New Delhi: The Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) has announced a formal collaboration with the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) to investigate the biological and genetic factors contributing to the elevated cancer burden across North East India. Responding to recommendations from the Parliamentary Committee on Science and Technology, TMC confirmed to the panel that it is expanding its institutional partnership with CSIR-IGIB to pinpoint population-specific genomic signatures, aiming to advance targeted prevention, early detection, and region-specific treatment protocols.
Through its Centre for Cancer Epidemiology, TMC has already completed extensive genome-wide studies across Northern and North-Eastern regions, successfully identifying genetic risk markers for oral cavity and gallbladder cancers. Present research efforts are focused on evaluating polygenic risk scores and hereditary gene factors related to breast cancer. In addition to genomic research, TMC has agreed to act as the principal technical partner for the Union Health Ministry in formulating a national framework for new proton therapy facilities, assisting with clinical protocols, workforce training, and infrastructure commissioning.
Furthermore, scientists from TMC and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) are assessing the feasibility of constructing a reactor-based Boron-Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) facility at the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) in Navi Mumbai. The joint BARC-TMC team is currently finalizing technical details for the BNCT infrastructure while researching advanced boronated compounds designed to deliver highly targeted cancer radiation with reduced toxicity to surrounding healthy tissue.
