The International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) will hold this year’s annual meeting in Mumbai during December, Senior Advisor to Central Government’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Coordinator of ICGC in India T.S. Rao said.
ICGC consists of several countries doing research on cancer, with each country concentrating on one type of cancer that is more prevalent and during the annual meetings the countries exchange their information. In India the specific programme is on oral cancer.
The ICGC meet will be attended by representatives of 20 countries apart from India, Dr. Rao told The Hindu during a national conference conducted by the GITAM University.
Most of the oral cancer cases are from Bihar and UP. Under the project, several details are collected and diagnostic methods discussed to develop new drug targets, he said. The Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), in Navi Mumbai (earlier known as Cancer Research Institute) and the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIMBG) at Kalyani near Kolkota are involved in the project.
The Department of Biotechnology has received a request to study the incidence of large number of chronic kidney diseases in Srikakulam district (Uddanam area) and find a solace for the people. Srikakulam MP K. Ramamohana Rao is keen on the issue while the proposal came from one Durga Rao who runs a genetic clinic in Palasa. “We have just received the request. Our experts committee will be meeting on Monday and we will certainly do our best”, Dr. Rao said.
His department is meant to shape biotechnology into a precision tool of the future creation of wealth and ensuring social justice, particularly for the poor, Dr. Rao said
Aim is to collect details of oral cancer cases and discuss diagnostic methods to develop new drug
T.S. Rao
Coordinator of ICGC in India
