The Global Initiative for Cancer Registry Development in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (GICR) was launched at the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit in November 2011. Initial achievements include:

HUBS

• Establishment of three regional hubs: the regional hub for South, South-East, and East Asia based at Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai (India) is operational since 2011; the regional hub for Western Asia and Northern Africa based at Izmir Cancer Registry (Turkey), and the regional network hub for sub-Saharan Africa, in collaboration with the African Cancer Registry Network, are planned to become operational in the second half of 2012.
• Negotiations for the setup of the regional hub for Latin America and the Caribbean, foreseen to become operational in 2013.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

• Expert visits by Mumbai hub staff to three Asian countries; ad hoc and general support in the use of the free, open source cancer registration software CanReg5 to users all over the world through direct contact, electronic communication and social media.

RESEARCH

• Collaborative Research Agreements with registries in three Asian countries; articles in major peer-reviewed journals on regional aspects of cancer; mapping and surveys to update the understanding of cancer registration needs in LMICs.

TRAINING

• Regional training course in cancer epidemiology at the Mumbai hub; collaboration with other major organizations for regional training courses to French-speaking African countries and to Latin American countries. Online training in CanReg5 through a series of webinars.

ADVOCACY

• Development of advocacy material and activities at major national and international meetings, and with national authorities. Establishment of a "Community of Practice" - a virtual forum for cancer registry professionals to discuss issues related to their work.