Strategic Affiliations

The Gut Cancer Foundation is proud to collaborate with other non-profits, coalitions, and strategic affiliates both at home and overseas, to further our mission to improve and save the lives of New Zealanders affected by gut cancers.

GI Cancer Institue Australia/ Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group (AGITG)

Since 1991, AGITG have been committed to changing outcomes for people with cancers of the digestive system. Their key priority is to undertake research to improve patient care and medical practice. The 60 clinical trials conducted by the AGITG, since the group was first formed as a network of investigators, have involved over 7,000 participants treated at 115 sites in Australia, 8 sites in New Zealand, and 110 sites located across Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

In many ways, it was AGITG that inspired the creation of GCF. GCF was originally established to try and fill the funding gap that often prevents AGITG trials from taking place in New Zealand. This role remains a key pillar of GCF’s strategic priorities to this day.

Since GCF was established in 2008, the chair of AGITG has always sat on the GCF board. The 2 organisations have shared other board members and our teams regularly share ideas and best practices in areas such as fundraising and marketing. Members of the GCF Board and Scientific Advisory Committee have held membership and key positions within AGITG giving the 2 organisations an integral link through New Zealand’s clinical expertise.

To find out more visit: https://gicancer.org.au/about-the-agitg/

Pancare Foundation

The Gut Cancer Foundation and Pancare Foundation have joined in a unique partnership between leading cancer charities in New Zealand and Australia which aims to lift survival rates and improve quality of life for patients suffering from cancers of the upper digestive system, known as upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancers.

The partnership includes collaboration on a broad range of initiatives including co-investing in research, fundraising, sharing IP and digital assets and others, all with the aim of improving outcomes for upper GI patients.

Gastro Intestinal Special Interest Group

The New Zealand gastrointestinal cancers special interest group (GISIG) is a group of GI cancer interested clinicians. They represent specialist nurses and doctors from various fields including but not limited to surgical, medical, and radiation oncology, pathology, gastroenterology, genetics and interventional radiology. Their aims of patient advocacy working towards equitable access to effective therapy, prevention, screening and testing technologies align perfectly with our mission. GISIG act as a venue for interdisciplinary education, research and collaboration.

GCF and GISIG work closely together to develop advocacy strategy and act as a voice for New Zealanders impacted by gut cancers. GISIG members also make applications for GCF's research funding rounds.

CANGO

The Gut Cancer Foundation ia a member of CANGO, a group of nine cancer NGOs undertaking cross-sector work in New Zealand. Right now CANGO is lobbying the government for faster access to cancer treatment. Most cancer patients have no time to wait and many are dying prematurely because they do not have access to the right medicines at the right time in their treatment cycle. Many of these medicines are freely available in other OECD countries.

Find out more about our Strategic Affiliations here:

Pancreatic Cancer Aotearoa New Zealand

Pancreatic Cancer Aotearoa / New Zealand (PCANZ) was started by GCF ambassador Briony O'Farrell in September 2019, after losing her father a month prior to this disease, just five weeks after his diagnosis.

PCANZ is an online support group for anyone affected by pancreatic cancer. The group also holds in person coffee mornings in Christchurch and Auckland.

Find our more at https://www.facebook.com/PanCa...

World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition

The Gut Cancer Foundation is New Zealand's representative on the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition. The WPCC is group of over 100 NGO's from 28 countries all round the world. The coalition holds an annual meeting brings together WPCC members from around the globe to share expertise and experience in advocating for pancreatic cancer patients. It also runs an annual World Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day on the 3rd Thursday of November.