Strengthening
Care Systems:

Driving sustainable change across the lung cancer care continuum.

Strengthening Care Systems

Lung cancer remains one of the world's most complex and devastating health challenges, and there's an urgent need for concerted action to address its growing impact, particularly in medically underserved and resource-limited settings.

Leading organizations are working to bring tangible solutions to this fight.

Growing burden

Globally, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, responsible for killing an estimated 1.8 million people in 2022 alone.

Source: World Health Organization

Lung cancer: The global funding gap we can no longer ignore

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide — killing more people annually than breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers combined. Despite this, it remains a disproportionately underfunded...

Discover more 20 February 2026
Sponsored by BMSF

Markey researchers awarded $6.8 million to help others replicate Kentucky's lung cancer screening success

A groundbreaking lung cancer screening project co-led by the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center and the University of Colorado (CU) Cancer Center is set to expand its reach, thanks to a $6.8 million grant from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, an independent charitable organization.

Discover more 19 September 2024

Lung cancer continues to be the number one cancer killer and, at this point, there's really no excuse for it to not be a major initiative for all nations on the planet.

Professor and Chief of Thoracic Oncology, UCLA Department of Radiation Oncology

— Drew Moghanaki

Capacity Building

Early detection can increase a patient's chance of surviving for five years from 4% to 55%.

Source: Cancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII vol. 67,7

Special edition: Early detection in Brazil is a game changer for lung cancer care

In a special edition of the This Week in Global Development podcast, Devex cofounder and Executive Vice President Alan Robbins sits down with Brazilian thoracic surgeon Dr. Ricardo Sales do Santos to discuss a revolutionary approach to tackling lung cancer in medically underserved communities in Brazil.

Watch now 19 May 2026

Early diagnosis and local solutions are critical to combat lung cancer

Opinion: Despite advances in prevention and treatment, lung cancer remains the world’s deadliest cancer largely because it is often detected too late. Strengthening local diagnostic capacity is one of the most effective ways to reduce the global burden of lung cancer.

Read more 16 March 2026

Partnerships

Revolutionizing lung cancer care and early screening in LMICs

Despite being the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, lung cancer remains overlooked. From Zambia to Brazil, the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation supports innovative initiatives to strengthen access to early detection and care.

Discover more 01 October 2025

Meet the global innovators expanding access to quality lung cancer care

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, yet health systems often struggle to implement effective prevention, screening, and treatment programs The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation's Multinational Lung Cancer Control Program, or MLCCP, is addressing this gap by funding pilot projects that strengthen health systems, train specialists, raise awareness, and expand access to care. In this video, MLCCP grantees, speaking on the sidelines of the World Conference on Lung Cancer, discuss critical barriers and progress in their countries.

Discover more 23 September 2025

How AI is transforming medical diagnosis in India's tribal regions

Artificial intelligence is helping early detection of tuberculosis and lung disease in India's tribal heartland, thus reducing delays and transforming rural health care.

Discover more 20 May 2025

From our grantee partners

Strengthening cancer care across Africa through partnership

For many cancer patients throughout Africa, the journey to diagnosis and treatment can be long and uncertain. But across the continent, communities and local leaders are working to change that reality. The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation (BMS Foundation), an independent charitable organization, is proud to support many of these changemakers by strengthening cancer care systems and improving access to quality care, closer to home.

Read more 16 December 2025

Expanding access to lung cancer screening

Every November, the U.S. commemorates Lung Cancer Awareness Month to educate Americans about the risks they face and the steps they can take to protect their health. This November brings renewed hope to the fight against lung cancer because the public health community has the tools they need to turn the tide – and they are already seeing the results in action.

Read more 26 November 2024

Equipping providers for lung cancer care in underserved communities

Hundreds of thousands of lung cancer patients and their families rely on their healthcare providers to learn about the best possible care options. Thanks to major breakthroughs in prevention, early detection and treatment, recent decades have brought new hope to many patients.

Read more 07 October 2024

'This is not your parents' lung cancer'

Lifelong Kentuckian Rochelle Waddell loves the Bluegrass State. But she definitely doesn't love that it leads the nation in smoking rates, lung cancer incidence, and lung cancer deaths. "Kentucky has been No. 1 in these terrible

Read more 23 February 2024

Join the Conversation

What are the complex challenges in global health that require system-wide solutions? How can we better strengthen health systems and build capacity for early lung cancer detection worldwide?

Follow us on social media and tell us what solutions you are hearing about in the fight against lung cancer.

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FAQ

Why is early detection so critical for lung cancer survival rates?
Early detection dramatically improves survival — when caught early through screening, a patient's five-year survival rate can jump from just 4% to 55%. However, many countries lack national screening programs, leading to delayed diagnoses. The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation's Multinational Lung Cancer Control Program, or MLCCP, addresses this by strengthening local health systems' capacity for early detection through training health care workers, improving diagnostic infrastructure, and fostering community awareness that encourages high-risk individuals to seek screening when early signs such as a persistent cough or chest pain appear.
What makes lung cancer different from other major cancers in terms of funding and awareness?
Lung cancer kills more people than breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers combined — an estimated 1.8 million people in 2022 alone. Despite this, it receives disproportionately low funding for research, awareness, and health system strengthening. Many countries lack national screening programs, and public awareness remains limited, with lung cancer incorrectly perceived as the result of environmental exposure or lifestyle choices.
How does the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation approach improving access to lung cancer screening?
The BMS Foundation empowers locally-driven solutions through health systems strengthening and capacity building rather than one-size-fits-all approaches. Through strategic grantee partnerships, the MLCCP supports innovative initiatives such as mobile CT screening units, community health worker training programs, and integration with existing tuberculosis and HIV services. By investing in training health care providers, equipping facilities with diagnostic technology, and developing national guidelines, the foundation builds sustainable screening infrastructure that increases communities' access to care long-term.
What are the biggest barriers to accessing lung cancer treatments in underserved communities?
Barriers across the care continuum include lack of screening infrastructure, insufficient diagnostic equipment, limited trained health care professionals, geographic distance from treatment centers, and weak referral systems. Limited awareness that nonsmoking risk factors such as air pollution and asbestos can cause lung cancer also prevents early care-seeking. The BMS Foundation's MLCCP addresses these interconnected challenges through comprehensive interventions such as mobile screening units, integration with TB/HIV programs, patient navigation systems, and building diagnostic capacity — ensuring patients can access treatments once diagnosed.
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In partnership with:

The Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation (BMS Foundation), an independent charitable organization funded by BMS, is focused on advancing health equity and dedicated to its mission to improve global health. By empowering local communities to create lasting impact, the BMS Foundation’s vision is for a future where all people, regardless of where they live, can achieve their best possible health through strong local healthcare systems. It invests in capacity building and health systems strengthening programs to expand access to care for medically underserved populations in the geographies where it is focused, including Brazil, India, sub-Saharan Africa, and the United States.
Through its strategic grantee partners and locally led solutions, the BMS Foundation advances innovative approaches that ultimately improve patient outcomes and promote health equity worldwide. For more information, visit bms.com/foundation.