OUR MISSION
The mission of the International Cancer Care and Research Excellence Foundation is to give any child who is diagnosed with cancer the same chance of cure regardless of where they live. We pursue this vision through capacity building, research, improved clinical care, and financial assistance to families.
Read more about what inspired Dr. Kristin Schroeder to cofound iCCARE
OUR HISTORY
iCCARE was founded in 2014 in recognition of the lack of cancer care available in many low- and middle-income countries. While pediatric cancer has a survival rate of nearly 85% in many developed countries, cancer care is essentially non-existent in many hospitals across low-income countries. Over the past three years, iCCARE has worked to deliver and improve on cancer care– including curative therapies, supportive care, and palliative care– at Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, Tanzania.
ABOUT OUR WORK
In the United States and many other high-income countries the childhood cancer survival rate is nearly 85%. However, over 80% of new pediatric cancer diagnoses are made in low- and middle-income countries. Many of these children have little access to cancer care, and the majority die. iCCARE is working to change that.
In 2014 when iCCARE started working at Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, Tanzania, children with cancer had little hope: the survival rate was only 18%. Today, the survival rate has more than doubled. This is momentous success, but there is still a long way to go. We will not stop until we reach our mission of giving every child the same chance of a cure.
CO-FOUNDERS
CO-FOUNDERS
Kristin Schroeder, MD
Kristin Schroeder, MD MPH is a fellowship trained Pediatric Hematologist and Oncologist at Duke University and is currently living in Tanzania. She is working to improve the outcomes of the pediatric cancer patients through improving access to necessary chemotherapy, life saving medications, and reducing the barriers for completing therapy. This work is made possible through local and international donations and an incredibly dedicated team of local volunteers in Tanzania.
Nelson Chao, MD
Nelson Chao, MD, MBA is the Donald and Elizabeth Cooke Professor for Cancer Research at Duke University. He is also the chief of the Division of Hematological Malignancies and Cellular Therapy/BMT. Over the past three years he has devoted a significant portion of his time to establish a program in Global Cancer at Duke. The goal of this effort is to begin with delivery of highly needed care for patients, in conjunction with education and research to make the gains sustainable.