Lok Sabha Question No. 2712 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: ICMR Project on Cancer
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Hanuman Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RESEARCH

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2712 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 TH MARCH, 2020

## ICMR PROJECT ON CANC ER

## 2712. SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the main research projects rolled out by the Indian Council of Medical Research during the last three years and the current year and the funds allocated and spent for the said purpose;
- (b)  whether  the  Indian  Counci l  of  Medical  Research has  conducted  tests/researches  and developed equipment with regard to cancer and if so, the current status thereof along with the other major achievements of Indian Council of Medical Research during the said period;
- (c)  whether Indian  Council  of  Medical  Research  has entere d  into  an  agreement  with  Indian Council  of  Forestry Research  and  Education  to  ascertain  the  new  active compounds/products against cancer, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the measures taken/proposed to be ta ken by the Government for the capacity building and efficient working of Indian Council of Medical Research?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) : Information is annexed as annexure -I and annexure-II.
- (b): Yes.  A  hand - held  device  called  Magnivisualizer  with  inbuilt  source  of  light  has  b developed. This is a low cost illumination and magnifying device for visualizing the cer the technology has been transferred to M/s Smart Scientifics for commercial use.

ICMR has also established the India Cancer Research Consortium, which is aimed t provide  framework  for  various  stakeholders  of  cancer  research  to  collectively  deli inclusive, innovative & sustainable research and to accelerate cancer control in India. Task force on review of cancer management guidelines was constituted and center for Advanced Resear and Excellence were initiated in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Clinical Pharmacology.

- (c) : Yes.  A  memorandum  of  understanding  (MoU)  was  sig ned  between  Indian  Council  of Medical Research and Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education on 15.10.2013 wi the following aims and objectives: -
- I. Phytochemical and pharmacological screening of Indian medicinal plants and medicin fungi for two types of biological activities viz. Anticancer & antidiabetic activity.
- II. The  preclinical  development  of  bioactive  natural  products  and  their  analogs chemotherapeutic agents.
- (d): The  knowledge  and  skills  of  scientific  personnel  are  being  regularly  updated  thr their  participation  in  various  national  and  international  level  trainings,  worksh conferences. Upgradation of National Institute of Virology (NIV) unit at Gorakhpur has been done to a full fledged centre - Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Gorakhpur. As part of streamlining  of  ICMR,  number  of  institutes  under  ICMR,  have  been  brought  down  from 32 to 26.

| Annexure-I   | Annexure-I                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|--------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S.No.        | Title                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| 1            | Role of Human Papillomavirus infection and other co factors in the Aetiology of Head and Neck Cancer in India and Europe- (Multicentric Study-5 Centres)                                                    |
| 2            | National Multicentre Childhood Leukemia Programme                                                                                                                                                           |
| 3            | Comparative Study Of Genetic, Clinical And Epidemiological Factors Of Breast Cancer In Rural And Urban Area Of India (4 Centres)                                                                            |
| 4            | Screening and early detection of cervical breast and oral cancer in Cachar, Assam: a pilot study (2 Centres)                                                                                                |
| 5            | Strengthening state non communicable disease programme for early detection of breast cancer involving strategic education and awareness among the women: A joint Programme of State Govt. and DMRC, Jodhpur |
| 6            | Concurrent evaluation of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine program and vaccine acceptance among adolscent girls in Punjab, 2017                                                                            |
| 7            | Genomics of gall bladder carcinoma in Indian patients (2 Centres)                                                                                                                                           |
| 8            | Comprehensive microbiome characterization in esophageal squamous cell, nasopharyngeal and stomach cancer of North Eastern India                                                                             |
| 9            | Incidental GBC and other pre malignant gall bladder condition in India towards early detection of gall bladder cancer.                                                                                      |
| 10           | Centre for Advance Research & Excellence in Acute Myeloid Leukemia                                                                                                                                          |
| 11           | Centre for Advance Research & Excellence in Clinical Pharamacology                                                                                                                                          |
| 12           | India Cancer Research Consortium                                                                                                                                                                            |
| 13           | Incidental gall bladder cancer and other pre malignant gall bladder condition in India towards early detection of Gall Bladder Cancer                                                                       |
| 14           | Pattern and survival studies (POCSS) on Gall Bladder Cancer in Hospital Based Cancer Registries                                                                                                             |
| 15           | Guidelines for the Management of Cancer                                                                                                                                                                     |

Annexure-II

Funds spent on cancer research

| Year    |   (Rs. in crore) |
|---------|------------------|
| 2014-15 |            28.17 |
| 2015-16 |            31.56 |
| 2016-17 |            45.03 |
| 2017-18 |            52.95 |
| 2018-19 |            65.91 |
| Total   |           223.62 |