Indian Council of Medical Research

Hospitals from China will be partaking in existing research in Singapore that aims to develop precise and personalised solutions to early detect and manage symptoms of cardiovascular diseases specific to the Asian population. Early this month, Kailuan General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, and Tianjin Medical University General Hospital signed a memorandum of understanding to join the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine's (NUS Medicine) Project RESET. WHAT IT'S ABOUT The new Project RESET Parallel Cohort will particularly focus on subclinical cardiovascular diseases (SCVD), or asymptomatic conditions associated with higher risk of cardiovascular diseases that have become a growing concern among Asian populations. Tianjin Medical University reportedly has expertise in this research area. The four organisations will study data from a diverse, multi-ethnic cohort of Asians using multi-omics and big data to discover molecular, metabolic, and immunological markers of heart diseases. Besides filling gaps in the research of SCVD, their study will also contribute to developing "precise, personalised prevention and management strategies for cardiovascular conditions." Additionally, the organisations will conduct trials to test the effectiveness of AI and digital health interventions for detecting and treating cardiovascular conditions. THE LARGER TREND NUS Medicine launched the Project RESET in September last year. The five-year research project, funded by the Singaporean government, initially sought to track heart disease symptoms that go undetected in the majority of Singaporean people. At least 3 million individuals or half of the island city-state's population unknowingly have heart disease. Up to 80% of healthy individuals are reportedly unaware of the abnormal calcium build-up in their arteries while around four in 10 have fatty liver, which is also a key sign of heart disease. Project RESET then aims to discover new biomarkers of early heart disease; it also intends to pilot new methods and approaches to prevent the onset of cardiovascular diseases. Other national and private initiatives in Singapore are building big databases representing the diversity of the Asian population, contributing to precision medicine. The SG100K project, led by the government's Precision Health Research, is analysing big data – sequencing genomes of a hundred thousand individuals – to better understand various factors contributing to non-communicable diseases relevant to Asians. Private startup Mesh Bio has established a big multi-omics dataset that assists in generating insights into metabolic conditions related to the Asian population. Outside Singapore, India has also embarked on a population-wide initiative, led by the Indian Council of Medical Research , to collect and curate volumes of medical images representing the Indian people to support AI development. In September, the first comprehensive multi-omics database on cancer was also launched in India after fifteen years. The Indian Cancer Genome Atlas now provides initial access to clinically annotated data on DNA, RNA, and protein profiles of breast cancer patients.

A public-private national project in India has introduced what could be the country's first comprehensive cancer multi-omics database fifteen years after its founding. The Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA) focuses on studying cancer biology specific to the Indian population to create datasets that can be utilised in developing personalised treatment protocols Based on a media release, the open-access ICGA portal initially includes clinically annotated data on DNA, RNA, and protein profiles of breast cancer patients, along with their treatment histories and outcomes. By next year, the available data will be expanded from the current 50 patients to over 500. "This data is freely accessible to the global research community under India’s PRIDE guidelines, which promote ethical sharing and collaboration in cancer research," a press statement noted. The portal was built based on the cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics platform developed by the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. THE LARGER TREND Health and medical researchers in India have long relied on databases from global sources. "Historically, cancer treatments in India have been based on Western data sets. However, cancers in Indian patients can differ significantly at the molecular level," the ICGA said. Two years ago, India's peak body for biomedical research, the Indian Council of Medical Research , started building datasets representing Indian diversity. These datasets, for one, will underpin the development and integration of AI technologies in healthcare. In 2023, India recorded over two million new cases of cancer – the third highest in the world. Late detection and poor intervention are reportedly driving this trend. Digital technologies have been identified as one solution to address India's growing cancer problem. The Koita Centre for Digital Oncology established by the government-backed National Cancer Grid is one of those centres established to promote the digitalisation of cancer care in the country. ON THE RECORD "Cancer touches all of us, and the need for more effective, personalised treatments – especially tailored to the unique genetic and environmental factors in India – is urgent. This portal will empower researchers with crucial data to advance customised cancer research for better treatment outcomes," Dr Anand Deshpande, a non-executive director of ICGA, commented.

A key milestone in the pursuit of affordable and accessible cutting-edge treatments for all citizens: Union Minister Shri J P Nadda The partnership marks a pivotal step towards establishing India’s self-sufficiency in clinical development and advancing indigenous pharmaceutical agents Posted On: 14 SEP 2024 12:05PM by PIB Delhi In a significant stride towards strengthening India’s clinical research ecosystem, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has formalized Memorandum of Agreements (MoAs) with multiple sponsors under its Network of Phase 1 Clinical Trials. The agreements mark a ground-breaking entry into First-in-Human Clinical Trials for four promising molecules. These include collaborative research over a small molecule for multiple myeloma with Aurigene Oncology Limited, partnering for Zika vaccine development with Indian Immunologicals Limited, coordinating seasonal Influenza virus vaccine trial with Mynvax Private Limited, and CAR-T cell therapy advancement study for a new indication of chronic lymphocytic leukemia with ImmunoACT. This initiative is a crucial step towards establishing India as a leader in the clinical development of pharmaceutical agents. Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Shri J P Nadda, commended the strategic collaboration between ICMR and prominent industry and academic partners, emphasizing it as a key milestone in the pursuit of affordable and accessible cutting-edge treatments for all citizens. He noted that this initiative positions India to emerge as a global leader in healthcare innovation. Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research & Director General, ICMR, emphasized the transformative potential of the project, stating, “This collaboration reflects our commitment to advancing clinical research in India through strategic public-private partnerships. Establishing Phase 1 clinical trial infrastructure is a key component in fostering the development of indigenous molecules and cutting-edge treatments. Our vision is to expand this network further, ensuring that India continues to lead in the development of innovative and affordable healthcare solutions.” Dr. Bahl also highlighted the broader impact of ICMR’s initiatives, such as the Network for Phase 1 Clinical Trials, INTENT Network, and MedTech Mitra, aligning with the government’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India). He cited ICMR’s pivotal role in development of Covaxin in collaboration with Bharat Biotech as a testament to the organization’s commitment to affordable and accessible healthcare for all. The ICMR Network for Phase 1 Clinical Trials comprises four strategically located institutions across India—KEMH & GSMC, Mumbai; ACTREC, Navi Mumbai; SRM MCH&RC, Kattankulathur; and PGIMER, Chandigarh—supported by a Central Coordinating Unit at ICMR Headquarters, New Delhi. This network is designed to build and enhance India’s capacity to conduct early-phase clinical trials, supported by robust infrastructure and dedicated manpower at each trial site, ensuring smooth and effective operations. The signing of these agreements reinforces the strong partnerships ICMR has cultivated with key industry players. It underscores the institute’s dedication to building a robust clinical trial ecosystem in India, fostering capacity to develop new drugs from early-phase trials through to marketing, thereby reducing dependency on international resources, and ultimately driving the mission of affordable, high-quality healthcare for all. ***** MV HFW/ICMR Release/14September2024/1 Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2054864