GMKA Co-Executive Director Shares Ukraine’s Experience in Cancer Care on the AACR Foundation Podcast

In 2025, as Ukraine’s healthcare system continued to operate under the pressures of war, the Global Medical Knowledge Alliance (GMKA) brought Ukraine’s experience in cancer care to the global stage at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in Chicago. This marked an important step in international knowledge exchange, highlighting Ukrainian medical expertise and strengthening global educational and research collaboration.

Dr. Inesa Huivaniuk MD, MPA, Co-Executive Director of GMKA Ukraine and a surgical oncologist at the Kyiv Regional Oncology Center, appeared on the AACR Foundation podcast Believe in Progress. She spoke about the realities of practicing medicine during wartime, GMKA’s efforts to improve cancer care in Ukraine, and about plans that have since evolved into a large-scale collaboration — the AACR on Campus Ukraine–Poland Collaboration 2026, organized jointly with AACR and the Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology (MSCI).

“GMKA’s mission is to strengthen Ukraine’s medical capacity through strategic partnerships with leading international healthcare institutions and Ukrainian hospitals. With a strong emphasis on oncology, GMKA works to modernize cancer care, enhance clinical training, and transform the delivery of life-saving services across the country. We are developing educational programs, supporting Ukrainian physicians through observerships at leading U.S. hospitals, and providing free access to learning resources. We also support scientific research through partnerships with international organizations, including AACR,” she explained.

The AACR Foundation podcast provided an opportunity to deliver a crucial message to a global audience: cancer does not stop during war, and Ukrainian clinicians continue to work under constant threat, severe resource shortages, and extreme workloads.

“The most difficult period was the first months of the full-scale invasion: mass displacement, loss of medical records, shortages of equipment and medications, and direct attacks on hospitals. Despite this, Ukraine has restored the full cycle of oncology care in most regions, except for temporarily occupied territories — largely thanks to international support. At the same time, the system continues to face critical shortages of specialized oncology drugs and major logistical challenges,” Dr. Huivaniuk emphasized.

She also recalled the Russian missile attack on Kyiv’s Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in 2024, which became a tragic symbol of the challenges facing Ukrainian healthcare during the war.

International support — particularly partnerships between Ukrainian and international hospitals — remains critical to improving cancer care in Ukraine. Such collaboration allows Ukrainian specialists to adopt global best practices while offering international physicians and researchers insight into delivering care under extreme conditions — experience that may shape the future of oncology far beyond Ukraine.

The AACR community has a global membership of over 61,000 scientists, health care professionals, and patient advocates from 143 countries and territories. For GMKA, partnership with AACR is strategically important, providing access to global expertise, advanced educational resources, and mentorship for Ukrainian physicians and researchers.

A major milestone of this partnership is the AACR on Campus Ukraine–Poland Collaboration, scheduled for 2026 in Poland — a country that has supported Ukrainian patients and healthcare professionals since the start of the fullscale war and serves as a vital hub for cross-border cooperation.

The AACR on Campus format includes in-person lectures, workshops, and discussions with leading AACR experts. The initiative aims to strengthen interdisciplinary and international collaboration, advance medical education and research, and foster lasting professional connections between Ukrainian and Polish oncology communities.

“This event is exceptionally valuable because it will bring together Ukrainian and Polish physicians and scientists for learning, knowledge exchange, and the development of long-term collaboration. Such interaction creates a strong foundation for future joint projects,” noted Dr. Huivaniuk.

The collaboration between GMKA and AACR demonstrates how international partnerships can transform the challenges of war into opportunities for growth.

“Despite the war, Ukraine continues to move forward, evolve, and change. We have a strong community of oncologists and researchers eager to learn and build a sustainable system of cancer care and research. What we truly need is support from our colleagues abroad — their voices, mentorship, and expert guidance in developing medical education and research. This kind of support drives progress,” she concluded.