The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
NEW DELHI, MAR 8, 2024
Vedanta’s BALCO Medical Centre (BMC), a leading institution in India’s oncology domain, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Indian co-researchers to receive the prestigious Cancer Grand Challenges Award. The award, accompanied by a substantial $25 million grant, underscores BMC’s pivotal role in advancing cancer research within India.
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The recipient team, named PROSPECT, comprises clinicians, advocates, and scientists from BALCO Medical Centre alongside other esteemed global institutions. PROSPECT will focus on addressing the critical challenge of early-onset cancers.
Expressing gratitude, Jyoti Agarwal, Chairperson of Vedanta Medical Research Foundation, stated, “We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which significantly advances our battle against cancer. With this support from Cancer Grand Challenges, our efforts are strengthened, and I am confident that we can positively contribute to the overall healthcare landscape.”
PROSPECT is one of five global teams funded this year by Cancer Grand Challenges, an initiative founded in 2020 by Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute US. The initiative aims to unite diverse research teams to tackle some of cancer’s toughest challenges.
Dr. David Scott, Director of Cancer Grand Challenges, stated, “With this investment, our largest to date, we continue to grow our global research community and fund new teams that have the potential to surface discoveries that could positively impact cancer outcomes.”
Vedanta’s BALCO Medical Centre, a state-of-the-art tertiary care Oncology facility in Central India, has been providing multidisciplinary cancer treatment and support since its inception in March 2018. With over 35,000 patients treated to date, BMC is recognized as a referral center for advanced cancer care.
Dr. Bhawna Sirohi, Medical Director at Vedanta Medical Research Foundation and lead principal investigator for PROSPECT-India study, emphasized the importance of early detection and prevention strategies for colorectal cancers, particularly in high-risk areas.
Team PROSPECT aims to understand the pathways, risk factors, and molecules involved in the development of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC). Their vision is to uncover mechanisms linking lifetime exposures to EOCRC and test new strategies for combating this cancer type.
This achievement aligns with Vedanta’s core values of giving back to the community and making a lasting impact on society. Through initiatives like PROSPECT, Vedanta continues to pioneer research and deliver innovative solutions to address critical healthcare challenges in India and beyond.
