IAEA/PACT: WILL 2010 BE THE BREAKOUT YEAR FOR CANCER

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000060 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/GS, ISN/NESS, ISN/MNSA PLEASE PASS USAID; GENEVA FOR WHO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO SOCI EAID KNNP AORC IAEA SUBJECT: IAEA/PACT: WILL 2010 BE THE BREAKOUT YEAR FOR CANCER THERAPY PROGRAMS? ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: To mark World Cancer Day on February 4, the IAEA's Programme of Action for Cancer Therapies (PACT),held a presentation highlighting its achievements and future plans. As a guest speaker, Ambassador Davies reiterated U.S. support for PACT, noting a recent decision to fund a health economist. IAEA Director General Amano underlined the IAEA's commitment, as well as his personal commitment, to help improve cancer control and therapy in developing countries in cooperation with other organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO). This statement came on the heels of DG Amano's promotion of cancer control and therapy in January at the Davos World Economic Forum and the announcement that the 2010 IAEA Scientific Forum will focus on cancer. PACT is currently trying to establish new partnerships and fundraising mechanisms to respond to the DG's focus on cancer control as a priority issue during the first year of his tenure. END SUMMARY DAVOS -------------- ¶2. (U) DG Amano used a luncheon presentation opportunity to highlight the IAEA's role in cancer therapy and control during the Davos World Economic Forum in January. According to PACT Director Samiei, the presentation was well received. DG Amano did not seek meetings for fundraising or partnership opportunities specifically at Davos, but raised possible cooperation on the margins with the Gates Foundation. Subsequent communication between the IAEA and the Gates Foundation has taken place, but no deliverables have been agreed to or planned. (COMMENT: The Gates Foundation has a very narrow focus on HIV/AIDS and vaccine issues. This may make it difficult for PACT to attract the Foundation as a partner. The only overlapping area is in palliative care, something the Foundation engages in through its HIV/AIDS programs. END COMMENT) WORLD CANCER DAY -------------- ¶3. (U) To mark World Cancer Day on February 4, PACT hosted a presentation on its activities. DG Amano opened the event reiterating the IAEA's commitment, as well as his personal commitment, to help improve cancer control in developing countries in cooperation with other organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO). Ambassador Davies underlined USG support for PACT and noted a recent USG decision to fund a health economist position within PACT. In addition to the brief series of ambassadorial and expert speakers highlighting the plight of millions of cancer patients/survivors in developing countries, PACT personnel manned a number of information tables, offering brochures and answering questions on types of cancer, treatment, and PACT programs. (NOTE: UNVIE's PD section posted a short article about the event on the Mission's website. END NOTE) RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS -------------- ¶4. (U) PACT's narrative of achievements still rests on its initial funding and partnership agreements. In late 2009 there was some progress in cultivating new donors. The U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) agreed to institutionalize its work with PACT, creating a NCI-PACT Scholarship Support Program. NCI had earlier provided the equivalent of USD 800, 000 in training over the past three years to PACT-nominated cancer therapy professionals. (NOTE: The PACT-nominated cancer therapy professionals are part of the IAEA Technical Cooperation Program. PACT vets candidates and provides recommendations on which individuals should be trained at NCI. END NOTE) PACT also signed an agreement with the National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) that allows U.S. citizens to make tax deductable donations to PACT via the NFCR. 2010 PROGRESS -------------- ¶5. (U) The PACT narrative still rests largely on achievements from the first years of its existence - fundraising for Ghana, launching of the twelve project management demonstration sites (PMDS) sites, and a WHO partnership agreement. In 2009, PACT heeded calls from Member States to grow its operations and hired an AmCit senior fundraiser to widen its donor/partner base. Since November 2009, PACT has contacted a number of foundations for possible in-kind or financial cooperation. While the Avon, Ford, MacArthur, Gates, and Global Fund for Women have not responded to date, PACT remains hopeful. Additionally, Packard, LVMH, and Pfizer have been approached as potential corporate partners. PACT has set a conservative goal of raising USD 1 million for each PMDS project in ¶2010. ¶6. (U) In conjunction with the September 2010 IAEA Scientific Forum focusing on nuclear and radiological applications for cancer, PACT is considering a large donor cultivation event. The event would bring together both public and private entities. The concept is to provide a global marketing opportunity to key donors in order to raise the profile of PACT's work; to inform donors about specific programs and projects; and to receive pledges or in-kind donations. ¶7. (U) After receiving a 2009 USG contribution over three years for the Virtual University for Cancer Control (VUCC),PACT is moving forward with the project. PACT recently signed an agreement with Hoffman-La Roche Ltd., in which the company commits to provide USD 4 million in 2010 thorough its Roche African Research Foundation's EDUCARE initiative for the VUCC. The funding will be used to launch the pilot phase of a large-scale project to train African cancer care professionals and develop common cancer control curricula through the VUCCnet. The IAEA legal office is currently clearing a letter from the IAEA to Roche requesting the first disbursement of funds, approximately USD 1.4 million. (COMMENT: In subsequent conversations with IAEA staff members familiar with the Roche-PACT agreement, ethical concerns were raised in relation to the appearance of working with a company that has been named in several public lawsuits in the U.S., Africa, and Europe. To date these concerns have not impeded the agreement from being implemented. Additionally, one PACT staffer noted that using some of the Roche money to create cancer control curricula is unnecessary when there is already established and universally accepted curricula available to PACT that can be adapted for use in the VUCC network. END COMMENT) In connection with the VUCC project, PACT also reached out to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation in 2009 requesting USD 500,000 in support. The letter of inquiry was sent under former DG ElBaradei who counted Ibrahim as a personal friend. To date PACT has not received a response. ¶8. (U) PACT is also exploring additional support from manufacturers of radiotherapy (RT) equipment. Following up on a PACT-sponsored meeting with manufacturers to develop more affordable cancer therapy equipment, innovative proposals tailored for low-resource settings were presented by Varian Inc. for feedback by the policy planning committee of the Agency, the Nuclear Applications and Health Unit (NAHU) and the TC Department. Varian Inc. (a U.S. company) presented a complete RT package based upon a low energy accelerator in the USD 1 million range for commercialization in developing countries, with priority given to existing and planned PMDS countries under the PACT program. Similar offers are expected to be presented to the IAEA by Elekta AB (a Swedish company). SCIENTIFIC FORUM -------------- ¶9. (U) Per DG Amano's announcement during the IAEA World Cancer Day event, the 2010 Scientific Forum will focus on cancer. According to the IAEA's Nuclear Application Program Coordinator, Andy Garner, the DG's Chief of Staff Rafael Grossi is responsible for coordinating the Forum. Garner believes this will help ensure success and minimize in-fighting between PACT and TC during the planning phases of the Forum. (COMMENT: Mission will engage early with Grossi on desired outcomes of the forum, a major announcement from PACT on new funding or a new initiative, and potential USG involvement on panels. END COMMENT) ¶10. (U) COMMENT: The spotlight is now squarely on PACT and in a year where cancer is a DG priority, PACT will have to rise to the occasion by mobilizing resources, creating sustainable partnerships, and setting realistic growth goals for 2011. PACT cannot simply rest on its laurels; it must change its narrative from being "the new kid on the block" to a robust program that has the capacity to grow its donor base. Additionally, PACT will need to re-evaluate its project sites, some of which are not making progress toward completion. Failure to achieve major progress by the PACT program in 2010 could embolden those in the Secretariat who question the PACT business model, the DG's decision to promote PACT, and Member State endorsement at a time when PACT is in the spotlight. END COMMENT. DAVIES