- Three early-career scientists from Tanzania, Uganda, and South Africa awarded funding for research projects aimed at transforming cancer care, policy, and clinical practice across Africa.
On World Cancer Research Day, American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) and The African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) have announced three new awards under their BIG Cat partnership to support young African researchers.
The aim of the new awards is to strengthen cancer research, clinical practice, and policy across the continent.
In a competitive process, three research proposal from researchers in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, Kampala Uganda and Johannesburg, South Africa convinced the expert selection committee of their potential to generate new findings that will improve clinical practice, patient experience and policy for cancer across Africa.
The goal of the Beginning Investigator Grant for Catalytic Research (BIG Cat) program is to empower emerging African cancer researchers to establish and build their careers in their home countries and institutions, and to contribute to the overall expansion of capacity for research and training in Africa.
“The AACR is very proud to sponsor the BIG Cat program, a transformative initiative that empowers African cancer researchers to conceptualize and lead ground-breaking work against cancer within their communities. We are committed to advancing cancer research capacity across the continent and to fostering a global network of researchers who engage in impactful, lifesaving programs,” said Dr Margaret Foti, Chief Executive Officer of AACR.
Originally launched by the U.S. National Cancer Institute, Centre for Global Health (NCI/CGH), BIG Cathas evolved into a collaborative effort led by AORTIC, AACR and NCI/CGH.
AORTIC President, Dr Miriam Mutebi, a breast cancer surgeon based in Nairobi, Kenya says: “We are delighted to see new awards every year, which add to our growing BIG Cat Alumni of 36 awardees in the past 15 years.
“We also track the impact of past awardees as their research matures and their careers progress. Many of our alumni have gone on to develop and lead their own research consortia, addressing key gaps and needs in cancer control in Africa.”
BIG Cat awardees will be celebrated by their peers at a dedicated session of the upcoming AORTIC 2025 conference in Hammamet, Tunisia on 2-5th of November.
Topics span childhood cancers, oesophageal cancer and genetics:
- Developing strategies for implementing onco-fertility services for paediatric, adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Anthony Kayiira, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Uganda
- A community-based pilot study for oesophageal cancer screening in Tanzania. Kija Luhuti, Muhimbili University Health and Allied Sciences, Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania.
- Genetic insights into African oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: replication and risk stratification. Wenlong Chen, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
An example is shared in the current AACR Grantee Spotlight featuring Adwoa Mensah, an oncology nurse, lecturer, researcher, and recipient of a BIG Cat award in the year 2024 with a mission to improve uptake of breast cancer screening services in Ghana.
AORTIC is an African non-governmental organization dedicated to cancer control research in Africa. Its mission is to improve cancer outcomes through research, education, and collaboration with national health ministries and global partners.
AORTIC also plays an active role in training and uniting cancer professionals, with a focus on strengthening cancer care systems in African countries.