The Gastrointestinal Cancer Working Group (GICWG) is a team of experts in various fields who specialize in GI malignancies in Armenia. This multidisciplinary team comprises medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, abdominal surgeons, pathologists, and radiologists who convene bi-weekly to deliberate on the optimal management strategies for patients diagnosed with abdominal malignancies, including gastric cancers, colon cancers, pancreatic cancers, and neuroendocrine cancers. The primary objective of these meetings is to elevate the quality of medical care provided to patients suffering from these conditions, while also fostering knowledge sharing and enhancing communication within the local medical community. Additionally, the group actively engages in clinical and public health research in the field of thoracic oncology. They have undertaken the crucial task of adapting international guidelines for the management of GI malignancies to the Armenian language and context, furthering their commitment to improving cancer care in Armenia.
Professor Philip Agop Philip supervises and mentors the working group. Dr. Philip serves as the Kathryn Cramer, MD, Endowed Chair in Cancer Research and is the leader of the Gastrointestinal and Neuroendocrine Multidisciplinary Team at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, Michigan, United States. He also serves as a professor of oncology and pharmacology at Wayne State University School of Medicine (WSU SOM), also in Detroit. He is the vice president for medical affairs at Karmanos. Dr. Philip is a member of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s Scientific Advisory Board. He also chairs the pancreatic cancer committee at the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) and is a member of the International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). His major research interests are in the development of new therapies for gastrointestinal and neuroendocrine cancers with a special focus on pancreatic cancer. He has been the principal investigator on numerous clinical trials in gastrointestinal cancers.
Dr. Lilit Harutyunyan serves as the co-chairman of the GI Cancer Working Group. She is the Head of the Oncology clinic at the Mikaelyan Institute of Surgery, Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU), a lecturer, and a faculty member at the Department of Oncology at the YSMU. Dr. Harutyunyan is also a Consultant Oncologist and a member of the tumor board at the Armenian-American Wellness Center. Dr. Harutyunyan co-founded the City of Smile Charitable Foundation, which fully covers the diagnosis and treatment costs for cancer patients in Armenia up to the age of 25, and the Armenian Association of Hematology and Oncology, which creates professional development opportunities for cancer care providers in Armenia and engages in awareness-raising programs.
Dr. Harutyunyan is actively involved in professional seminars and international scientific meetings. She is the president of the Young Oncologist Group of Armenia (YOGA), a member of the European Society for Medical Oncology National Societies Committee and the American Cancer Society’s International Education Steering Committee.
About IMMONC
Immune Oncology Research Institute (IMMONC) is dedicated to advancing research aimed at preventing, treating, and ultimately curing cancer while making these innovations accessible to those who need them. If you're interested in joining our team, please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or at +374-41 310-048.