Applications were submitted from organizations in 46 countries
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Pfizer Inc. and the Union for
International Cancer Control (UICC) are proud to announce the recipients
from the Seeding Progress
and Resources
for the Cancer Community: Metastatic
Breast Cancer Challenge (SPARC MBC Challenge), a first-of-its-kind
initiative to address the unique challenges facing women with metastatic
breast cancer worldwide. In total, 20 organizations from 18 countries
have been selected to receive grants amounting to $760,000 (USD) in
funding provided by Pfizer.
This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151013005988/en/
Launched on World Cancer Day in February 2015, the SPARC MBC Challenge
received significant interest with over 80 applications submitted by
organizations in 46 countries, reflecting the urgent need for improved
services and support for women with metastatic breast cancer. Due to
this high level of interest, Pfizer increased its funding of the
initiative from $500,000 (USD) to $760,000 (USD) to support additional
projects.
The SPARC MBC Challenge aims to empower advocacy groups, hospital
networks, support groups and other organizations worldwide as they
initiate projects to close the gap in information, support, awareness
and policy between metastatic breast cancer and early disease, as well
as help reduce the number of women diagnosed at the metastatic stage of
breast cancer.
“Globally, there are wide disparities in the diagnosis, management and
care of metastatic breast cancer, a disease that is clinically complex,
emotionally burdensome and socially misunderstood,” said Professor
Sanchia Aranda, president-elect, UICC. “We are hopeful this program will
help us to fulfill our mission of promoting greater equity in access to
comprehensive breast cancer services, and we are thrilled with the
community’s response to the SPARC MBC Challenge and the number of
applications submitted to support projects that can greatly impact the
lives of women living with this diagnosis.”
Awardees were selected through a competitive application process
overseen by an external, multidisciplinary selection committee formed by
UICC and chaired by Dr. Fatima Cardoso, director of the Breast Unit of
the Champalimaud Cancer Center in Lisbon, Portugal.
Each awardee will receive either a campaign grant ($20,000 USD) or a
network grant ($60,000 USD). These grants will be used to fund projects
in support of women with metastatic breast cancer worldwide, including
projects in low-income countries, such as Uganda and Haiti, where women
are frequently diagnosed at a more advanced stage of breast cancer than
women in developed nations.1,2
“Our partnership with UICC on this initiative represents our commitment
to the hundreds of thousands of women worldwide who are living with
metastatic breast cancer,” said Liz Barrett, global president and
general manager, Pfizer Oncology. “This initiative helps bring us one
step closer to the day when metastatic breast cancer patients around the
world may have access to the care and support they need, regardless of
their location or socio-economic status.”
“One particularly valuable component of the SPARC MBC Challenge is that
it will also provide mentorship support to the awardees and enable
networking and sharing of best practices among the organizations,” said
Professor Aranda. “We look forward to following the progress and results
of all awarded projects that were selected to address the challenges
facing the MBC community globally.”
Among the awardees is Associação Mama Help, an organization based in
Portugal that will be creating an online resource center in the
Portuguese language to provide information and support to women living
with metastatic breast cancer. Additionally, Uganda Women's Cancer
Support Organisation (UWOCAO), will implement a project in partnership
with the Uganda Cancer Institute to identify the challenges faced by
women with advanced breast cancer in Uganda and help increase awareness
of their unique needs among advocates, caregivers and policymakers.
Based on this understanding, the organization will seek to develop new
tools, services and policies to address their needs and to ultimately
help increase access to supportive care and improve quality of life for
women with metastatic breast cancer.
Additional organizations to receive grants include:
-
Asociación Mexicana contra el Cancer de Mama A.C. (Mexico)
-
Association of Cancer Patients and Friends(Bulgaria)
-
Federación de Mujeres con Cáncer de Mama (Spain)
-
Federação Brasileira de Instituições Filantrópicas de Apoio à Saúde da
Mama (Brazil)
-
Global Women's Health Fund (Zambia)
-
Health & Psychological Trust Centre (Nigeria)
-
Inshuti Mu Buzima (Rwanda)
-
Instituto Oncoguia (Brazil)
-
Instituto para la Evaluación de la Calidad y Atención en Salud
(Colombia)
-
Israel Cancer Association (Israel)
-
Kanserle Dans Dernegi (Turkey)
-
Narikeldaha Prayas (India)
-
National Cancer Society of Malaysia (Malaysia)
-
Palliative Care Australia (Australia)
-
Project Medishare for Haiti (Haiti)
-
Suandok Breast Cancer Network (Thailand)
-
University Of Nigeria, Enugu (Nigeria)
-
Women for Oncology-Hellas (Greece)
For more information on the SPARC MBC Challenge and the awardees, please
visit: uicc.org/sparc-awards.
About Metastatic Breast Cancer
Metastatic breast cancer is the most advanced stage of breast cancer and
occurs when cancer spreads beyond the breast to other parts of the body,
including the bones, lungs, liver and brain.3 An estimated
1.7 million new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed globally each year,
and six percent of breast cancer patients present with metastatic breast
cancer at diagnosis.4,5 There is currently no cure for
metastatic breast cancer and fewer patient and community resources are
available compared to early-stage disease.3,6
About Pfizer Oncology
Pfizer Oncology is committed to the discovery, investigation and
development of innovative treatment options to improve the outlook for
patients worldwide. Our strong pipeline of biologics and small
molecules, one of the most robust in the industry, is studied with
precise focus on identifying and translating the best scientific
breakthroughs into clinical application for patients across a wide range
of cancers. By researchers, cooperative research groups, governments,
and licensing partners, Pfizer Oncology strives to cure or control
cancer with breakthrough medicines, to deliver the right drug for each
patient at the right time. For more information, please visit www.Pfizer.com.
About the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)
UICC unites the cancer community to reduce the global cancer burden, to
promote greater equity, and to integrate cancer control into the world
health and development agenda. UICC is the largest cancer-fighting
organization of its kind, with over 800 member organizations across 155
countries representing the world's major cancer societies, ministries of
health, research institutes, treatment centers and patient groups.
UICC is dedicated to continuing to work with world leaders to increase
their support for cancer control measures, and hold them to account for
the cancer commitments made in the UN Political Declaration on NCDs.
UICC uses key convening opportunities like the World Cancer Congress and
World Cancer Day to lobby to:
-
Develop targets and indicators to measure the implementation of
policies and approaches to prevent and control cancer
-
Raise the priority accorded to cancer in the global development agenda
-
Promote a global response to cancer
UICC and its multisectoral partners are committed to encouraging
governments to adopt specific time-bound targets that address the global
burden of cancer and other NCDs. UICC is also a founding member of the
NCD Alliance, a global civil society network that now represents almost
2,000 organizations in 170 countries.
For more information visit: www.uicc.org
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151013005988/en/
Copyright Business Wire 2015