In June 2019, three institutions—UCSF, The Ocean Road Cancer Institute, and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences—united with the shared goal of developing the first Cancer Research Training Program in Tanzania. As part of an existing D71 grant from the NIH's Fogarty Institute, these institutions, the Tanzania National Ministry of Health, and stakeholders from other universities participated in a three-day summit to develop models to train and mentor investigators in Tanzania capable of funding, implementing, and publishing original cancer research.

Ensuring flexibility to meet the needs of methodological experts and clinician researchers alike as well as leveraging existing curriculum within Tanzania and internationally were identified as critical strategies for success. The Ministry of Health voiced strong commitment and readiness to collaborate to move forward the cancer research agenda in Tanzania.