[November 13, 2012]

First-of-Its-Kind Cancer Research Report Paves Way for More Coordinated Global Cancer Science

A first-of-its-kind analysis of the world's investments in cancer research lays the groundwork for greater global collaboration and focus for the billions of dollars invested each year in cancer research worldwide, according to the chair of the committee that compiled the study.

This inaugural report from the International Cancer Research Partnership (ICRP), released today, brings together detailed data about cancer research funding from more than 50 leading cancer organizations. It shows that between 2005 and 2008, the ICRP member organizations alone funded more than 20,000 cancer research grants totaling $4.6 to $4.8 billion USD each year. Breast cancer research grew to almost $1 billion, or 20.6 percent of all cancer research funding, as of 2008.

"This first report tells us conclusively how research dollars have been spent and what the international research community ought to be focused on going forward," said Stephanie Reffey, Ph.D., Director of Research Evaluation for Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and chair of the ICRP committee since 2011. "This is a huge step forward for investing research dollars strategically to create the greatest impact for people facing cancer," she said.

Reffey discusses the report in more detail on the Komen blog.

"It has been a privilege to represent Susan G. Komen on this panel and to see firsthand the power of this international collaboration," Reffey said. "The partners' resolve to collaborate, share best practices in research management, and strategically coordinate their research investments allows all of us to maximize the impact of cancer research." Komen is the largest nonprofit funder of breast cancer research, with more than $750 million invested since 1982.

The new report is available at ICRP's website and covers all forms of cancer and investments in key research areas: biology, etiology (the causes of disease), prevention, early detection, diagnosis and prognosis, treatment, cancer control and survivorship, and scientific model systems. This report also launches an international cancer research classification system called the Common Scientific Outline (CSO), and a global database to track research investments and set benchmarks for the future.

ICRP expects to release periodic updates to this report, which will include data from additional partners in the Netherlands, Australia and Japan. The ICRP also is actively seeking additional cancer funding organizations to contribute their portfolio information for future reports.

About the International Cancer Research Partnership

The International Cancer Research Partnership was formed in 2000 and is an active network of senior representatives from organizations united in a collaborative effort to promote coordinated progress in cancer research. Currently, the ICRP consists of cancer research funding organizations within the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and Japan who have agreed to apply a common language-the Common Scientific Outline (CSO)-for discussing, comparing, and presenting their cancer research portfolios. The CSO classification system provides the tools needed to lay the groundwork for collective portfolio analyses and coordinated strategic planning among the Partner organizations.

ICRP members represent some of the largest funders of cancer research in the world. Members share award funding data in a common format to allow comparisons across all organizations. Part of the dataset is made available to the public (https://www.icrpartnership.org/database.cfm) and contributing partners have full access in a password-protected site. Partners also enjoy access to analytical tools, collaborative forum areas for information exchange in addition to joint evaluation reports and analyses.

For more information, visit https://www.icrpartnership.org/Publications.cfm.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer. Today, Susan G. Komen for the Cure works to end breast cancer in the U.S. and throughout the world through ground-breaking research, community health outreach, advocacy and programs in more than 30 countries. Komen is the largest nonprofit funder of breast cancer research with more than $750 million invested since Komen's founding in 1982. Visit komen.org. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

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