Global cancer research in the post-pandemic world

In some contexts, clinicians have had to prioritise which investigations and treatments can offer the greatest benefit to patients, while simultaneously recognising and deimplementing those that offer very small benefits or might be harmful (over treatment or unfavourable risk-benefit ratio).2 Looking forward, it will be essential that this element of introspection with regards to the value of cancer care remains at the forefront of clinical research activities. The global cancer community has also reoriented itself to understand the vulnerabilities and risks of SARS-CoV-2 to different populations of patients with cancer, evaluate the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in immunocompromised patients,3 and develop high-level health system and policy tools to better understand and mitigate the impact of delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Again, a combination of factors, from macro-economic downturns to loss of health-care professionals, will be most acutely felt across LMICs and, in turn, negatively affect nascent cancer research collaborations.7 The directors of the USA National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the NCI Centre for Global Health jointly called for cancer as a global health priority.8 This timely and important call recognises the reality of where we stand today.