The National Cancer Institute (NCI) plays an important role in promoting global health and contributing to the economy and security of nations around the world. As this portfolio demonstrates, NCI's international activities are both broad and deep. However, the activities described here are only a small sample of the Institute's efforts.

NCI is committed to playing an even greater role in international cancer control in the future. That is evidenced by our involvement in emerging international collaborations, most notably the World Health Organization's (WHO) global cancer prevention and control resolution.

During the 2005 World Health Assembly, WHO passed Resolution WHA58.22, a first-of-its-kind resolution calling for improved cancer prevention measures, improved early detection and treatment, and more palliative care in all WHO Member State countries.

NCI scientists have joined some of the world's leading cancer control researchers in providing WHO with scientific expertise to develop and implement this global strategy. Mark Clanton, M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Director, NCI, and Deputy Director for Cancer Care and Delivery Systems, serves as the Institute's representative to the WHO Director-General's Cancer Advisory Committee and WHO's Cancer Technical Working Group.

Dr. Clanton is also the NCI lead for another important project with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as part of a program called the Program of Action for Cancer Therapy, or PACT. IAEA has provided radiation therapy machines in low-resource settings for the last decade, giving support to treatment centers in developing countries so they can deliver appropriate radiation therapy to patients. IAEA is now greatly expanding these cancer control activities through the launch of the PACT Alliance - an alliance of cancer organizations from across the globe to help develop and implement cancer control programs in developing countries.

NCI will help support a pilot of this expanded PACT program, including bringing together a team of experts in cancer control from the United States to assist in its development and implementation. It is an inspiration to witness the effort put forth by scientists and health care providers around the world to improve the health of all humans, regardless of race, gender, age, or religion. I am proud - as I believe the entire U.S. cancer community should be - of NCI's continued commitment to reducing the global cancer burden.

John E. Niederhuber, M.D.
Director, National Cancer Institute