VZCZCXYZ0008
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUNV #0060/01 0501117
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191117Z FEB 10
FM USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0608
INFO RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0957

UNCLAS UNVIE VIENNA 000060 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IO/GS, ISN/NESS, ISN/MNSA 
PLEASE PASS USAID; GENEVA FOR WHO 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: TBIO SOCI EAID KNNP AORC IAEA
SUBJECT: IAEA/PACT: WILL 2010 BE THE BREAKOUT YEAR FOR CANCER 
THERAPY PROGRAMS? 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY:  To mark World Cancer Day on February 4, the IAEA's 
Programme of Action for Cancer Therapies (PACT), held a presentation 
highlighting its achievements and future plans.  As a guest speaker, 
Ambassador Davies reiterated U.S. support for PACT, noting a recent 
decision to fund a health economist.  IAEA Director General Amano 
underlined the IAEA's commitment, as well as his personal 
commitment, to help improve cancer control and therapy in developing 
countries in cooperation with other organizations such as the World 
Health Organization (WHO).  This statement came on the heels of DG 
Amano's promotion of cancer control and therapy in January at the 
Davos World Economic Forum and the announcement that the 2010 IAEA 
Scientific Forum will focus on cancer.  PACT is currently trying to 
establish new partnerships and fundraising mechanisms to respond to 
the DG's focus on cancer control as a priority issue during the 
first year of his tenure.  END SUMMARY 
 
DAVOS 
----- 
¶2.  (U) DG Amano used a luncheon presentation opportunity to 
highlight the IAEA's role in cancer therapy and control during the 
Davos World Economic Forum in January. According to PACT Director 
Samiei, the presentation was well received.  DG Amano did not seek 
meetings for fundraising or partnership opportunities specifically 
at Davos, but raised possible cooperation on the margins with the 
Gates Foundation.  Subsequent communication between the IAEA and the 
Gates Foundation has taken place, but no deliverables have been 
agreed to or planned. (COMMENT: The Gates Foundation has a very 
narrow focus on HIV/AIDS and vaccine issues.  This may make it 
difficult for PACT to attract the Foundation as a partner.  The only 
overlapping area is in palliative care, something the Foundation 
engages in through its HIV/AIDS programs.  END COMMENT) 
 
WORLD CANCER DAY 
---------------- 
¶3.  (U) To mark World Cancer Day on February 4, PACT hosted a 
presentation on its activities.  DG Amano opened the event 
reiterating the IAEA's commitment, as well as his personal 
commitment, to help improve cancer control in developing countries 
in cooperation with other organizations such as the World Health 
Organization (WHO).  Ambassador Davies underlined USG support for 
PACT and noted a recent USG decision to fund a health economist 
position within PACT.  In addition to the brief series of 
ambassadorial and expert speakers highlighting the plight of 
millions of cancer patients/survivors in developing countries, PACT 
personnel manned a number of information tables, offering brochures 
and answering questions on types of cancer, treatment, and PACT 
programs. (NOTE: UNVIE's PD section posted a short article about the 
event on the Mission's website. END NOTE) 
 
RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS 
------------------- 
¶4.  (U) PACT's narrative of achievements still rests on its initial 
funding and partnership agreements. In late 2009 there was some 
progress in cultivating new donors.  The U.S. National Cancer 
Institute (NCI) agreed to institutionalize its work with PACT, 
creating a NCI-PACT Scholarship Support Program.  NCI had earlier 
provided the equivalent of USD 800, 000 in training over the past 
three years to PACT-nominated cancer therapy professionals.  (NOTE: 
The PACT-nominated cancer therapy professionals are part of the IAEA 
Technical Cooperation Program.  PACT vets candidates and provides 
recommendations on which individuals should be trained at NCI.  END 
NOTE)  PACT also signed an agreement with the National Foundation 
for Cancer Research (NFCR) that allows U.S. citizens to make tax 
deductable donations to PACT via the NFCR. 
 
2010 PROGRESS 
------------- 
¶5.  (U) The PACT narrative still rests largely on achievements from 
the first years of its existence - fundraising for Ghana, launching 
of the twelve project management demonstration sites (PMDS) sites, 
and a WHO partnership agreement.  In 2009, PACT heeded calls from 
Member States to grow its operations and hired an AmCit senior 
fundraiser to widen its donor/partner base.  Since November 2009, 
PACT has contacted a number of foundations for possible in-kind or 
financial cooperation.  While the Avon, Ford, MacArthur, Gates, and 
Global Fund for Women have not responded to date, PACT remains 
hopeful.  Additionally, Packard, LVMH, and Pfizer have been 
approached as potential corporate partners.  PACT has set a 
conservative goal of raising USD 1 million for each PMDS project in 
¶2010. 
 
¶6.  (U) In conjunction with the September 2010 IAEA Scientific Forum 
focusing on nuclear and radiological applications for cancer, PACT 
is considering a large donor cultivation event.  The event would 
bring together both public and private entities.  The concept is to 
provide a global marketing opportunity to key donors in order to 
raise the profile of PACT's work; to inform donors about specific 
programs and projects; and to receive pledges or in-kind donations. 
 
¶7.  (U) After receiving a 2009 USG contribution over three years for 
the Virtual University for Cancer Control (VUCC), PACT is moving 
forward with the project.  PACT recently signed an agreement with 
Hoffman-La Roche Ltd., in which the company commits to provide USD 4 
million in 2010 thorough its Roche African Research Foundation's 
EDUCARE initiative for the VUCC.  The funding will be used to launch 
the pilot phase of a large-scale project to train African cancer 
care professionals and develop common cancer control curricula 
through the VUCCnet.  The IAEA legal office is currently clearing a 
letter from the IAEA to Roche requesting the first disbursement of 
funds, approximately USD 1.4 million. (COMMENT: In subsequent 
conversations with IAEA staff members familiar with the Roche-PACT 
agreement, ethical concerns were raised in relation to the 
appearance of working with a company that has been named in several 
public lawsuits in the U.S., Africa, and Europe. To date these 
concerns have not impeded the agreement from being implemented. 
Additionally, one PACT staffer noted that using some of the Roche 
money to create cancer control curricula is unnecessary when there 
is already established and universally accepted curricula available 
to PACT that can be adapted for use in the VUCC network.  END 
COMMENT) In connection with the VUCC project, PACT also reached out 
to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation in 2009 requesting USD 500,000 in 
support.  The letter of inquiry was sent under former DG ElBaradei 
who counted Ibrahim as a personal friend.  To date PACT has not 
received a response. 
 
¶8.  (U) PACT is also exploring additional support from manufacturers 
of radiotherapy (RT) equipment. Following up on a PACT-sponsored 
meeting with manufacturers to develop more affordable cancer therapy 
equipment, innovative proposals tailored for low-resource settings 
were presented by Varian Inc. for feedback by the policy planning 
committee of the Agency, the Nuclear Applications and Health Unit 
(NAHU) and the TC Department.  Varian Inc. (a U.S. company) 
presented a complete RT package based upon a low energy accelerator 
in the USD 1 million range for commercialization in developing 
countries, with priority given to existing and planned PMDS 
countries under the PACT program.  Similar offers are expected to be 
presented to the IAEA by Elekta AB (a Swedish company). 
 
SCIENTIFIC FORUM 
---------------- 
¶9.  (U) Per DG Amano's announcement during the IAEA World Cancer Day 
event, the 2010 Scientific Forum will focus on cancer. According to 
the IAEA's Nuclear Application Program Coordinator, Andy Garner, the 
DG's Chief of Staff Rafael Grossi is responsible for coordinating 
the Forum.  Garner believes this will help ensure success and 
minimize in-fighting between PACT and TC during the planning phases 
of the Forum. (COMMENT:  Mission will engage early with Grossi on 
desired outcomes of the forum, a major announcement from PACT on new 
funding or a new initiative, and potential USG involvement on 
panels.  END COMMENT) 
 
¶10.  (U) COMMENT:  The spotlight is now squarely on PACT and in a 
year where cancer is a DG priority, PACT will have to rise to the 
occasion by mobilizing resources, creating sustainable partnerships, 
and setting realistic growth goals for 2011.  PACT cannot simply 
rest on its laurels; it must change its narrative from being "the 
new kid on the block" to a robust program that has the capacity to 
grow its donor base.  Additionally, PACT will need to re-evaluate 
its project sites, some of which are not making progress toward 
completion.  Failure to achieve major progress by the PACT program 
in 2010 could embolden those in the Secretariat who question the 
PACT business model, the DG's decision to promote PACT, and Member 
State endorsement at a time when PACT is in the spotlight.  END 
COMMENT. 
DAVIES