African Esophageal Cancer Consortium

USA

The African Esophageal Cancer Consortium (AfrECC) is a disease-specific research network focused on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), one of the most lethal and prevalent cancers in parts of East Africa. It brings together researchers, clinicians, and public health specialists from countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia, working in high-incidence regions like Eldoret, Moshi, and Addis Ababa. The network’s goal is to understand the environmental, genetic, and lifestyle risk factors associated with ESCC, improve early detection methods, and explore appropriate and affordable treatment strategies. AfrECC supports collaborative research studies, data sharing, capacity building, and patient-focused interventions, with support from major global health institutions like the U.S. National Cancer Institute. It’s one of the few regional efforts addressing a neglected but deadly cancer.