August is known as World Cancer Support Month. India’s fight against cancer is being transformed by a web of partnerships headed by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and its flagship institutions. From drug development at the cutting edge to training programs globally. The partnerships are making sure that breakthroughs reach patients in active form, treatment becomes more affordable and healthcare systems throughout the country become even stronger.
National Collaborations
Drug Development and Radioprotection: BARC and TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE
The Tata Memorial Centre and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) are leading collaborative research in drug and device development. Two of the most significant developments are the introduction of chlorophyllin as a radioprotective nutraceutical, following the successful Phase 2 trials for radiotherapy-induced haemorrhagic cystitis and the completion of preclinical studies of diselenodipropionic acid (DSePA) as a lung radioprotector.
For active advancement with focus, four task forces have been formed with TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE and BARC scientists focusing on novel drugs, radiopharmaceuticals, biomarkers and AI/ML applications. A joint steering committee of senior scientists oversees these developments. A collaboration between TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE and BARC has led to the design of a stereotactic neuro-navigation system, initially based on passive serial arm with coordinate measurement. The project has since expanded into a robotic system to assist in minimally invasive neurosurgical procedures like biopsy collection. This has now evolved into the concept of a Robot-Assisted Neurosuit.
Biomedical Waste Treatment in Varanasi
The Institute for Plasma Research (IPR) has partnered with TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE to set up a biomedical waste treatment facility in Varanasi. Using a 200-kilograms-per-hour plasma pyrolysis system, the facility offers eco-friendly disposal of biomedical waste. The technology, already approved by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), has been successfully transferred to industrial partners for smaller-scale use.
Heavy Water Board and Deuterium-Depleted Water
In the present time, a collaboration is underway between TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE and the Heavy Water Board (HWB) to examine the anticancer potential of Deuterium-Depleted Water (DDW). Preliminary findings were presented at the Symposium on Synthetic Biology organised by the Society of Biological Chemistry India. A large clinical trial with 228 patients is ongoing, with results expected after completion of genomic sequence analyses and statistical evaluations.
Indigenous Neuronavigation System
BARC and TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE have also developed an indigenous neuronavigation system. The results regarding this system’s accuracy, reachability and usability have been documented and evaluated.
ACTREC-TIFR Peptide Testing
In collaboration with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), ACTREC has standardised a bioassay system and developed a peptide-based rapid test to monitor inflammation and screen potential cancer drugs. These tests can be used to predict whether ayurvedic or chemical formulations will be effective in cancer treatment.
Assam Cancer Care Model
The Assam Cancer Care Foundation, a joint initiative of the Government of Assam and Tata Trusts, is executing a Distributed Cancer Care Model. Seventeen cancer care hospitals are being set up across the state to make treatment affordable. Following a gap analysis by the Union Ministry, states and UTs have been asked to adapt this model for their specific needs.
Bihar’s Palliative Care Centre
In Bihar, the state government has sanctioned Rs 112 crore to the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital in Muzaffarpur to establish a 100-bed Model Palliative Care Centre with a dedicated academic block for training in palliative medicine. This will be the first such government-constructed and managed centre in India. Work is in progress.
Cancer Care in Arunachal Pradesh
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE through Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati. The focus is to improve the State Cancer Institute (SCI) as a state-of-the-art tertiary care centre. These activities comprise of screening camps at SCI and TRIHMS, screening over 2,200 individuals. Online training of Community Health Officers (CHOs) for early cancer detection and cancer awareness programmes for teachers with 800 participants. A gastric cancer pilot study screened 203 volunteers through endoscopy, with one case successfully diagnosed and treated.
AYUSH Collaboration
DAE and TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE are collaborating with the Ministry of AYUSH to establish a medicinal plant-based cancer research facility at Khopoli, near Mumbai. The focus is on testing AYUSH formulations for cancer management.
International Collaborations
Training in Indonesia
TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE signed an MoU with Roche Institute (Indonesia) to train general practitioners and nurses in patient navigation. Oncology services in Indonesia are underdeveloped, and TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE is helping in training oncologists, building cancer registries and strengthening preventive oncology. In 2023–24, 72 trainees benefited from this initiative.
IAEA and WHO Partnerships
Through the Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE is involved in several global initiatives that include National-level workshops in theragnostic for RCA member countries. Training of project teams in neuro-oncology and paediatrics, with Indian participants becoming lead investigators and Institutional review board approvals for collaborative studies.
FARO Research Network (FERN)
Since 2023, the FERN Secretariat has been based in ACTREC, Navi Mumbai. Ongoing multinational studies such as the Endometrial Cancer Registry (IMPACT Endo Asia) coordinated by India, Thailand, and Indonesia are going on. Asian Gynaecological Brachytherapy Registry across Japan, India, Thailand and Indonesia. Financial Toxicity in Breast Cancer study across low- and middle-income countries. Prognostic Model for Oral Cavity Cancers led by Indian investigators. Asian Wait-and-Watch Registry for rectal cancers.
CReDO Initiative
The International Collaboration for Research Methods Development in Oncology (CReDO) is run jointly by the National Cancer Grid (NCG) and TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE, which has built infrastructure for global-standard clinical trials. Registries have been established for multiple cancers, including breast cancer, lung cancer, gall bladder cancer and colorectal cancer. Multiple MOOC-based training modules have also been created by NCG for clinical trial conduct, making these resources openly accessible.
BIMSTEC Training Programme
A specialized cancer care training programme was recently launched by TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE for BIMSTEC countries. The program covers Radiation Oncology, Nuclear Medicine and Radiology. This four-week initiative strengthens regional cooperation in healthcare while improving cancer diagnosis and treatment capacity.
IAEA Anchor Centre and Rays of Hope
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has designated TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE as an Anchor Centre for global cancer care. Under this program, TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE trains fellows, organises courses and mentors the institutions in low- and middle-income countries. Through the Rays of Hope Initiative, India has donated Bhabhatron radiotherapy machines to countries like Mongolia, Sri Lanka and Madagascar.
Advancing Nuclear Medicine in India
At the Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC) in Kolkata, several radioisotopes have been successfully produced for the first time in India, including: Copper-64 chloride (therapy + diagnostics). Iodine-123 (thyroid cancer diagnostics). Germanium-68/Gallium-68 generator (reduced import dependence). Lead-203 (imaging and therapy).
DAE and its units, such as BRIT, ensure that these products are priced well below imported alternatives, making nuclear medicine affordable. To further reduce costs, DAE is indigenising the synthesis of targeting ligands and setting up new isotope production reactors. VECC, in collaboration with BARC, is also developing India’s first indigenous 18 MeV medical cyclotron (MC18), expected to cut costs and expand access to radiopharmaceuticals.
National Cancer Grid: Extending Care Across India
The National Cancer Grid (NCG), based at TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE, now links 382 institutions offering care to 8.5 lakh new cancer patients every year. By streamlining procedures, educating professionals, and running large-scale trials, the NCG has become one of the strongest networks globally for cancer control.
India’s cancer treatment and research environment is undergoing an unprecedented revolution. With local efforts covering all aspects from palliative care to state-of-the-art neurosurgery and global partnerships making sure that knowledge and technology flow freely across borders, the Department of Atomic Energy and its associates are putting India in charge of cancer care on a global scale.
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