breast cancer, 3,000 breast care professionals trained and 1,735 policymakers engaged as part of national advocacy efforts. In addition, more than 630,000 people were reached via health promotion activities.

“Partnering with UICC allows us to join a global network dedicated to advancing and advocating for improved cancer control, research, and the elimination of inequities in cancer care. Together, we can leverage our collective expertise and resources to drive impactful initiatives. At the Swedish Cancer Society, we are committed to supporting UICC's mission and collaborating with other leading organisations to ensure that every person, regardless of their background, has equal opportunities for effective cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and living well during and after a cancer diagnosis.”
– Staffan Andersson, Policy Expert International Affairs, the Swedish Cancer Society

The Access to Oncology (ATOM) Coalition also would not exist without UICC’s partnerships. Established in 2022 and led by UICC, it now consists of over 40 global partners who are working together to improve the availability, affordability, and appropriate use of oncology medicines and diagnostics in low- and lower-middle income countries (LLMICs).

In the past two years, ATOM has seen the first-ever voluntary licensing agreement for a cancer medicine, nilotinib, between Novartis and the Medicines Patent Pool, and a strategic collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb to broaden the reach of their innovative immuno-oncology therapy nivolumab. ATOM partner, the IDA Foundation, has made 70 cancer medicines on the WHO Essential Medicines List available through its platform NCDconnect, co-designed by ATOM, and will soon add 14 cancer diagnostics. Finally, Memoranda of Understanding have been signed with Mongolia and El Salvador reflecting the commitment to work together to address and improve access and use of oncology medicines in these countries.

A significant partnership event is the Country 2 Country 4 Cancer (C2C4C) ride, supported by Bristol Myers Squibb. Employees of the organisation ride for up to three weeks across Europe, which takes place in September, and Latin America in December, raising funds for UICC member organisations in these regions.

UICC partners are also critical to the success of UICC’s global convening events: World Cancer Congress and the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit, and the global campaign for World Cancer Day on 4 February, which is led by UICC. These events are fundamental to the delivery of UICC’s mission and represent ideal platforms for the cancer community to raise awareness, share knowledge, foster collaboration, and interact more widely with other organisations working the health sector.

UICC looks forward to all opportunities to engage with its partners in person and was delighted to recently welcome some partners to its offices in Geneva during the World Health Assembly. This was an occasion to celebrate partnership achievements and to hear directly from UICC's President Professor Jeff Dunn, President-elect Ulrika Årehed Kågström, and CEO Cary Adams. A team from UICC also met with partners in Chicago at the General Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, offering the chance to explore new ways of collaboration and to discuss both the challenges and opportunities ahead.

“I’m proud of the partnership between Bristol Myers Squibb and UICC to deliver on our shared goal of increasing access to quality cancer care and improving patient outcomes in low- and middle-income countries, which for BMS means to work together to provide sustainable access solutions. When we unite our efforts, we amplify our impact – bringing hope and better outcomes to cancer patients around the world.”
– Cari Gallman, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, BMS

To learn more about partnering with UICC, please visit UICC's dedicated page