Ayush ministry sets up integrative cancer research unit at NICPR
04 Feb 2017
The Ministry of Ayush on Friday announced the inauguration of the Centre of Integrative Oncology (CIO) at the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR) at Noida, on the eve of World Cancer Day on 4 February.
The collaboration between Ayush and NICPR is expected to lead to development of novel drugs for cancer prevention and management, Ajit M Sharan, secretary, ministry of Ayush, said.
He said the combine will offer five senior research fellowships and five post-doctoral fellowships every year (in both modern medicine and ayurveda) to facilitate quality research in the country in the area of cancer research.
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, secretary, Department of Health Research in the ministry of health and family welfare and director general of Indian Council for Medical Research added that bridge courses will be introduced for the practitioners who will be working in the centers of integrative medicine. She said, evaluation of risk factors for cancer should be thoroughly done, especially focusing on dietary risk factors.
The thrust is on extensive research of natural systems of medicine since they follow a holistic approach, unlike the allopathic one, she added.
The main objective of the centre is to build collaborations in the areas of cancer prevention, research and care in an integrated approach involving both modern and traditional medicine. This would pave the way to carry forward the ongoing bilateral dialogue and facilitate collaboration with stake holders, both national and international, like National Cancer Institute, USA.
The setting up of this centre is an outcome of the deliberations held in Indo-US Workshop on 3-4 March 2016 organised by Ministry of Ayush, where the US delegates invited from Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute of Health, National Cancer Institute deliberated with the eminent experts from India with expertise in Cancer research and other promising areas for two days to share experiences and work out a road map for future collaborations.
The centre would be the clearing house for information for Ayush projects on cancer research and management. Prof Abhimanyu Kumar, director, All India Institute of Ayurveda, along with eminent cancer specialists, including Prof G K Rath (AIIMS, New Delhi), Dr Preetha Rajaraman (US-NCI), Bhawana Sirohi (London), and Dr D C Katoch (Ayush) were also present on the occasion.