African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer

African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer
Name	African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer
Abbreviation	AORTIC
Formation	1982
Headquarters	Yaoundé, Cameroon
Region served	Africa
Leader title	President

African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer is a Pan-African non-governmental organization focused on cancer control, research, and capacity building across the Africa continent. It functions as a nexus between clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and advocacy groups from countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, and Cameroon. The organization convenes biennial conferences, supports multicenter studies, and promotes collaborations with international institutions such as the World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the Union for International Cancer Control.

History

Founded in 1982 with founding members from institutions like the University of Ibadan, University of Cape Town, and the University of Nairobi, the organization emerged amid rising awareness of cancer burden in Sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa. Early milestones included partnerships with the National Cancer Institute (United States), engagement with the Commonwealth Secretariat, and hosting initial scientific meetings in Harare and Accra. The organization expanded through the 1990s with ties to the African Union health initiatives and aligned efforts with the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health (Cameroon) to develop regional registries and training programs. Influential figures associated with its evolution include oncologists from Makerere University, epidemiologists from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and public health leaders who also worked with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation.

Mission and Objectives

The organization's mission prioritizes reduction of cancer morbidity and mortality across African populations by strengthening clinical care, research capacity, and policy. Objectives include development of national cancer control plans in collaboration with ministries such as the Ministry of Health (Kenya), establishment of population-based cancer registries following guidance from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and training oncology specialists at centers including the Aga Khan University Hospital and Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. It aims to influence policy at regional bodies like the East African Community and the Economic Community of West African States.

Governance and Membership

Governance is overseen by an elected Executive Council with representation from academic centers including University of Lagos, Stellenbosch University, and Cairo University. Advisory committees have included experts affiliated with Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and the Karolinska Institutet. Membership comprises individual clinicians, institutional members from hospitals such as Groote Schuur Hospital, and national cancer societies like the South African Cancer Association and the Nigerian Cancer Society. The organization collaborates with professional bodies including the International Pediatric Oncology Society and the African Development Bank on health financing dialogues.

Programs and Activities

Key programs include biennial scientific conferences co-hosted with national ministries and academic partners, regional workshops on palliative care with organizations like Hospice Africa Uganda, and training courses in surgical oncology linked to centers such as Institut Pasteur affiliates. Activities span advocacy campaigns with civil society partners including Amref Health Africa and Médecins Sans Frontières affiliates, development of clinical guidelines in partnership with the Royal College of Physicians and cancer registries modeled after standards from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. The organization also organizes fellowships with hospitals like Karolinska University Hospital and exchange programs tied to the University of Oxford and McGill University.

Research and Training Initiatives

Research efforts have supported multicenter studies on cervical cancer screening with collaborators such as the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, HPV vaccine implementation research aligned with GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, and chemo-radiotherapy trials with institutions including the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Training initiatives encompass oncology nursing curricula developed with the International Council of Nurses, surgical oncology fellowships in collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons, and epidemiology training with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the University of Glasgow. The organization has promoted establishment of cancer registries in partnership with the IARC Cancer Surveillance Branch and supported operations research with the African Cancer Registry Network.

Regional Impact and Collaborations

Regional impact is evidenced by contributions to national cancer control plans adopted by ministries in Uganda, Rwanda, and Senegal; capacity building at referral centers like Muhimbili National Hospital and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital; and collaborations with regional blocs including the Southern African Development Community. The organization has convened task forces with representatives from WHO Regional Office for Africa, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for comorbidity strategies, and academic partners such as University of the Witwatersrand to address disparities in access to radiotherapy and pathology services. It has also engaged with patient advocacy groups linked to Cancer Research UK and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network for guideline adaptation.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding streams include grants and contracts from philanthropic organizations like the Wellcome Trust, bilateral agencies such as United States Agency for International Development, and partnerships with pharmaceutical companies operating in Africa, including regional offices of Roche and Novartis. Collaborative research funding has involved consortia with universities such as Columbia University and Brown University, as well as support from multilateral institutions like the World Bank for health systems strengthening projects. The organization forms strategic alliances with NGOs including PATH and research units embedded within ministries, leveraging donor mechanisms used by the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund and regional development funds administered by the African Development Bank.

Category:Medical and health organizations based in Africa Category:Cancer organizations