iPRI 2017-2018 Biennial Report

iPRI is pleased to present its 2017 – 2018 Biennial Report. This 170-page publication, summarizes the Institute’s multiple projects, collaboration agreements and publications produced during the two year period.

The PDF can be dowloaded by clicking here. (17mb).

Below, please find the Report’s Executive Summary.

Executive Summary

The International Prevention Research Institute (iPRI) will celebrate the tenth anniversary of its founding (April, 2009) and has recently moved from Ecully-ouest-Lyon into more spacious premises in Dardilly-ouest-Lyon.

iPRI provides private and public sector organisations with independent authoritative evidence and guidance on critical health risk issues. iPRI is a not-for-profit with any funds left over at the end of a year used to allow iPRI to grow or to fund studies or activities which could not find funding otherwise.

iPRI is an academic, problem-solving institute that works closely with a number of leading institutes and senior figures from different corners of the world on a variety of projects. These have accepted appointments as iPRI Senior Research Fellows. The international flavour of iPRI activities is reflected in the international nature of the staff: three nationalities in iPRI Management, six in iPRI Services and forty among the Senior Research Fellows.

The International Prevention Research Institute (iPRI) comprises two legal entities: iPRI Management and iPRI Services. The former comprises the initial partners and the latter the salaried staff. Each is run as a not-for-profit with any funds left over at the end of a year used to allow iPRI to grow or to fund studies or activities which could not find funding otherwise.

The World Prevention Alliance was established as an Association in France under the Loi 1903. This is used to facilitate the funding of studies and other activities in lower-resource settings where all funds collected for such activities can be spent directly. For example, the Annual Meeting of National Cancer Institute Directors attracts upwards of 120 Cancer Experts from many countries with the majority of participants from low- or middle-income countries. Travel costs and all local expenses of these participants are covered by the World Prevention Alliance.

In June 2013, a formal Memorandum of Agreement was signed between iPRI and the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. This established the Strathclyde Institute of Global Public Health at iPRI. The aims of this Institute are many but there are several dominant goals. First of all, there is the opening of possibilities for research programmes to be developed between iPRI and the University. Strathclyde University has many strengths including in the broad area of Engineering. Developments in Social Engineering have made an enormous contribution to the current state of public health in high-resource countries and the transfer of knowledge to lower-resource settings will almost certainly make a significant contribution to public health. In addition, a Master’s and doctoral programme is foreseen aimed at students from lower-resource countries, allowing the Institute to make a contribution to capacity building in lower-resource countries. In collaboration with colleagues in the University of Strathclyde and King’s College London, iPRI is a partner in a wide-ranging programme dealing with Health during Conflict and post-Conflict Public Health.

In the context of Cancer, iPRI philosophy is that we exist to Prevent people getting Cancer, to Prevent people getting advanced cancer, to Prevent people dying from cancer, and to Prevent pain and suffering among cancer patients. Similar arguments apply to Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and other chronic diseases.

A number of significant developments took place in the biennium which reinforce to philosophy which iPRI follows in determining its activities.

iPRI signed an agreement with the Istituto Europeo di Oncologia (IEO). This Institute has developed an outstanding reputation in Oncology based on a specialist Cancer Hospital with a major basic and clinical research programme. In addition, the IEO Group also comprised the outstanding Centro Cardiologico Monzino, a major centre for research and treatment of cardiovascular disease. There are a number of specific aims in this collaboration but the overall focus will be on extending international collaboration and helping improve the delivery of Oncological care to countries and regions at a wide range of resource levels.

iPRI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (IAPO). IAPO activity is focused on promoting patient-centric healthcare. IAPO achieves this by being the global voice for all who suffer from any disease, disability, illness, impairment or syndrome, and by being the focal point for patients’ organisations worldwide. While iPRI can assist in developing projects with IAPO and its members, it importantly allows iPRI to have the Patients’  Voice in all its studies and activities.

The National Cancer Institute of Vietnam and iPRI have created the Indochine Cancer Consortium with the Mittaphab Hospital of Laos and National Cancer Center of Calmette Hospital in Cambodia. Initially foreseen to have a single focus on Cancer, this has been extended to cover all major chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

By integrating strong epidemiological methodology with clinical expertise, it is hoped to improve prospects for both primary prevention and tertiary prevention.

Professor Peter Boyle
President, iPRI