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The Christie Institute for Cancer Education Manchester has launched a new international educational partnership with the National Cancer Institute under the SCALE programme (Strengthening Health Workforce Capacity through Global Learning).
The programme is implemented with support from Global Health Partnerships, in cooperation with the UK Department of Health and Social Care, under the International Medical Partnerships initiative. The collaboration is aimed at a two-way exchange of knowledge, experience, and best practices to improve the quality of cancer care.
In December 2025, The Christie hosted the first of three groups of Ukrainian observer physicians for an in-person clinical internship and educational events — masterclasses and professional discussions.
Over the course of three visits, National Cancer Institute physicians and specialists worked alongside The Christie's teams in various clinical and research departments, familiarizing themselves with specialized services while sharing their own experience of providing cancer care under conditions of full-scale war.
| Group | Focus | Training Lead |
|---|---|---|
| First (December 2025) | Clinical oncology | Professor Ananya Choudhury |
| Second | Oncological surgery | Professor Omer Aziz, colorectal surgeon |
| Third (January 2026) | Clinical oncology | Dr Jonathan Lim |
"Hosting colleagues from the National Cancer Institute at The Christie was both an honour and a source of inspiration for us. Their dedication to providing high-quality cancer care under extremely difficult conditions is a powerful reminder of how important international cooperation and solidarity are."
Ananya Choudhury, Professor at The Christie
"Hearing first-hand about the challenges of providing cancer care during wartime was extremely important. We are sincerely grateful to our Ukrainian colleagues for this visit and hope our collaboration will grow into a strong professional partnership."
Omer Aziz, Professor, colorectal surgeon
Danylo Kovalenko, a radiology engineer at the National Cancer Institute, noted the high level of organization in the clinic's research departments and emphasized the practical value of the knowledge gained for further implementation in Ukraine.
Valerii Kostikov, a gynecologic oncologist at the National Cancer Institute's Department of Female Reproductive System Tumors, noted that The Christie's approach to organizing nursing work is extremely valuable for developing patient-centered approaches in Ukraine.
Veronika Patsko, Head of the National Cancer Institute's Department of Clinical Oncology, emphasized that one of the key elements she would like to adapt at the Institute is a well-developed system of nursing education and practice focused on patient needs.
During the programme, The Christie was visited by Zubir Ahmed, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the UK Department of Health and Social Care. He met with British and Ukrainian doctors and highlighted the importance of international support for Ukraine's healthcare sector, noting that even in wartime, cancer requires continuous attention and treatment.
Summing up the programme, Rachel Chown, Deputy Director for Research and Education Strategy, noted that supporting Ukrainian medical teams under such conditions is both a professional and human duty of the international community.
The partners plan to continue developing cooperation with the National Cancer Institute and other Ukrainian medical institutions. As part of the ongoing international dialogue, Rachel Chown has been invited to deliver a keynote address at the UK Global Health Summit on 18 March 2026 at the Royal College of Physicians in London. The event is dedicated to the role of international partnerships in strengthening healthcare systems.
