Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Center for Global Health launched the first colorectal cancer screening program in Central Asia this week, partnering with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health and National Cancer Center to pilot a sustainable, early detection model that could be scaled across the region.
Timothy R. Rebbeck, PhD, the Vincent L. Gregory, Jr. Professor of Cancer Prevention at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
A multidisciplinary Dana-Farber-led team traveled to Uzbekistan to initiate the program, introducing fecal immunochemical test (FIT) screening alongside hands-on training in colonoscopy and program infrastructure. The effort marks a major step forward in expanding access to cancer screening in low- and middle-resource settings.
“This program reflects our commitment to building cancer screening and early detection systems that are practical, sustainable, and designed for the realities of local health care systems,” said Timothy R. Rebbeck, PhD, the Vincent L. Gregory, Jr. Professor of Cancer Prevention at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and a leader of the initiative. “When cancers like colorectal cancer are found early, lives can be saved—and that principle applies everywhere.”
The pilot is being launched in close coordination with Uzbekistan’s national health leadership, which has prioritized cancer early detection and committed to supporting the program beyond its initial phase. FIT testing will be used to identify individuals at highest risk, ensuring limited colonoscopy resources are directed to those who need it most. Dana-Farber clinicians are also training local providers to strengthen long-term capacity.
Nilufar Qahorova of Harvard Medical School and Timothy Rebbeck, PhD, are pictured in Uzbekistan, working to launch the first colorectal cancer screening program in Central Asia.
Uzbekistan was selected as the program’s first site because of strong governmental support and the country’s role as a regional hub for cancer care in Central Asia. If successful, the model could be expanded nationwide and inform similar screening efforts in neighboring countries. Parallel work is underway to advance prostate cancer early detection in sub-Saharan Africa, where prostate cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death among men.
“When we say our mission is to reduce the burden of cancer everywhere, we mean everywhere,” Rebbeck said. “This work is about partnering with countries to build programs that last and have real impact.”
The Dana-Farber team will continue working with local partners to refine protocols, collect data, and plan for expansion following the pilot phase.