Trends in International Cancer Research Investment 2006-2018.

The International Cancer Research Partnership (ICRP) is an active network of cancer research funding organizations, sharing information about funded research projects in a common database. Data are publicly available to enable the cancer research community to find potential collaborators and avoid duplication. This study presents an aggregated analysis of projects funded by 120 partner organizations and institutes in 2006-2018, to highlight trends in cancer research funding. Overall, the partners' funding for cancer research increased from $5.562 billion (bn) US dollars (USD) in 2006 to $8.511bn USD in 2018, an above-inflation increase in funding. Analysis by the main research focus of projects using Common Scientific Outline categories showed that Treatment was the largest investment category in 2018, followed by Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Prognosis; Cancer Biology; Etiology; Control, Survivorship, and Outcomes; and Prevention. Over the 13 years covered by this analysis, research funding into Treatment and Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Prognosis had increased in terms of absolute investment and as a proportion of the portfolio. Research funding in Cancer Biology and Etiology declined as a percentage of the portfolio, and funding for Prevention and Control, Survivorship and Outcomes remained static. In terms of cancer site-specific research, funding for breast cancer and colorectal cancer had increased in absolute terms but declined as a percentage of the portfolio. By contrast, investment for brain cancer, lung cancer, leukemia, melanoma, and pancreatic cancer increased both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the portfolio.

A collaborative care approach to complex diabetic foot ulceration.

This article highlights the complex issues that surround the management of diabetic foot ulceration. It describes how the disciplines of podiatry and tissue viability came together to care for a patient who required complex wound management. The importance of collaborative working is highlighted, which has been shown to reduce amputation rates by 50% (Edmonds, 2002). Through exploration of a case study, certain issues emerged--wound infection, wound management, psychosocial factors and teamworking--and these are discussed. The link between diabetic foot ulceration and amputation is explored and the argument put forward that amputation should have been the first choice for this patient bearing in mind that 30% of amputees lose their second leg within 5 years (Geary, 2002).