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Prof. Fujiwara’s Invited Guest Speaker and Presidential Plenary Topic for IGCS 2024 

This year Prof. Fujiwara’s invited guest speaker and presidential plenary at IGCS 2024 Annual Global Meeting will focus on overcoming barriers and implementing effective strategies to eliminate cervical cancer. Cervical cancer, a preventable and treatable disease, remains a significant health issue in many parts of the world despite our extensive knowledge and experience. 

Invited Presidential Guest Speaker: Sayaka Ikeda, MD, PhD  
HPV Vaccination in Japan: Overcoming the Challenges and Setbacks 
Wednesday, October 16 at 11:30 AM IST (Irish Standard Time)  

Since the decision by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) to suspend the proactive recommendation of HPV vaccine in Japan, Dr. Ikeda has been involved in research on the effectiveness of HPV vaccine, demonstrating its effectiveness in preventing intraepithelial lesions and contributing to the establishment of evidence on which the MHLW's decision to resume proactive recommendation. Dr. Ikeda will share her and her team’s exhaustive efforts to reinstate HPV vaccination recommendations from both clinical and research perspectives.  

Sayaka Ikeda
Visiting Academic Staff
Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine
Japan

Presidential Plenary: Eliminating Cervical Cancer: Overcoming Barriers and Implementing Effective Strategies  
Thursday, October 17 at 2:15 PM IST (Irish Standard Time) 

Science shows cervical cancer can be prevented through screening and vaccination. The World Health Organization has set an ambitious goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, a target that is within our reach through effective screening and vaccination programs. Surprisingly, even in well-educated and economically advanced countries, dissemination of preventive measures faces obstacles. By examining successful models, such as Rwanda's impressive 98% vaccination rate and engaging with diverse populations, use of guidelines in this area, we can identify and implement strategies that work such as vaccination and Nigeria in the recent months.  

However, to achieve this goal, we must address social barriers that impede progress. Obstacles in high income and in low-middle income settings that include social stigma and perception, lack of effective screening systems, low vaccination coverage, and the lack of awareness and knowledge about cervical cancer prevention. 

The presidential plenary aims to facilitate these crucial discussions, guided by experienced speakers who bring real-world insights and ideas, helping us turn hope into reality and move towards a future free from cervical cancer. The following are the invited panelists who will share their experiences in a brief presentation prior to a moderated panel discussion by Keiichi Fujiwara and Donal Brennan.  

  • Dr. Susan Citonje Msadabwe-Chikuni (Zambia) will discuss the use of NCCN Harmonized Guidelines. 
  • Dr. Sharon Katai Kapambwe (Zambia) will present data from WHO (World Health Organization) Africa. 
  • Dr. Tony Holohan (Ireland) will share the challenges of starting a screening and vaccination program in Ireland.  
  • Isaac Adewole (Nigeria) will share the experience of recently initiating a vaccination program in Nigeria.  

At the conclusion of the session the Irish Society of Gynecologic Oncology will present a video on Laura Brennan, who was a fierce advocate for screening and vaccination who passed away in March 2019. Laura’s parents, Larry and Bernie Brennan, will be present for a special award presentation.  

Learn more about Laura and her passion for driving awareness for cervical cancer. Laura Brennan Award.  

Presidential Plenary Panelists

Susan Citonje Msadabwe-Chikuni  
Consultant Clinical and Radiation Oncologist | Cancer Diseases Hospital 
Sub-Saharan Chair of the NCCN Harmonized Guidelines 
Zambia 

Dr. Msadabwe is a Clinical and Radiation Oncologist at the Cancer Diseases Hospital, the only radiation therapy facility in Zambia. She is also the Senior Medical Superintendent of the hospital directing the administrative and clinical affairs of the hospital having previously served as the Head of Clinical Care, coordinating the clinical, research and training operations at the hospital. She is the National Director of the specialist training program in Clinical and Radiation Oncology overseeing the specialization of medical Doctors into clinical and Radiation oncologists in Zambia. She also serves as the vice chairperson of the Zambia National Cancer Control Team working and part of the core team that developed the 2016-2021 and 2022-2026 Zambia National Cancer Control Strategic plans. She is a member of the African Cancer Coalition and Allied Against Cancer and serves as Chair for the NCCN Harmonized Guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa for Gynecologic cancer. She is the current patron of the Education and Training committee for the largest African Cancer Organisation (AORTIC) having served as Co-Chair from 2019 to 2023. She is also the current President of the Clinical and Radiation Oncology Society of Zambia. Her research and Clinical interests are in Gynae cancer and leads the Gynae Onc team including EBRT and Brachytherapy at the hospital and successfully transitioned from 2D to 3D and interstitial in HDR brachytherapy

Tony Holohan  
CMO (Chief Medical Officer) Director 
Centre for One Health Adjunct Full Professor, University College Dublin 
Ireland 

Tony was appointed in July 2022 as Adjunct Full Professor of Public Health in UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences. In 2023 he was appointed as Director of a new One Health Centre in the College of Health and Agricultural Sciences in UCD. He was awarded an Adjunct Full Professorship in the School of Public Health and Primary Care in Trinity College Dublin in March 2024. He was appointed as chair of the governance committee of FutureNeuro, a Science Foundation Ireland research Centre for Chronic and Rare Neurological Diseases in early 2024. Tony is also a board member of the Irish Hospice Foundation. He also works with the WHO at the European level including in relation to public health leadership, health and the wellbeing economy and One Health. Tony is a member of the recently established Advisory Committee on Public Health Emergencies’ (ACPHE) established to advise the European Commission with the decision-making process regarding the formal recognition of a public health emergency at EU level. Tony served as Chief Medical Officer in Ireland for 14 years from 2008 to 2002 during which he led Ireland's public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He works as a consultant in public health medicine in the National Cancer Control Programme.

Isaac Adewole 
Gynaecologic Oncology Unit, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, 
Nigeria 

Prof. Isaac F. Adewole is a former Minister of Health, Nigeria; former Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; and former President of Africa Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer. He is the co-founder of the African Cancer Coalition and a member of the International Taskforce on Elimination of Cervical Cancer in the Commonwealth. Prof. Adewole is a global health expert and leader. He has led several research projects on prevention, diagnosis, and capacity building on cervical cancer in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa. He has authored more than 250 publications on topics such as cervical cancer, sexual and reproductive health and rights, abortion, HIV and Human Papillomavirus(Total Citation 18,526; h index43; i10-index 130). He was a Commissioner on the WHO High Level Commission on NCD (2018-2019) and the Lancet Oncology Commission on Cancer Control in Sub-Sahara Africa. He is also a member UNESCO/UNFPA sponsored High Level Committee on West and Central Africa (WCA) Commitment for educated, healthy and thriving adolescents and young people. Currently, he is involved with reviewing the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Harmonized Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa and currently serving on the Lancet Commission on Cancer and Health systems

Sayaka Ikeda
Visiting Academic Staff
Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine
Japan

Sayaka Ikeda specialized in obstetrics and gynecology, Ph.D., visiting academic staff at Osaka University. Since the decision by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) to suspend the proactive recommendation of HPV vaccine in Japan, she has been involved in research on the effectiveness of HPV vaccine, demonstrating its effectiveness in preventing intraepithelial lesions and contributing to the establishment of evidence on which the MHLW's decision to resume proactive recommendation. She continues to work toward the elimination of cervical cancer from both clinical and research perspectives.

Donal Brennan  (Moderator)
UCD Professor of Gynaecological Oncology 
Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist 
Mater Hospital Dublin 
Ireland 

Donal Brennan is a Clinician Scientist who graduated from the UCD School of Medicine and received a PhD in Cancer Biology from UCD. His research interests include ovarian cancer immunology, obesity related carcinogenesis and the development of evidence-based survivorship services for women living with and after cancer. He has helped develop and continues to work with a number of patient advocacy groups, firmly believing that patients should be involved in all stages of research and service development plans. Donal has received several awards for research, and was the inaugural recipient European Young Researcher of the Year in 2010. In 2016 he was appointed as Professor of Gynaecological Oncology and Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist at UCD and the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin. Donal and his team subsequently developed the UCD Gynaecological Oncology Group which was accredited as an ESGO Centre for Ovarian Cancer surgery in 2020 and ESGO training site in 2021 and is now the largest gynaecological cancer centre in Ireland. Donal is also a principal investigator in Systems Biology Ireland and leads multiple clinical trials and translational research projects. In 2023 he was appointed National Clinical Lead for Cancer Research in Ireland.