Disclaimer:
This blog post is authored by an individual without medical credentials. The content presented herein is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Readers are advised to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any medical concerns or questions.
According to a study by Queens University, cross-border collaboration is important for enhancing research, leading to improved cancer care. Another report by the University of Manchester suggests that international collaborations help researchers develop reciprocal relationships and share their learnings with others.
With evidence showing that cancer has existed for 70 to 80 million years, and no cure has been found yet, it is clear that this has been one of the most challenging healthcare conditions to have existed. That means it can be hard for a single institution to find a cure without collaborating with others.
Why Global Collaboration is key in Cancer Research
Here are reasons why global collaboration is important:
A Global Challenge
Cancer is a global challenge, and that means researchers across the globe are burning the midnight oil, trying to find a solution. From countries like Israel, India, and the UK, we have researchers working hard to find a cure for cancer. Unfortunately, tasks and findings may be replicated without collaboration, even though cancer research is expensive.
A Building Block of Research
On the other hand, global collaborations can be a building block of cancer research. They can help develop further emerging cancer technologies, such as precision medicine, providing better outcomes. Ultimately, this can speed up the process of patients benefiting from emerging cancer technologies and innovations. When well used, global collaborations can help develop innovative approaches in cancer research, minimize inequalities, and improve access to treatment worldwide.
Emerging Opportunities
International collaborations in cancer research can open up opportunities for talents, markets, and resources that would otherwise be difficult to achieve. When cancer researchers collaborate with other scientists and regions, they can share ideas and learn from one another. Collaboration can also help break cultural barriers. Collaboration frameworks can hasten the dissemination of research findings, turning them into actionable cancer solutions.
Example of a Successful Collaboration in Cancer Research
An example of an effective collaboration was between Shri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Center in India and St. John’s Research Institute. Using AI and ML, they studied the immune landscape of Western and Indian Triple-negative breast cancer. The study, published in the Translational Oncology Journal, found that the immune gene expression in both populations was similar.
This indicated that immunotherapies and other immune-related treatments in India could also work in the West. However, the genomic level differences were significantly different, and ongoing research is being done to determine the reasons. This may also mean there may be a need for geography-specific personalized therapy.
How Global Collaboration is Key to Opening Cancer Research Investment
In recent years, there has been an increase in the cancer funding opportunities available for international collaborations. This funding could be project-based or collaborative and can come from a private or government donor. When cancer innovation companies collaborate, they can also pool resources for bigger projects that would otherwise be impossible for individual firms.
When companies collaborate, they can easily highlight the importance of cancer on the global stage. This can unlock investment opportunities for both countries from government, private sectors, and philanthropists.
What Are The Available Cancer Research Collaboration Opportunities?
According to the Cancer Research Collaboration, one of the hindrances to success in fighting cancer is that individual entities often do that research in isolation. That usually leads to promising cancer treatments that get ignored if funding isn’t available. On the other hand, research funding that doesn’t offer many breakthroughs continues receiving funding for too long without any meaningful results.
That’s why global collaboration in cancer research and sharing results can increase the chances of finding a cancer cure. This is especially true when collaborating innovation focuses on organizations developing cutting-edge cancer solutions such as precision oncology and promising cancer drugs.
Final Thoughts
The cancer challenge is a big one that requires international collaboration if a cure is to be found soon. By collaborating, international organizations can leverage each other’s knowledge, technologies, and human resources to get the most out of their research. They can also unlock funding that is impossible when working as individual entities.