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Dr. Manami Inoue, Chief – Institute for Cancer Control, NCC
Contributing to Global Cancer Control

First Japanese and Asian Chairperson of IARC Scientific Council
Dr. Manami Inoue, Chief – Institute for Cancer Control, NCC
Contributing to Global Cancer Control

1st August, 2022
National Cancer Center Japan

In Japanese

Highlights

Dr. Manami Inoue, Chief – Division of Prevention, Institute of Cancer Control, National Cancer Center was appointed as Chairperson of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Scientific Council. She is the first Japanese and Asian expert to be elected to this position.
In Asia, the incidence and burden of cancer is increasing. Japan will lead the way in cancer control from Asia and contribute to the promotion of cancer control in Japan and beyond.

Summary

Dr. Manami Inoue, Chief – Division of Prevention, Institute of Cancer Control, National Cancer Center (President: Hitoshi Nakagama, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. Hereafter NCC) was appointed as Chairperson of the Scientific Council of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (Elisabete Weiderpass, Lyon France. Hereafter IARC), the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization (Hereafter WHO). Her duty as Chairperson of IARC Scientific Council began in May 2022.

Currently, IARC’s membership has grown to 27 countries including Japan. Approximately 350 researchers from 50 countries are working on basic and epidemiological research to generate evidence for global cancer control, classification of tumors, identification of carcinogens and development of cancer prevention guidelines. The findings are published and used in many developed countries as the basis of promoting cancer control.

IARC’s Scientific Council is a group of highly qualified scientists that externally evaluate and direct IARC’s research activities and achievements. When a vacant position arises, IARC’s member countries are invited to nominate candidates and the chairperson, members etc are selected by voting. Dr. Manami Inoue is the first Japanese and Asian expert to be selected as Chairperson of IARC’s Scientific Council.

Comments from Dr. Manami Inoue

Global cancer prevention strategies have so far been based mainly on evidence and research findings from developed Western countries. Taking this opportunity of assuming Chairperson of IARC’s Scientific Council, I would like to draw on the experience Japan has accumulated in domestic epidemiological studies and cohort studies, as well as collaborative research with IARC and coordination of the Asia Cohort Consortium to promote the following initiatives.

In September 2021, NCC established the Institute of Cancer Control. We believe that scientific communication from Japan to IARC will provide an opportunity for Asia to take the lead in global cancer control by proactively making recommendations based on evidence and standards from Asia, one of the fastest growing cancer burdens in the world.

To promote cancer research in Asia – the region with the world’s largest population, cancer incidence and mortality, which will advance the global cancer control and prevention that is currently based on evidence and research findings by Western countries.
To disseminate to the world, the published evidence of cancer research by Japan and Asia, via IARC.
To foster Japanese and Asian cancer control researchers to become future leaders of international joint projects.

Dr. Manami Inoue’s Profile

After graduating from the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Tsukuba University in 1990 and earning her M.D. in 1995, she completed her M.S. in Epidemiology at the School of Public Health Harvard University in 1996. Since then, Dr. Manami Inoue worked at Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Research Center for Cancer Prevention and Screening NCC and the Graduate School of Medicine University of Tokyo. From September 2021, she is the Division Chief of Prevention at the Institute for Cancer Control, NCC specializing in epidemiology and preventive medicine. She served on the external editorial committee for the 2020 WHO Report on Cancer and elected as Vice-Chairperson of IARC’s Scientific Council in May 2021. Dr. Manami Inoue has made significant contribution in coordinating collaborative research with the Asia Cohort Consortium. She is currently leading epidemiological research, large cohort studies and international collaborative research projects on cancer and other chronic diseases.

Background

Japan joined IARC in 1972, the early stage of its establishment, and has been the largest financial contributor to IARC in line with the United States of America. However, due to geographical distance (IARC located in Lyon, France) and a lack of proactive outreach to IARC for collaborative global activities, we have not been able to fully demonstrate our presence in the past.

To overcome this situation, NCC has been working to strengthen collaboration with IARC.

In 2015, NCC was designated by IARC as GICR/Collaborating Centre to serve as a regional hub and provide technical support in developing of cancer registries in Asian countries. In 2017, IARC and NCC signed an MoU* to promote joint research and personnel exchange to contribute to the development of international standards in cancer control and cancer research.

Specific global contributions, in addition to the GICR project, includes Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (CI5), International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, 3^rd Edition (ICD-O-3), regular updates of WHO Classification of Tumours series (WHO ‘Blue Books’), the ‘Mutographs’ study of cancer genomics, and analysis of mutation signatures from environmental exposures.

* Press release, 15 December 2017 NCC signs comprehensive MoU with WHO/IARC

About NCCICC （National Cancer Center Institute for Cancer Control）

We now live in a super aging society, experiencing an increase in the number of cancer patients as well as the aging of cancer patients resulting in a greater complexity of the disease, a diverse needs of cancer control and a demand of improved countermeasures. In addition, with the overload of information on cancer and health care, the importance of providing reliable information based on evidence is also increasing. NCCICC was established to flexibly respond to such social needs. We are an organization that quickly incorporated advanced scientific technologies such as genome analysis, and brought together diverse expertise in epidemiology, behavioral science, implementation science, survivorship, health economics and outcomes research, information dissemination and global health. We can comprehensively realize from research development to policy recommendation and social implementation.

Institute for Cancer Control

About IARC

Established in 1965, IARC is the specialized cancer agency of the WHO with currently 27 member countries, including Japan. Approximately 350 researchers from 50 countries are working on basic and epidemiological research to generate evidence for global cancer control, classification of tumors, identification of carcinogens and development of cancer prevention guidelines. The findings are published and used in many developed countries as the basis of promoting cancer control. The role of IARC Scientific Council is to externally evaluate and direct IARC’s research activities and achievements. It is independent from the IARC Governing Council which is composed of IARC staff and member countries.

IARC: Home (who.int)(Link to external site)

Enquiries

Regarding the appointment

Dr. Tomohiro Matsuda

Office of International Affairs,

Strategic Planning Bureau, NCC

Media

Office of Public Relations,