Cancer Research in ICMR

The process of carcinogenicity presents a major challenge to scientists and provides limited tools for its control. Indian health services are also not adequately equipped with facilities and expertise for management of cancers. Mortality and morbidity due to tobacco use is very high. In view of the national priorities, the focus of research in the field of cancer has been on the aetiology with identification of preventable risk factors, understand the mechanism of carcinogenesis and on operational research for control of tobacco use and common cancers through existing infrastructures. The multidisciplinary research involved clinical, epidemiological as well as basic sciences including modern molecular techniques. The cancer registries helped in understanding the magnitude & trends in cancer occurrence and plan control activities. The above mentioned task force projects helped in addressing national priorities. However, high importance was also accorded to supporting projects submitted by individual scientists, which spanned practically all specialties concerned with cancer and different sites in the body.