The overall status of the research and development capabilities and supporting infrastructures for both research and health care delivery is quite diverse across Latin America.  A number of Latin American countries with various levels of research and health care delivery capacity have joined with the Office of Latin American Cancer Program Development (OLACPD) to form the U.S.-Latin America Cancer Research Network.  The Network initially includes Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay and is responsible for developing a comprehensive understanding of the status of the disease burden, cancer research, and cancer care infrastructures, and building collaborative relationships to support high-quality research and clinical studies.

Mission
The projects of the U.S.-Latin America Cancer Research Network will result in a better understanding of cancer incidence and mortality in the diverse populations that make up Latin America.  Over time, this knowledge will facilitate the design and conduct of clinical trials and will also provide direction to improve patient management of Hispanic populations in the United States.

Goals

• Increase the understanding of the status of the disease burden, cancer research, and cancer care infrastructures in Latin American countries
• Promote and leverage partnerships among Latin American countries impacting basic and clinical cancer research
• Build collaborative relationships through bilateral partnerships with Latin American governments to facilitate the co-development and in-country sustainability of needed resources and expertise for cancer research and the conduct of high-quality clinical studies

Selection of U.S.-Latin America Cancer Research Network Countries
U.S-Latin American Network Cancer Research Network countries, identified primarily on the basis of their in-country capacity to build working partnerships, represent the initial OLACPD program scope and include:  

• Argentina
• Brazil
• Chile
• Mexico
• Uruguay

The U.S.-Latin America Cancer Research Network will be expanded to additional countries in the future. More information on these countries and additional information about the multi-phase U.S.-Latin America Cancer Research Network projects can be found in the OLACPD Strategic Plan.

Timeline: 2008-2011

June 2008 – January 2009

• Conducted substantive discussions with the respective Ministry of Health, Secretary of Health, and Ministry of Science and Technology
• Conducted site visits to major research institutions as part of the due diligence and knowledge-building process
• Identified key contacts
• Initiated planning for workshop as the first steps in launching the U.S.-Latin America Cancer Research Network

January 2009 – February 2011

• Adapt standards and policies for biospecimen annotation, storage, and delivery
• Institute regional review or ethics committees
• Develop short-term training on the conduct of clinical trials and develop a Request for Application (RFA) or Program Announcement (PA) to enhance  clinical pilot projects
• Initiate the review and assessment of early pilot studies

January 2010 – February 2011

• Focus on capacity building in Latin America to support basic research, acquisition and integration of advanced technologies, and clinical research

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