
On October 23, Dr. Ted Trimble, Director of the Center for Global Health at the U.S. National Cancer Institute met with counterparts at the Federal Office of Public Health and the State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation to exchange views and explore areas for collaboration on cancer-related initiatives. He was accompanied by Dr. Ann Chao, Senior Advisor for Cancer and Non-Communicable Diseases at the U.S. Mission in Geneva.
At the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Canton Aargau, Dr. Trimble discussed cancer imaging technologies adapted for use in developing countries with PSI’s Chief Medical Physicist Tony Lomax and visited the Institute’s proton therapy facilities. In Bern, Dr. Trimble also exchanged views with the Swiss National Science Foundation and the University of Bern’s Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine on tobacco cessation, cancer screening, and HPV vaccination initiatives.
On October 24, Drs. Trimble and Chao met with leadership of the University of Geneva’s Institute of Global Health to discuss collaboration on the 2018 Geneva Health Forum, which will focus on digital health approaches with relevance for global health.
Three questions for Dr. Trimble:
Why did you come to Switzerland?
To explore opportunities for joint cancer research between Switzerland and the U.S., as well as to meet with some of the key international agencies and non-governmental organizations based in Switzerland.
What impressed you during your visit?
I was impressed by the commitment of the Swiss academic community and government to make progress in cancer research and control.
How do you see Swiss-U.S. collaboration going forward on cancer research?
We look forward to following up on a variety of projects across the spectrum of cancer research and control that we identified in the great meetings and visits we had in Switzerland.