Lok Sabha Question No. 4073 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-19
Subject: India-UK Cancer Research Initiative
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Pritam Gopinath Munde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4073 TO BE ASNWERED ON 19.03.2021

## India-UK Cancer Research Initiative

## 4073: DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY िव᭄ान और ᮧौ᳒ोिगकᳱ मंᮢी be pleased to state:

- a) whether cancer is a global epidemic that requires radically new approaches through interdisciplinary and multi-national efforts;
- b) whether the Government has signed a MoU as part of India-UK Cancer Research Initiative to promote partnership between Department of Biotechnology and Cancer Research UK for initiating research with a view to explore Affordable Approaches to Cancer;
- c) if so, the details thereof;
- d) whether  the  India-UK  Cancer  Research  Initiative  will  provide  a  catalyzing  platform  for scientists and researchers in UK and India to co-create solutions for affordable cancer care that improves cancer outcomes around the globe;
- e) if  so,  whether  India-UK  Cancer  Research  Initiative  provides  an  opportunity  to  tackle  the global epidemic of cancer by opening new pathways for International knowledge exchange and research base;
- f) if so, the details thereof; and
- g) the investment by both the countries in this initiative?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE; MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

(a),  (b)  &  (c) Yes,  Sir.  The  Department  of  Biotechnology  (DBT)  and  Cancer  Research  UK (CRUK)  signed  a  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  for  a  Cancer  Research  Initiative, 'Affordable Approaches to Cancer' on 14 th November 2018 during the Inaugural Researcher's Summit held from 14 th -  16 th November  2018  in  New  Delhi.  The  broad  aim  of  the  research initiative is to support high quality research to deliver innovative and translatable outputs that accelerate  progress  against  cancer  outcomes  in  both  the  countries,  and  which  also  have  the potential to have major global impact.

(d), (e) & (f) Yes, Sir. Under the initiative, the core challenges have been identified and seven seed  grants  have  been  awarded.  The  seven  seed  grants  awarded  are  to  work  on  affordable approaches to improve early diagnosis of symptomatic cancers; affordable screening tools to improve  early  detection  of  cancer;  risk  factors  to  better  understand  regional  variations  in incidence, enabling new approaches to cancer prevention; computational approaches that can reduce the cost of cancer care delivery; affordability of effective cancer treatments; affordable screening  tools  to  improve  early  detection  of  cancer;  and  affordability  of  effective  cancer treatments.

The  institutions  involved  from  the  Indian  side  include  -  Cachar Cancer  Hospital  &Research Centre; RTI International; Translational Health Science Technology  Institute; Tata Memorial Hospital; All India Institute for Medical Sciences; Cochin Cancer Research Centre; Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute.

(g) The investment thus far by both the countries as matching grant for supporting 7 seed grants is ₹ 1.86 Cr.