IARC

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is a specialized cancer research organization of the World Health Organization. Based in Lyon, France, IARC conducts and coordinates research on the causes of cancer and assesses the carcinogenic hazards to humans from exposure to various agents and activities.

Established in 1965 by the World Health Organization to foster international collaboration in cancer research, IARC evaluates agents and exposures with the goal of informing public health decisions. It operates through scientific working groups, collaborative grants, and international partnerships.

One of IARC's core activities is the IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. These evaluations summarize human, animal, and mechanistic evidence and classify agents into five groups: Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans); Group 2A (probably carcinogenic to humans); Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans); Group 3 (not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans); and Group 4 (probably not carcinogenic to humans).

The classifications guide regulatory actions, workplace safety standards, and public health advice, and are used by governments, international bodies, and researchers. In addition to the Monographs, IARC conducts epidemiological and laboratory research, maintains data resources, and supports training and capacity-building.

IARC's work is subject to ongoing evaluation and debate within the scientific community, and it emphasizes transparency and rigorous peer review in its processes.