Wales Cancer Industry Forum

The Wales Cancer Industry Forum, led by the Wales Cancer Network and supported by Life Sciences Hub Wales and other key organisations, serves as a collaborative platform. It facilitates engagement between the pharmaceutical, biotech, and wider commercial sectors and the NHS in Wales.

About the Forum

The Forum supports cross sector representation in partnerships and collaborative working and is an opportunity for organisations to input on cancer outcomes in Wales. Members participate in an advisory capacity and usually meet as a Forum bi-annually to discuss policy around cancer research and services, and to explore collaborative opportunities. All work must be for patient benefit.

The Forum aims to:

Create a place and structure for strategic dialogue and collaborative working between pharmaceutical and other commercial organisations and NHS partners on cancer services and research.
Access knowledge held by pharmaceutical and other commercial organisations in relation to key areas of public policy and research in the cancer sector and assess impacts on the delivery of public services.
Increase awareness of the potential and actual impact that the work of pharmaceutical and other commercial organisations has on the citizens of Wales.

Objectives

The role of the Industry Forum is to create a structure for dialogue and collaborative working between interested pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostic companies and stakeholders responsible for improving cancer services and research across Wales (such as NHS Wales and Welsh Government partners) to improve patient care.

This can help with accessing knowledge held by pharmaceutical and other commercial organisations in relation to key areas of public policy and research in the cancer sector and assess impacts on the delivery of public services.

Task and finish groups will be established based on expression of interests from the membership of the Forum. Members of these groups will work between formal Industry Forum meetings and link to existing NHS Wales groups. 

Who is this Forum for?

The Wales Cancer Industry Forum is an open forum for organisations operating within the cancer field in Wales. Members of the Forum will be invited to attend by a representative of the Wales Cancer Network, Wales Cancer Research Centre or the Chair of Forum, with the aim of being inclusive of all potential partners including:

Wales Cancer Network Industry Forum
NHS Wales
Wales Cancer Research Centre
Welsh Government
Life Sciences Hub Wales
Pharmaceutical, Biotech, devices and diagnostics industry
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI)
Community Pharmacy Wales
Public, Patients and Third Sector organisations – or anyone who accesses it via the Cancer Network website

What is the network currently working on?

The Industry Forum has recently formed four sub-groups to drive forward innovative projects in partnership between industry, the NHS and third sector, with patient and public involvement at their heart:

Welsh Cancer Data
Early Cancer Diagnosis
Genomics, Advanced Therapies and Precision Medicine

Potential opportunities currently being discussed include:

Exploring a once-for-Wales approach to liquid biopsy adoption
Community diagnostic hubs
Underway/soon: TNE, Cytosponge…
Your input to our ‘towards zero deaths from bowel cancer’ research?

What organisations are involved in this Forum?

A range of organisations working at the forefront of cancer research and development support this networking. This includes industry, government, trade associations, NHS and third sector and patient groups.

How can people get involved?

Welsh Cancer Data
Early Cancer Diagnosis
Research & Development in Wales and Clinical Research Model
Genomics, Advanced Therapies and Precision Medicine

There is a closed invitation list, but you can request to join by contacting wcn.r&i@wales.nhs.uk.