Zhengchen Liu, Founder and Chairman of the New Sunshine Charity Foundation, has been named a candidate for the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 term.
Based in Beijing, China, Liu is a cancer survivor, healthcare philanthropist, and patient advocate whose work has focused on improving support for people affected by cancer and strengthening grassroots cancer organisations.
The new UICC Board will be elected by UICC full-member organisations during the 2026 UICC General Assembly, which will take place virtually on October 20, 2026. Electronic voting will open on October 13 and close at 14:30 CEST on October 20.
Zhengchen Liu’s Journey From Cancer Patient to Advocate
Liu’s commitment to cancer advocacy began with his own diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in December 2001, while he was pursuing his PhD in economics at Peking University.
At the time, his physician told him that a bone marrow transplant was his only curative option. However, China’s national marrow registry was unable to identify a suitable match.
Six weeks after his diagnosis, Liu established a non-governmental bone marrow donor registry. Three years later, the organisation facilitated its first successful stem cell transplant for a patient with CML in Jiangsu Province.
The organisation was formally registered as a foundation in 2009 and has continued operating for more than 24 years.
Today, the New Sunshine Charity Foundation is one of mainland China’s largest healthcare charities.
Why Zhengchen Liu Is Running for the UICC Board
Liu said his decision to seek a position on the UICC Board is closely connected to his personal experience with cancer and his long-standing relationship with UICC.
In 2010, he received a UICC Asia-Pacific training grant and spent a week at Cancer Council Queensland, an experience that he said significantly influenced his work.
A central focus of his candidacy is strengthening the patient voice within global cancer decision-making.
“I want to bring a stronger patient voice to the Board, to support grassroots patient organisations.”
Liu also wants to increase international attention to cancer patients’ rights, noting that legal and social protections for people affected by cancer vary considerably between countries.
Strengthening Grassroots Patient Organisations
Liu has identified grassroots patient organisations as an important area where UICC can further strengthen its impact.
Having built New Sunshine from an unregistered grassroots group into a major healthcare foundation, he brings direct experience in developing patient-focused organisations and creating sustainable programmes.
Liu said he hopes to use his experience to support knowledge-sharing and empower patient organisations within the UICC network.
“I aim to embed more patient perspective in UICC Board decisions, increase support for grassroots patient organisations, and advocate for the UICC network to advance cancer patients’ rights.”
A Focus on Cancer Patients’ Rights
Beyond access to cancer treatment, Liu’s candidacy places particular emphasis on the rights and broader needs of people living with cancer.
He highlighted differences in protections available to cancer patients around the world, including disability-related protections and other forms of social support.
For Liu, patient-centred cancer control should include attention to financial security, psychological wellbeing, information, social protection, and the ability of patients to participate in decisions affecting their care.
His proposed focus would therefore extend the patient voice beyond individual treatment decisions and into national and international cancer policy.
Bringing Lived Experience to the UICC Board
As a cancer survivor, Liu brings a perspective grounded directly in the experience of living with cancer.
“As a cancer survivor myself, I combine professional competence with genuine empathy and a deep understanding of patients’ lived challenges.”
He believes this lived experience can complement the clinical, scientific, and policy expertise represented across the UICC membership.
His candidacy seeks to strengthen the role of patients and grassroots organisations in shaping cancer-control priorities and ensuring that policies reflect the realities faced by people affected by cancer.
Watch Zhengchen Liu’s video message outlining his personal journey, experience in cancer advocacy, and priorities as a candidate for the UICC Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 term.
UICC Board Elections 2026
The 2026 UICC election will determine 14 members of the Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 term.
UICC full-member organisations will vote during the virtual General Assembly on October 20, 2026, following the opening of electronic voting on October 13.
The elected Board will help guide UICC’s work in cancer prevention, patient-centred care, health equity, cancer advocacy, access to care, and global collaboration.
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