Seed grants for cancer health system research in C/Can cities

Glaring disparities exist in global cancer research funding. Between 2016 and 2020, a staggering US$24.5 billion was invested in cancer research globally. However, less than 2% of this was dedicated to implementation, and a 0.5% of investment was allocated to research addressing cancer in LMICs, which bear 75% of the cancer burden

To empower local healthcare stakeholders to kick-start research projects while promoting multidisciplinary collaborations to advance the understanding of cancer care within health systems.

C/Can has awarded five funded grants of 5,000 USD to researchers in C/Can cities that are investigating projects through an implementation science lens. The aim of the grants is to kick-start exploratory studies across the World Health Organization health systems building blocks to advance quality cancer care in LMICs.

The grantees are: 

• Alexsandre Iovashvili, Tbilisi, Georgia Withholding the Real Diagnosis in Cancer Patients: Is it associated with better QoL and Less Anxiety, Distress and Depression within the Georgian population?“
• Comfort Asoogo, Kumasi, Ghana, Using mobile health to reduce default and abandonment rates among children receiving treatment at the paediatric oncology unit of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana

• Nirmala Bhoo Pathy, Greater Petaling, Malaysia, Identifying a core set of services for a financial navigation program for patients seeking cancer care in the public health system in Greater Petaling – A modified Delphi study” 
• Patrick Gad Iradukunda, Kigali, Rwanda Evaluating the availability and impact of shortage for essential oncology drug among patient attending the cancer treatment centers in Rwanda
• Pedro Cacilhas, Porto Alegre, Brazil, Analysis of Time to Initiate Cancer Treatment on Breast Cancer Patients treated in a Hospital in Porto Alegre: a retrospective cohort from 2022 to 2023