Draft:Immune Oncology Research Instiute

The Immune Oncology Research Institute (IMMONC), is a non-profit organization established in April 2022 and headquartered in Yerevan, Armenia. The institute focuses on cancer research, treatment, and education, with a particular emphasis on immune-oncology. IMMONC's activities include conducting clinical research and enhancing research capacity, especially in low- and middle-income countries, to make cancer therapies more accessible. The institute aims to contribute to global cancer care through research and development in oncology.

History
IMMONC was founded in April 2022 by Dr. Gevorg Tamamyan, Dr. Samvel Bardakhchyan, and Dr. Astghik Voskanyan. The organization focuses on advancing cancer treatment and research, particularly in immune-oncology. IMMONC's primary activities involve conducting regional and global clinical research, developing specialized programs to enhance research capacity, and making advancements in cancer treatment widely accessible.

Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm (BPDCN) International Registry
The BPDCN International Registry focuses on research into BPDCN, a rare hematologic malignancy classified by the WHO in 2008. BPDCN diagnosis relies on specific markers like CD4, CD56, and CD123, distinguishing it from similar conditions. Treatment typically involves multi-agent chemotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The global registry project collects data on BPDCN patients to inform treatment recommendations. Enrollment is open to all demographics, with prospective enrollment until June 2027, and retrospective data collection since January 2010, aiming to improve BPDCN management and meet unmet medical needs.

International Registry of the Rare Embryonal Tumors of the CNS
The International Registry of Rare Embryonal Tumors of the Central Nervous System is comprehensive multicenter database dedicated to pediatric and young adult patients with rare embryonal CNS tumors. This registry's core objectives encompass the systematic documentation of demographic and clinical characteristics of affected individuals, the evaluation of prognostic factors that may influence disease outcomes, the identification of diagnostic and treatment gaps, and the development of data-driven recommendations for diagnosis and treatment. Of particular importance is the registry's commitment to addressing the challenges faced in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the understanding and management of these complex CNS tumors. Dr. Julia Hoveyan and Dr. Ruzanna Papyan lead this initiative.

The Lung Cancer Working Group
The Lung Cancer Working Group (LCWG) is a multidisciplinary team in Armenia focusing on thoracic malignancies. Comprising medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons, pathologists, and radiologists, the group convenes bi-weekly to discuss patient management strategies for conditions such as lung cance r, mesothelioma, and thymic malignancies. Their primary objective is to improve patient care quality and facilitate knowledge exchange within the medical community. The group is led by Professor Gregory Peter Kalamkerian and co-chaired by Dr. Davit Zohrabyan, emphasizing clinical research and the adaptation of international guidelines to the Armenian context.

Gastrointestinal Cancer Working Group
The Gastrointestinal Cancer Working Group (GICWG) in Armenia is a collaborative team of specialists in GI malignancies. It includes medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, abdominal surgeons, pathologists, and radiologists, meeting bi-weekly to deliberate on management strategies for gastric, colon, pancreatic, and neuroendocrine cancers. The group's main objective is to elevate the standard of care for patients and promote collaborative learning. Supervised by Professor Philip Agop Philip and co-chaired by Dr. Lilit Harutyunyan, GICWG also focuses on integrating international guidelines for GI malignancies into Armenian medical practices, enhancing cancer care in the region.

Publications

 * Secondary Malignancy In Giant Cell Tumor Of The Skull Base After Denosumab Treatment: Case Report
 * Trends in pediatric CNS tumors in Armenia: a multicenter retrospective study
 * Patterns of unmet needs of adolescents and young adults (AYA) in the developing world: Beyond the walls
 * Why adult patients with acute leukemias are dying in the developing world: The other side of the coin
 * Lung Cancer in Armenia
 * Overview of Cancer Control in Armenia and Policy Implications