Focused workshops such as those organized by the Tata Memorial Hospital and the Indian Cancer Grid, the Medical Oncology Group of Australia, the American Association of Cancer Research and the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the European Society of Medical Oncology present opportunities for young investigators to develop ideas for clinical research with mentoring by senior researchers and biostatisticians. Other examples of fruitful international collaborations in cancer research include work in the epidemiology and treatment of paediatric cancer15; screening for cervical cancer16; treatment of HIV-associated cancer17; global variation in the molecular biology and epidemiology of breast, lung and prostate cancers18,19,20; effects of environmental/occupational exposures such as arsenic and benzene21,22 and delivery of palliative care23. Thanks to decades of cancer research, we know that all cases of cervical cancer are caused by chronic infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), modified by other risk factors, including exposure to tobacco smoke, parity and immunologic status. ...the various initiatives highlighted above offer clear evidence that by working together to improve data, to conduct research across the continuum of cancer and to implement research findings into