Strand Life Sciences has entered into a strategic collaboration with Mazumdar Shaw Comprehensive Cancer Centre (MSCC), part of the multi-specialty hospital, Narayana Hrudalaya, in the area of translational cancer research.

Both the Strand and MSCC have commenced pilot program on comprehensive study of head and neck cancer, the leading cancer of India.

The partnership is aimed at performing joint research and training in the field of translational cancer genomics and proteomics initially, leading to early detection, cure, and prolonging lives of cancer patients. The pact would also lead to establishing of one of the largest translational cancer centres in the country.

The 1400-bed MSCC within Narayana Hrudalaya Health City is one of the biggest cancer hospitals in the world.

Strand also is a part of the public-private partnership initiative to build the state-of-the-art functional genomics and next-generation sequencing centre ‘Ganit Labs ‘ in Bangalore along with Department of IT, BT & ST, Government of Karnataka and Department of IT, Government of India. The centre, would focus on solving scientific issues and conduct genomics research & training.

According to Dr Paul C. Salins, Professor, vice president and medical director, MSCC, the mandate is to have an India centre of global excellence in translational research. This collaboration compliments our vision to be at the forefront of global discoveries and clinical care.

We have evolved from being a tools provider to a serious Applications Science Company with a focus on cancer biology. It is a privilege to engage in an agreement with Narayana Hrudalaya which would lead to developing better diagnostic techniques and therapeutics, stated Prof. Vijay Chandru, chairman & CEO, Strand Life Sciences.

Dr Moni Abraham Kuriakose, Professor and Director of the Department of Surgical Oncology and Chief, Head and Neck Oncology Services of the MSCC said that we are understanding head and neck cancer at the molecular level to develop personalized treatment for patients.

Dr Binay Panda, Head of Ganit Labs and sr. vice president of Strand commented, “this is for the first time scientists from as diverse fields as computer science, head & neck surgery, genome biology are coming together in India to undertake such a comprehensive study”.