The Union for International Cancer Control (previously named International Union Against Cancer) or UICC is a
non-governmental organisation
A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in ...
with some 1,180 member organisations in more than 170 countries.
UICC was founded in 1933 and is based in
Geneva
Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevra ; rm, Genevra is the second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Situa ...
,
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
. Its member organisations feature cancer societies, governmental agencies, treatment and research centres, patient support groups and professional associations.
History
UICC was established in Paris in 1933 following a proposal at a cancer congress in Madrid to create an international organisation that would "promote the fight against cancer through research, therapy and the development of social activities."
The organisation was given the Latin name , hence the acronym UICC, and the first
General Assembly
A general assembly or general meeting is a meeting of all the members of an organization or shareholders of a company.
Specific examples of general assembly include:
Churches
* General Assembly (presbyterian church), the highest court of pres ...
took place in Paris on 4 May 1935, with representatives from 67 national cancer organisations and 43 countries. The English name was changed in 2010 to its current name, Union for International Cancer Control so that the "UICC" acronym would be consistent with that for the French, Spanish and Latin texts.
The 1933 cancer congress in Madrid was considered the first "International Cancer Congress" and the second was held in Brussels in 1936 under the auspices of UICC. The third took place in Atlantic City, US, in 1939 before the activities of UICC were suspended due to
World Word II. The fourth and fifth congresses were held in 1947 and 1950 respectively. Thereafter and until 2006, the international cancer congress – later named World Cancer Congress – and UICC’s General Assembly were held every four years; since 2006 they have been held every two years. The 2020 World Cancer Congress that was due to be held in Oman had to be called off because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The organisation moved to Geneva in 1948 to be close to the global health organisations. Today, UICC has official relations with the
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level o ...
(WHO), has consultative status with the
United Nations Economic and Social Council
The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC; french: links=no, Conseil économique et social des Nations unies, ) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, responsible for coordinating the economic and social fields ...
, sits on the Governing Council of the
International Agency for Research on Cancer
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC; french: Centre International de Recherche sur le Cancer, CIRC) is an intergovernmental agency forming part of the World Health Organization of the United Nations.
Its role is to conduct and ...
, and works closely with the
Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) initiated by the
International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an intergovernmental organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. It was established in 195 ...
.
Presidents of UICC
2020–2022 Prof Anil D’Cruz (India)
2018–2020
HRH Princess Dina Mired of Jordan (Jordan)
2016–2018 Prof Sanchia Aranda (Australia)
2014–2016 Prof Tezer Kutluk (Turkey)
2012–2014 Prof
Mary Gospodarowicz (Canada)
2010–2012 Dr Eduardo Cazap (Argentina)
2008–2010 Dr David Hill (Australia)
2006–2008 Dr Franco Cavalli (Switzerland)
2002–2006 Dr John Seffrin (US)
1998–2002 Dr E. Robinson (Israel)
1994–1998 Dr N. J. Gray (Australia)
1990–1994 Prof. S. Eckhardt (Hungary)
1986–1990 Prof. C. G. Schmidt (Germany)
1982–1986 Prof. Antonio Junqueira (Brazil)
1978–1982 Prof. U. Veronesi (Italy)
1974–1978 Prof P. Denoix (France)
1970–1974 Dr W. U. Gardner (US)
1966–1970 Dr N. N. Blokhin (USSR)
1962–1966 Prof. A. Haddow (United Kingdom)
1958–1962 Dr V. Khanolkar (India)
1953–1958 Prof. J. H. Maisin (Belgium)
1935–1953 M. J. Godart (France)
Mission and activities
The official mission statement of UICC reads: "UICC unites and supports the
cancer
Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...
community to reduce the global cancer burden, to promote greater
equity
Equity may refer to:
Finance, accounting and ownership
*Equity (finance), ownership of assets that have liabilities attached to them
** Stock, equity based on original contributions of cash or other value to a business
** Home equity, the diff ...
, and to ensure that cancer control continues to be a priority in the world health and development agenda."
Its work on cancer control includes areas such as the elimination of
cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is a cancer arising from the cervix. It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Early on, typically no symptoms are seen. Later symptoms may include abnormal ...
,
tobacco control
Tobacco control is a field of international public health science, policy and practice dedicated to addressing tobacco use and thereby reducing the morbidity and mortality it causes. Since most cigarettes and cigars and hookahs contain/use ...
,
metastatic breast cancer,
antimicrobial resistance
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microbes evolve mechanisms that protect them from the effects of antimicrobials. All classes of microbes can evolve resistance. Fungi evolve antifungal resistance. Viruses evolve antiviral resistance. P ...
, cancer and
ageing
Ageing ( BE) or aging ( AE) is the process of becoming older. The term refers mainly to humans, many other animals, and fungi, whereas for example, bacteria, perennial plants and some simple animals are potentially biologically immortal. ...
, access to
essential medicines,
equity in healthcare,
Universal Health Coverage
Universal health care (also called universal health coverage, universal coverage, or universal care) is a health care system in which all residents of a particular country or region are assured access to health care. It is generally organized a ...
and addressing cancer care in the time of the coronavirus pandemic.
UICC convenes the cancer community at events (World Cancer Congress, World Cancer Leaders’ Summit), organises thematic
webinars
Web conferencing is used as an umbrella term for various types of online conferencing and collaborative services including webinars (web seminars), webcasts, and web meetings. Sometimes it may be used also in the more narrow sense of the peer-le ...
, provides training,
fellow
A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context.
In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements.
Within the context of higher education ...
ships and
grants
Grant or Grants may refer to:
Places
*Grant County (disambiguation)
Australia
* Grant, Queensland, a locality in the Barcaldine Region, Queensland, Australia
United Kingdom
*Castle Grant
United States
* Grant, Alabama
* Grant, Inyo County, ...
, and advocates for effective cancer control. It is also behind
World Cancer Day, an official international awareness day marked every year on
February 4
Events Pre–1600
* 211 – Following the death of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus at Eboracum (modern York, England) while preparing to lead a campaign against the Caledonians, the empire is left in the control of his two quarrelling ...
.
Scientific publications
UICC published the
TNM Classification of Malignant Tumors in 1953 as the "Uniform Technique for a Clinical Classification by the TNM System", with the first pocket book edition issued in 1968. The Classification has been regularly updated and the 8th edition was published with
John Wiley and Sons
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., commonly known as Wiley (), is an American multinational publishing company founded in 1807 that focuses on academic publishing and instructional materials. The company produces books, journals, and encyclopedias, in ...
(Wiley) in 2017.
The peer-reviewed medical journal, the ''
International Journal of Cancer'', has been the official journal of UICC since 1966 and covers topics relevant to experimental and clinical cancer research.
UICC publishes with Wiley the ''Manual of Clinical Oncology'' with information on cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment, survivorship, special populations and palliative care.
The open-access, online-only
JCO Global Oncology' is published in partnership with the
American Society of Clinical Oncology
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is a professional organization representing physicians of all oncology sub-specialties who care for people with cancer. Founded in 1964 by Fred Ansfield, Harry Bisel, Herman Freckman, Arnoldus Go ...
since 2015.
Governance
UICC is a
non-governmental organisation
A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in ...
governed by its member organisations, which meet in a general assembly held every two years. Between general assemblies a
Board of Directors
A board of directors (commonly referred simply as the board) is an executive committee that jointly supervises the activities of an organization, which can be either a for-profit or a nonprofit organization such as a business, nonprofit orga ...
with 16 directors, elected at the
general assembly
A general assembly or general meeting is a meeting of all the members of an organization or shareholders of a company.
Specific examples of general assembly include:
Churches
* General Assembly (presbyterian church), the highest court of pres ...
, act as the executive body of UICC. At its head is the President of UICC, a position currently held by Prof Anil D’Cruz from India.
The organisation is managed by the
CEO
A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
with a staff of some 40 employees, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The current CEO is Dr Cary Adams, who has held this position since 2009.
Member organisations, partners and other networks
UICC’s more than 1,200 members include cancer societies, governmental agencies, treatment and research centres, patient support groups and professional associations from around the world.
UICC also works with over 60 partners, including other health organisations, foundations and private sector companies committed to the fight against cancer.
In addition, UICC is a founding member of the
NCD Alliance, the McCabe Centre for Law & Cancer, the International Cancer Control Partnership and established the City Cancer Challenge Foundation in January 2019.
See also
*
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
*
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level o ...
*
American Society of Clinical Oncology
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is a professional organization representing physicians of all oncology sub-specialties who care for people with cancer. Founded in 1964 by Fred Ansfield, Harry Bisel, Herman Freckman, Arnoldus Go ...
References
External links
*
PACT: Programme of Action for Cancer TherapyProgram to establish cancer care capacity and comprehensive cancer control in developing world and a close partner of UICC
{{Authority control
Cancer organisations based in Switzerland
International medical and health organizations
International organisations based in Switzerland