City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) posted on LinkedIn:
“City Cancer Challenge (C/Can), together with the Government of Catalonia and leading institutions from Barcelona’s health ecosystem, hosted a landmark event celebrating their shared commitment to advancing cancer care worldwide.
Barcelona stood out as a beacon of excellence in cancer research, patient support, and technical cooperation. Through the active contributions of institutions such as the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Hospital del Mar, Barcelona Children’s Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, and the Catalonia Cancer Plan, C/Can strengthened local capacities in cities across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). These collaborations facilitated the exchange of expertise and innovation, creating real impact for patients and healthcare systems worldwide.
The event highlighted the results of this unique partnership and looked ahead to new opportunities with the Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge and the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO).
“Where you live should not determine the quality of cancer care you receive. Together with the Government of Catalonia and Barcelona’s leading institutions, we are building the bridges of knowledge and technical cooperation that can change outcomes for patients worldwide,” said Isabel Mestres, CEO of C/Can.
The programme featured a keynote by Dr Cary Adams, CEO of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), and a panel discussion that brought together voices from C/Can partner cities such as León (Mexico) and Tbilisi (Georgia) represented by Luis A. Zuñiga, Miguel Ángel Guerrero, Nana Mebonia and Archil Sharashenidze. Experts and practitioners shared how Barcelona’s contributions strengthened cancer registries, improved training, and advanced patient care models in their local contexts.
The evening culminated in a recognition ceremony honouring the Government of Catalonia for its outstanding support of global cancer care.
This first-of-its-kind event in Barcelona underscored the importance of collaborative, cross-border action in the fight against cancer, setting the stage for future partnerships that will continue to transform cancer care in LMICs.
We thank our partner AstraZeneca for their support of this event.”
More from C/Can on OncoDaily.
