Cancer Moonshot Initiative

The Quad grouping, which includes India, the United States, Australia, and Japan, has launched the Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative. This program focuses on tackling cervical cancer by expanding screening, increasing vaccinations against the human papillomavirus (HPV), and improving treatment options for patients.

WHAT IS CERVICAL CANCER?

Cervical cancer is cancer that starts in the cells of the cervix. The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus (womb). Cancer usually develops slowly over time. Before cancer appears in the cervix, the cells of the cervix go through changes known as dysplasia, in which abnormal cells begin to appear in the cervical tissue. Over time, if not destroyed or removed, the abnormal cells may become cancer cells and start to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and to surrounding areas.

• Cervical cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the Indo-Pacific region. Despite being preventable through vaccination and treatable if caught early, fewer than one in ten women in the region have completed the HPV vaccination series, and less than 10% have undergone recent screenings.
• The initiative acknowledges the gaps in healthcare access, resources, and vaccination rates in many countries within the region.

KEY FEATURES

• Cervical Cancer Focus: Announced by U.S. President Joe Biden during the Quad Leaders Summit, the initiative aims to address cervical cancer, a largely preventable disease that poses a significant health crisis in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Goals:
  • The initiative aims to implement innovative strategies to prevent, detect, and treat cancer while supporting patients and their families.
  • It will promote HPV vaccinations, increase access to screenings, and expand treatment options in underserved areas.

INDIA’S ROLE

• AI Treatment Protocol: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India is developing an AI-based treatment protocol for cervical cancer, highlighting the initiative's importance in providing affordable healthcare in the Indo-Pacific.
• Financial Commitment: India will contribute a grant of $7.5 million for cancer testing, screening, and diagnostics in the region.
• Support for Treatment: India plans to provide support for radiotherapy and help build capacity for cancer prevention in the Indo-Pacific. Additionally, India will supply 40 million doses of HPV vaccine through GAVI and Quad programs.
• Technical Assistance: India will also offer technical help for cancer screening and care, contributing $10 million to the WHO’s Global Initiative on Digital Health.

BROADER GOALS

• To reduce cancer death rates in the U.S. by 50% by 2047 and improve the experiences of those affected by cancer.
• The Quad partners aim to collaborate on cancer research and increase involvement from the private and non-governmental sectors to reduce cervical cancer's burden in the region.
• They also plan to work with UN agencies to lower the costs of HPV diagnostics and improve medical imaging and radiation therapy access through the International Atomic Energy Agency.