We are pleased to share updates from our expanding portfolio of international research capacity–building initiatives. This year, the team helped design and lead a six-day geospatial cancer research training program at the annual African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) meeting in Hammamet, Tunisia.
The program brought together 51 participants representing a broad range of professional backgrounds, including epidemiologists, clinicians, data scientists, public health officers, and early-career researchers. All were eager to strengthen their ability to use spatial data to investigate cancer risks and outcomes.
Over the course of the week, participants engaged in hands-on exercises in mapping cancer data, integrating geographic and environmental exposures, and identifying gaps in access to care using geospatial tools. The training also included a panel featuring experts from Rutgers, Dana-Farber, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Ensign Global University, who discussed real-world applications of spatial methods in global oncology.
This intensive, collaborative effort reflects Dr.Iyer’s commitment to building cancer research infrastructure worldwide—particularly in settings where access to advanced data science tools is limited, yet the need for rigorous, data-driven approaches is critical.
