Global Colorectal Cancer Congress
The 2025 Congress will be held virtually on November 12.
2025 Global CRC Congress
Count Us In: Data, Dignity & Disruption in Global Cancer Equity
Equitable access for all
"Count Us In" directly addresses these gaps through three pillars:
· Data: Demanding accurate, inclusive registries to replace current undercounts
· Dignity: Centering patient voices and experiences in global cancer care
· Disruption: Challenging systems that perpetuate exclusion
The consequences are severe: Research/clinical trials are compromised by missing data on emerging cancers, genetic/environmental risks, and real-world treatment outcomes. LMICs remain excluded from the research ecosystem, reinforcing disparities. National cancer burdens rely on modeled estimates from incomplete indicators, undermining policy accuracy.
As the 2024 Congress concluded, we were all in agreement that cancer cannot be controlled without being counted. The current fragmentation of data across systems, services, and settings cripples national strategies and global equity efforts. Join us, November 12, for the 2025 Global CRC Congress for presentations and discussions focused on addressing data, dignity, and disruption in global colorectal cancer equity.
Speakers
Jyoti Shelar
Jyoti Shelar is a health journalist, researcher, and communications specialist with nearly two decades of experience in public health storytelling. She spent 17 years reporting on health, gender, governance, and community issues for leading Indian media houses and most recently served as the Communications Lead at the World Health Organization in Timor-Leste. Jyoti holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism.
Gladys Chebet Chesumbai
Gladys Chebet Chesumbai is a distinguished public health leader and Global Certified Cancer Registrar with more than 18 years of expertise in cancer registration, surveillance and health informatics across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Currently serving as the Head of the National Cancer Registry at the National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI-K), she directs the nation's cancer surveillance strategy, ensuring data systems, including the NaCaRe-Ke (DHIS2) platform, are robust and aligned with Kenya's National Cancer Control Strategy.
Gladys is a recognized leader in regional capacity building. She has successfully spearheaded the establishment of population-based, hospital-based, and pathology-based cancer registries in Kenya, while also providing crucial mentorship and training to cancer registration personnel. She actively supports this capacity across the continent through key partnerships with the African Cancer Registry Network (AFCRN), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the Global Initiative for Cancer Registry Development (GICR). Her work is defined by a commitment to data quality, integrity, and ethical use for advancing policy, research, and patient care.
Abiola Ibraheem, MD
Dr, Abiola Falilat Ibraheem is a medical oncologist at University of Illinois (UIC) dedicated to ensuring Sub-Saharan African countries is a hub for globalized biomarker-driven innovative therapeutic cancer clinical trials. Currently, she serves as the Director of the Global Oncology Program at UIC , where her work is centered on addressing disparities in cancer clinical trials within black communities in the United States and globally. She also holds a pivotal role as a liaison between the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the newly established Sub-Saharan African Council. In addition, she is the chair of the diversity committee at Eli Lilly where her work is centered on ensuring representation of under-represented minorities in breast cancer trials.
Dr. Ibraheem began her career in Nigeria, where she received her medical education and worked for almost a decade as a medical officer in all the healthcare tiers within the country. Her invaluable experience in her home country laid the groundwork for her international journey. Her internal medicine residency training was at Morehouse School of Medicine and at University of Chicago she trained as a medical oncologist and medical ethicist. She underwent an abbreviated physician program at Abbvie pharmaceuticals where she had first-hand experience on globalization of cancer clinical trials from Big Pharma and CROs perspective. She is a past recipient of the African Cancer Leadership Institute (ACLI) and has been involved in multiple programs centered on clinical trial training of African investigators. She is currently an investigator on multiple ongoing globalized breast cancer trials.
Hussain Jafri, PhD
Hussain Jafri is the Chief Executive Officer of the World Patients Alliance (WPA) which is the largest umbrella organization working across all disease areas. He also serves as a Assistant Professor at the Institute of Patient Safety Research, University of Kalisz, Poland, where he advances academic work in patient safety and healthcare quality.
He serves on the WHO Civil Society Commission Steering Committee, strengthening engagement between WHO and civil society worldwide. He is also a member of the Advisory Group for WHO’s Patients for Patient Safety (PFPS) program, where he previously served as Vice Chair.
At the national level, Hussain founded the Pakistan Patient Safety Initiative and was appointed by the Government of Punjab as Provincial Focal Person on Patient Safety and Quality, where he led the development of provincial healthcare policies and services. He also established Alzheimer’s Pakistan, the country’s first national association for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, inspired by his experience as a caregiver for his grandfather.
With over three decades of advocacy, Hussain has worked extensively with governments, patient groups, and international organizations. He is a member of the Person and Family-Centred Advisory Council (PFCAC) of ISQua and serves on the taskforce of the Global Alliance of Partners for Pain Advocacy (GAPPA).
An accomplished speaker, Hussain has addressed international conferences on patient safety, caregiving, person-centred healthcare, and advocacy. He has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and holds a PhD from the University of Leeds, UK, with research focused on the prevention of genetic disorders. He also served as Director General of the Punjab Thalassemia & Other Genetic Disorders Prevention & Research Institute.
Candace Henley, MPH, CPN
Candace Henley is the Chief Surviving Officer of The Blue Hat Foundation, Inc., bringing over 15 years of tireless advocacy for colon cancer prevention and support. A colon cancer survivor herself, her personal journey and its impact on her family inspired her to found The Blue Hat Foundation, built on compassion and dedicated to providing education, information, and free screenings for medically underserved and minority communities through partnerships with healthcare providers, hospital systems, and FQHCs.
Pursuing her Master’s in Public Health deepened Ms. Henley’s understanding of healthcare inequities and expanded her advocacy to include health equity, equality, and research. She serves on the Community Advisory Boards for the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center and Medicine, the University of Illinois Cancer Center, and the Duke Center for Research to Advance Healthcare Equity.
Ms. Henley is the first representative from a patient advocacy organization to serve as Community Chair for the Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities (ARCC) at Northwestern University, where she focuses on patient engagement in the design and conduct of clinical trials. As a sought-after speaker, she lectures on community engagement, ethical research practices, and strategies for advancing equity in healthcare and academia.
Her advocacy extends globally as a patient advocate for Cancer Research UK and guest lecturer for WELLCOME Genetics. She has contributed to numerous publications addressing colorectal cancer, financial toxicity, and the importance of minority participation in clinical research.
In 2022, Ms. Henley joined the Global Colon Cancer Association as Director of Equity and Partnerships, continuing her mission to elevate and support vulnerable populations worldwide.
Atul Budukh, PhD
Dr. Atul Budukh is from Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India,
He has a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Tampere, Finland.
Coordinating the IARC Regional Hub for Cancer Registration Mumbai, India. Providing technicalassistance for cancer registries from Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Timor-Leste, Afghanistan, andIndonesia through IARC Regional Hub Mumbai.
Technical assistance was provided to Sri Lanka and Canreg5 software support to Vietnam, andCambodia registries by IARC Regional Hub Mumbai and Vital Strategies USA.
Principal coordinator for the survival of pediatric cancer patients from several population-basedcancer registries established by TMC, Mumbai
Co-Principal Investigator of population-based cancer registries in Sangrur, Mansa, Ratnagiri,Sindhudurg, Khordha, Mayurbhanj, Varanasi, and Muzaffarpur districts in India.
Principal Investigator of the Tobacco Quit Line Centre at TMC Mumbai, India.
Principal Investigator of the Early Detection Program for Breast, Cervical, and Oral Cancer inSangrur, Punjab state, India
More than 70 research publications in national and international journals.
Jacqueline Wambua
Seasoned with over 25 years in the pharmaceutical industry, I am the current General Manager in Roche Kenya - Pharma division. I lead the East African affiliate which geographically covers Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Sudan.
I am a strategic leader who is passionate about patient impact, health system strengthening and performance. Together with my team, I have developed and implemented groundbreaking public private partnerships with a number of Ministries of Health, patient organisations, county first ladies association, National Health payers and other partners to improve Health systems, health outcomes of patients with cancer in the East Africa region.
My expertise includes the understanding of policy & governance in fragmented health systems, as seen in Low & Middle income countries. My strength in advocacy has been recognized by being a panel speaker in World Health Assembly (W.H.A), UNGA - New York, Organization of African First Ladies Association for Development (OAFLAD) and Africa Health Business (AHB) where I have advocated for the prioritisation of breast and cervical cancers in African countries through Public private partnerships, education and empowerment of girls and women who are the backbone of Africa’s transformation.
I am a Trustee of the Re&Act board for Roche global Philanthropy and independent charity which supports early childhood development and education efforts around the world.
I have an undergraduate training in Biochemistry with an MBA and Post graduate certificates in public policy and Public private partnerships.
Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors
