International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)

Mission & Vision

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is a specialized agency of the World Health Organization (WHO) dedicated to cancer research.

IARC envisions a world where fewer people develop cancer. To achieve this, the Agency conducts research on primary and secondary prevention.

Actions Led

IARC brings together researchers from around the world (currently from more than 67 countries).
With their expertise and this global dimension, IARC promotes international collaboration.

At the core of the Agency’s work are programs known as the IARC Flagships, which are 10 key initiatives:

• IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention: Provide comprehensive analyses and consensus evaluations of evidence on the effectiveness of preventive interventions that can reduce cancer incidence or mortality.
• World Code Against Cancer Framework: A global framework that recommends concrete actions to reduce cancer risk at both the individual and population levels.
• European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC): A large European study that analyzes links between diet, lifestyle, and cancer risk.
• Cancer Screening in Five Continents (CanScreen5): Compares and improves cancer screening programs across countries to optimize effectiveness.
• Mutographs project: Studies genetic mutations related to cancer to better understand its causes and mechanisms.
• WHO Classification of Tumors: A global reference for tumor classification, used by pathologists and clinicians for diagnosis and treatment.
• IARC Learning Program: A training programe for researchers and health professionals to strengthen their skills in cancer epidemiology and prevention.
• Global Initiative for Cancer Registry Development (GICR): Helps countries establish and improve cancer registries to provide reliable and comparable data.
• Global Cancer Observatory: An interactive platform that provides global statistics on cancer incidence, mortality, and trends.
• IARC Monographs on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans: Evaluate the carcinogenic risks of substances, agents, and exposures to guide public health policies.

More broadly, IARC focuses on four strategic pillars:

• Data for Action
• Understanding the Causes
• From Understanding to Prevention
• Knowledge Mobilization

Projects That U.S. Donors Can Support

U.S. donors can support IARC’s scientific and educational activities, focusing on identifying cancer causes, strengthening surveillance, promoting education and training, and advancing mechanistic research. The results of IARC’s work are made available freely and publicly, to contribute to further research, inform cancer prevention policy decisions, and raise public awareness.

Every contribution, whether large or small, helps researchers deepen their understanding of cancer and work toward its prevention – bringing us closer to a world where fewer lives are impacted.