Summary: Global Cancer Project Map

by Jenny DiPietro, GO Intern and undergraduate student at Cornell University
 

On March 25, 2015, GO unveiled the Global Cancer Project Map, a groundbreaking online database developed in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute Center for Global Health. The Map is interactive and contains information on over 700 cancer projects spanning six continents, the projects ranging from prevention and screening, to training, treatment and palliative care. The purpose of the Map is to enable rapid access to important cancer research and to facilitate the virtual sharing of ideas among colleagues all around the world. The Map essentially connects the global cancer community and feeds this network the most updated information regarding oncology, possibly leading to improved patient outcomes, especially in developing regions.

Using it is simple: you can search cancer experts or research projects by country or cancer type, and then initiate contact with the principal investigator of the project or the program directors. This Map is an instrumental step in the continuing fight to beat cancer on a global scale, as low-resource settings are experiencing an epidemiological transition from infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases, and cancer rates are skyrocketing. According to the World Bank, only 5% of global health funding for cancer goes towards oncology treatment in resource-poor countries, while these countries account for up to 70% of cancer deaths (World Health Organization). In order to eliminate these health disparities, there must be global access to information and innovation, which is exactly what the Map provides. Check it out at http://gcpm.globalonc.org!

Use the Map!