Strengthening Global Collaboration to Improve Cancer Care
Last week in Lyon, France, the Global Cancer Coalitions Network (GCCN) convened for our Annual Meeting, bringing together members from across the world at a pivotal moment for our collective work.
As co-chair of GCCN, and as a member organization through the Global Colon Cancer Association (GCCA), this meeting was an important opportunity not only to reflect on what we have achieved together, but also to challenge ourselves to think more intentionally about where we need to go next. I want to thank my co-chair, Alex Filicevas, for his partnership and thoughtful leadership throughout this process.
Over two days at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), our discussions focused on both the practical and the strategic. We exchanged best practices across advocacy, awareness, funding, and network engagement. We examined how organizations are navigating shared challenges in different regions. And importantly, we created space for honest conversations about what is working, what is not, and where collaboration can accelerate progress.
A highlight of the meeting was the launch of the Close the Loop report. This is more than a publication, it is a call to action. It reinforces a fundamental truth that came up repeatedly throughout our discussions: no single organization can address the complexities of cancer care alone. Progress depends on stronger coordination, clearer pathways, and a shared commitment to ensuring that patients do not fall through the cracks.
Being hosted by IARC during its 60th anniversary added another layer of perspective. Engaging directly with IARC scientists and learning more about their global research priorities reinforced how critical it is that advocacy, policy, and science remain connected. The work happening at the research level must translate into real-world impact for patients, and networks like GCCN play a key role in bridging that gap.
We were also fortunate to be joined by two partners: Helena Harnik, Executive Director of From Testing to Targeted Treatments (FT3), and Muriel Auclaire, Head of Membership Development for the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), whose contributions helped ground our discussions in broader global efforts and future opportunities for alignment.
Looking ahead, a significant portion of our time was dedicated to shaping GCCN’s direction toward 2030. Our ambition is clear: to strengthen collaboration across coalitions, elevate the collective patient voice, and ensure that insights and innovations are shared more effectively across borders.
From GCCA’s perspective, the value of this network is evident. Whether advancing precision medicine, improving access to care, or strengthening patient advocacy globally, these are challenges that require coordinated action. GCCN provides a platform to do that work together in a meaningful and sustained way.
As we move forward, the focus will be on translating the energy and alignment from Lyon into real, tangible progress. That means continuing to strengthen partnerships across the network, advancing the priorities we have collectively identified, and making sure that the patient perspective remains not just part of the conversation, but central to every decision and action we take.