INCTR Meetings

Global Alliance for the Cure of Children with Cancer

The Steering Committee of the Global Alliance for the Cure of Children with Cancer (GACCC) met in December. Participants gathered to discuss the goals and objectives of the alliance and to plan activities that could be undertaken in developing countries. Two activities will be initiated in the next year. Because Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) accounts for half of all childhood cancer in equatorial Africa, and is curable with rather simple therapy, the committee agreed to develop a project in BL. The project will include education and training elements, review of diagnosis, improved treatment, patient follow-up and data management. A second activity will be to develop a compendium of activities relevant to pediatric cancer being undertaken in developing countries as well as information about resources available within developing countries for the care of children with cancer.

Education Steering Committee

The Steering Committee of the Education Committee met in October. Participants discussed their role in the development of INCTR educational programs and tools. Sub-committees of members will develop specific projects, programs, and educational tools within their area of expertise. Sub-committees to be formed include Medical Oncology, Pediatric Oncology, Radiotherapy, Surgical Oncology, Oncology Nursing, Data Management, Pathology, Imaging, Laboratory Based Oncology Research and Education. Each Steering Committee member agreed to identify priority activities for their respective sub-committee and to devise a plan for initiating these activities. Members agreed to assist the INCTR in its goal of creating a library of various educational tools that can be made available to developing countries.

Corporate Liaison Committee

Dr Nassir Habboubi chaired a meeting of the Corporate Liaison Committee in December. Participants discussed how to encourage more corporations to become associate members and how to solicit sponsors for INCTR meetings and activities, particularly the Annual Meeting. In the afternoon, visiting representatives from Belgian corporations and the Belgian Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacterers were provided with information about INCTR. Several expressed an interest in working in some way with the INCTR. In future, a core committee, consisting of Dr Habboubi and Dr Frans Dhaenens, is to meet with INCTR staff monthly. In addition to discussing progress with sponsorship development, INCTR will host visitors from the corporate world in order to provide them with information about INCTR activities. In this way, INCTR should be able to establish more linkages and partnerships with the corporate world.

Oncologists to Meet in New Delhi

The second SIOP-Asia conference, a significant milestone for pediatric oncology in the developing world, will held in New Delhi, India, November 22-24, 2002.

The conference will bring together pediatric oncologists, hematologists, pediatricians, surgical oncologists and radiotherapists practicing in the developing world, with leading pediatric oncologists and health care professionals from around the world.

With the central theme being "childhood cancer is curable," the conference is committed to forging better links between parents and healthcare professionals.

The conference is under the auspices of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology, the Pediatric Hematology Oncology Chapter of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, the International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent Organizations, the Indian Society of Medical and Pediatric Oncology, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, and INCTR.

For further information please contact: Prof. L.S. Arya, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi - 110 029, India. Tel: 91-11- 6523147, 6594610; FAX: 91-11-6862663; e-mail: lsarya@aiims.ac.in, lsarya@rediffmail.com. Web site: www.aiims.ac.in.