Ile-Ife:The African Research Group for Oncology (ARGO) is enhancing cancer care across Africa through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), precision medicine, and research, as stated by Prof. Olusegun Alatise, Head of the Department of Surgery at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC).
Accourding to News Agency of Nigeria, Prof. Alatise, who also convened the 12th Annual International Oncology Symposium, highlighted these advancements during the event held at the College of Health Sciences Auditorium. The symposium, themed ‘The New Frontier in Cancer Care Leveraging AI, Precision Medicine, and Innovative Research to Enhance Cancer Care in Africa,’ aims to boost oncology expertise, research capabilities, and multidisciplinary cancer care, focusing on breast, cervical, colorectal, and hepatobiliary cancers.
Pre-conference activities included workshops on microvascular surgery, gynaecological oncology surgery, breast oncoplasty, and the Nigerian Cancer Research Training (NCAT) programme. Established in 2013, ARGO has expanded into a 36-institution consortium dedicated to generating cancer databases and biobanks to enhance cancer outcomes throughout Africa.
The symposium is designed to equip healthcare professionals with advanced knowledge, practical skills, and collaborative networks essential for improving cancer outcomes from early detection to treatment and survivorship. Participants are engaging with both regional and international experts across various specialties including surgery, radiology, pathology, and oncology pharmacy.
Prof. Alatise emphasized the need for government partnerships with oncology professionals to subsidize cancer treatment and surgery, making them more affordable, and to support the training of Nigerian professionals to meet international standards.
Prof. Fatimah AbdulKareem, another Principal Investigator for ARGO, noted that the conference would introduce oncologists to new treatment modalities that could improve patient care and survival. Dr. Peter Kingham, Co-Founder of ARGO, stressed the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration among healthcare professionals to address rising cancer rates effectively.
Dr. Victoria Mango, Assistant Director of Global Cancer Research and Training (GCRT) in New York, added that the conference facilitated the exchange of ideas on the latest cancer research, aiming to improve survival rates among Nigerian cancer patients.