The Union Cabinet has approved India's membership of International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France for the years 2005-06 and 2006-07 at a total expenditure of USD 59, 99,286, last week. This approval is an agenda of the Tenth Five Year Plan.

The Cabinet also gave its approval for the continuation of membership during the XI Five Year Plan (2007-2012) at a total expenditure of USD 37, 95,478.

India's membership in the agency will ensure appropriate direction of the agency's research efforts in India. By becoming a participating state, India can channelise and prioritise its activities in combating cancer.

India plans to promote research on identifying genes related to various cancers in the Indian population; develop cancer vaccine and design the protocols for vaccine trials; identify environmental risk factors associated with cancer, which can lead to exploring newer possibilities for primary prevention of the disease. It aims to contribute to the strategic directions of international research in cancer prevention and control research relevant for developing countries; develop national research policies and regulatory activities in the field of environmental and occupational cancer hazards based on scientific data.

Majority of IARC members are from Europe (12). The US, Canada, Australia and Japan also hold membership of the agency.