From War to Recovery: How Global Collaboration Sustains Cancer Research and Care in Ukraine

By Rostyslav Semikov, MD, MSc, cofounder and chairman, Peace and Development Foundation

In 2016, I became a member of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and attended my first AACR Annual Meeting in New Orleans as a young cancer researcher and life sciences entrepreneur from Ukraine. It was the largest and most advanced scientific meeting I had ever experienced—an environment where groundbreaking discoveries, global collaboration, and shared purpose converge to accelerate progress against cancer.

One of the most memorable moments was when then-U.S. Vice President Joe Biden presented the Cancer Moonshot initiative—an ambitious vision grounded in collaboration. Biden emphasized how collaboration across the cancer community was the key to accelerating science. But I would later learn how global collaboration is also the key to sustaining science when faced with a devastating crisis.

War Disrupts Entire Oncology Ecosystem in Ukraine

In February 2022, the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine triggered a profound disruption of health care and research. This impact has been extensively documented. For example, my colleagues’ publication in The Lancet Oncology highlighted how the war has led to delays in diagnosis, interruptions in treatment, and damage to oncology infrastructure, placing patients at significant risk.

At the same time, research activities—including clinical trials and biospecimen logistics—have been severely constrained. Additionally, clinicians and researchers have been displaced from their homes and institutions and forced to risk their safety in order to care for patients or continue their work.

The war has fractured the entire ecosystem of cancer care and research in Ukraine. Yet, within this disruption, a counterforce has emerged: global transformative collaboration where AACR played a vital role.

From AACR Dialogue to Action for Ukraine

Within weeks of Russia’s invasion, AACR issued a formal statement emphasizing that war interrupts cancer care and research globally, increases patient vulnerability, disrupts supply chains, and threatens long-term scientific progress. Then, at the AACR Annual Meeting 2022—which Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc), opened wearing blue and yellow as a symbol of solidarity with Ukraine—David Tuveson, MD, PhD, FAACR, who was AACR President at the time, announced the launch of the AACR Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund.

Through the AACR Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund, the Peace and Development Foundation was selected to help implement programs supporting Ukrainian oncology professionals. This collaboration has since enabled 242 observership visits by 114 Ukrainian physicians across 33 leading U.S. institutions and a dozen top conferences. Among institutions and cancer centers attended in collaboration with AACR were AdventHealth, Fox Chase, Stanford University, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Rice University, Louisiana Cancer Research Center, Louisiana State University, and Tulane University.

These observerships provide immersive exposure to integrated oncology systems—where diagnostics, clinical care, and research operate as a unified whole. They serve as a prime example of how global collaboration can transform from an abstract principle into a practical mechanism for sustaining oncology under crisis—and the impact is already measurable.

For instance, following collaboration with Fox Chase Cancer Center initiated by Jonathan Chernoff, MD, PhD, Ukrainian investigators conducted and published the PECORINO trial, representing a major milestone in the country’s independent clinical research capacity.

Houston 2024: Where Science Meets Inspiration

Among all observership experiences, our 2024 visit to Houston particularly stands out.

Houston—home to the world’s largest medical complex—offers a unique environment where innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and clinical excellence intersect. For Ukrainian physicians, this observership was not only educational but also deeply personal.

One of the most unforgettable moments was spending time with Jim Allison, PhD, FAACR, and his incredible team at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Engaging directly with pioneers of cancer immunotherapy brought textbook concepts into a real-world context.

Discussions extended beyond science to practical applications: how immunotherapy advances and molecular oncology approaches could be adapted to improve cancer care in Ukraine—even amid war.

Equally impactful were meetings with pathology and genetic counseling teams led by Donna Hansel, MD, PhD, and Banu Arun, MD, where participants observed how pathology, genomics, and clinical decision-making are seamlessly integrated in modern oncology systems.

A defining intellectual moment came during conversations with Andrew Futreal, PhD, FAACR. Hearing firsthand about the discovery of BRCA gene mutations—and the evolution of genomic medicine—was both humbling and motivating. His emphasis on “team science,” embedded within the Cancer Moon Shots Program under Ron DePinho, MD, FAACR, reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration.

Additionally, David S. Hong, MD, whose work in biomarker-driven trials illustrates the future of precision oncology, shared insights into structuring trials, identifying funding, and integrating molecular data into clinical practice. Ignacio Wistuba, MD, a renowned translational molecular pathology investigator, shared valuable insights into biobanking practices, including both internal programs and collaborations with the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute. He highlighted how the seamless integration of patient biospecimens with clinical and molecular data plays an important role in advancing precision oncology.

Samir Hanash, MD, PhD, presented cutting-edge work on liquid biopsy approaches, highlighting a shift toward early detection and prevention. And discussions with James Tour, PhD, and Ciceron Ayala-Orozco, PhD, introduced novel technologies such as molecular “jackhammers,” demonstrating the power of interdisciplinary science and collaboration between local institutions.

Meeting scientists whose discoveries changed oncology was transformative. It showed that progress is driven by vision, persistence, and collaboration.

Resilience Through Knowledge Exchange

The impact of these observerships extends far beyond individual participants.

Physicians return to Ukraine with new clinical approaches, research methodologies, and a renewed sense of purpose. Many integrate these insights into daily practice, education, and collaborative research initiatives—creating a multiplier effect across institutions.

Findings reported in BMJ Open demonstrate how these structured international training programs have led to measurable improvements in clinical practice and knowledge dissemination, reinforcing their value in crisis settings.

AACR on Campus Poland/Ukraine: Bringing Collaboration Closer

The long-term vision extends beyond sustaining current efforts. It is about building a resilient, globally connected oncology research ecosystem in Ukraine—one capable of contributing to scientific progress even in the face of adversity. To help achieve this, the next step is to bring global collaboration closer to the region, which can be challenging during a war.

As with many neighboring nations shaped by centuries of history, Ukraine and Poland were once adversaries. Our relationship was marked by prolonged conflict, including wars that extended into the 20th century.

Yet the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 transformed this dynamic in a profound and historic way. The people of Poland extended an unprecedented welcome to millions of Ukrainian refugees, while the Polish state provided critical humanitarian and military support.

Now, these countries are collaborating on AACR on Campus Poland/Ukraine, which is taking place August 6-7 in Warsaw, Poland. This event will provide young and mid-career oncology professionals in both countries with direct access to world-leading experts—without the barriers of long-distance travel during wartime.

The program will focus on cancer research and treatment topics relevant to Poland and Ukraine, including:

• cancer prevention and early detection;
• quality of life and quality of care in cancer management;
• observational studies and learning from real-world data; and
• cost-effectiveness in cancer treatment.

This is not simply an academic initiative—it is a strategic effort to rebuild a research ecosystem disrupted by the war.

From Resilience to Recovery

Looking ahead, we plan to continue to support young investigators by expanding access to international observerships, mentorship, and hands-on participation in research, while actively facilitating new clinical trials, collaborative projects, and grant opportunities through partnerships with nonprofit, government, and private organizations.

A central priority is enabling Ukrainian physicians and scientists not only to gain experience, but also to sustain careers in research and clinical innovation within their own country. Our long-term vision beyond the war is to establish a life sciences research hub in Ukraine—integrating biobanking, clinical care, and multiomics research—to serve as a platform for precision oncology, global collaboration, and sustainable scientific growth.

Even in the face of war, collaboration ensures that progress in cancer research and care does not stop—it adapts, endures, and moves forward.

The trajectory that we hope to achieve from war to recovery has and will continue to depend on sustained engagement from the global scientific community. Even in the face of war, collaboration ensures that progress in cancer research and care does not stop—it adapts, endures, and moves forward.

Learn more about the Peace and Development Foundation and register to attend AACR on Campus Poland/Ukraine by May 15.