Written by : Jayati Dubey
August 16, 2023
The collaboration resulted in forming the 'Centre for Advanced Molecular Diagnostics and Research for Cancer (CAMDRC)' in Lucknow. It reflects the shift toward molecular diagnostics in cancer care, enabling personalised treatments through genetic insights for improved patient outcomes.
Dr. Radha Krishan Dhiman, director of KSSSCI, Lucknow, said, "CAMDRC epitomizes an aspiration turned into reality, envisioning a shared biobank within the facility. Without the support of Karkinos Healthcare, IIT-Kanpur, and our Government, this achievement would have remained beyond reach."
The formal commencement of this initiative was marked by the signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the presence of Brajesh Pathak, the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Medical Education for the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
This collaborative ceremony united key representatives from KSSSCI, IIT Kanpur, and Karkinos Healthcare, as well as notable dignitaries, including Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh and Durga Shankar Mishra, chief secretary of the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Dr. R Venkataramanan, founder and CEO of Karkinos Healthcare, said, "In the face of a mounting number of cancer cases in Uttar Pradesh, CAMDRC will empower the state with a modern, high-tech laboratory. It aspires to revolutionize patient care by expediting accurate diagnoses. This advanced laboratory possesses the potential to generate compelling evidence and world-class research, facilitating enhanced control and management of cancers not only within Uttar Pradesh but across the entire northern region."
Driven by the approval of the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet and the Government's vision to enhance the cancer-care infrastructure for the populace, the establishment of the Centre for Advanced Molecular Diagnostics and Research for Cancer (CAMDRC) represents a stride toward affordable precision medicine.
This initiative mirrors the trend toward molecular diagnostics in cancer care, ushering in personalised treatments based on genetic insights to enhance patient outcomes. Nestled within the premises of KSSSCI, the CAMDRC Lab will feature state-of-the-art Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) machines for high-throughput testing housed in a spacious area spanning 25,000 square feet.
The global cancer report 2020 underscored India's estimated cancer burden, revealing 1.16 million new cases, 784,800 deaths, and 2.26 million 5-year prevalent cases in 2018. The statistics alarmingly indicate that 1 in 8 Indians will develop cancer during their lifetime, and 1 in 15 will succumb to the ailment.
Uttar Pradesh grapples with a concerning surge in cancer instances, as evidenced by the Indian Council of Medical Research's 2020 report, which documented 201,319 cases. This scenario has ignited a determined thrust to elevate healthcare standards across the region.
Aligned with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's intentions, this centre is poised to be developed on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model within the premises of the Kalyan Singh Super Specialty Cancer Institute. Essentially, the centre assumes the role of a statewide system for cancer patient diagnosis, spanning primary to third-tier super specialty levels.
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