Chennai: On the occasion of World Cancer Day, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras launched a first-of-its-kind pediatric leukemia, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer genome database.
This marks a major step towards strengthening cancer research and care in India. The initiative, called the Bharat Cancer Genome Grid (BCG2), aims to enable the clinical use of Whole Genome Sequencing in routine oncology practice.
BCG2 has been developed as a clinician-focused national platform and works as a functional extension of the Bharat Cancer Genome Atlas (BCGA). Together, the two initiatives seek to bridge the gap between large-scale genome data generation and its application at the patient level.
Releasing the database, IIT Madras Director Prof. V. Kamakoti highlighted the growing cancer burden in India. Citing recent ICMR data, he noted that one in nine Indians is likely to develop cancer in their lifetime, with nearly 2.5 million people currently living with the disease. Cancer incidence has seen a 12.8 percent annual rise since 2022, underlining the urgency for India-specific research.
Despite the high incidence of cancer, Indian populations remain under-represented in global cancer genome databases. This gap limits the effectiveness of diagnostics and drug development for Indian patients. To address this, IIT Madras initiated the Indian Cancer Genome Programme in 2020, completing whole genome sequencing of leukaemia, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer samples collected nationwide.
The BCGA presents a carefully curated and anonymised collection of genetic variants from contemporary Indian cancer patients. According to Prof. Kamakoti, the publicly accessible database will help identify variants critical for early diagnosis, disease monitoring, and therapeutic decision-making, benefiting researchers and clinicians in India and abroad.
Industry and Healthcare Partnerships
The research was supported by Hyundai Motors India through its CSR initiative, Hyundai Hope for Cancer, with Rs 56 crore funding for the Centre of Excellence on Cancer Genomics and Molecular Therapeutics. IIT Madras partnered with hospitals and healthcare institutions across Chennai and Mumbai to analyse and assemble the genomic data. An additional Rs 3 crore has been committed to support cancer treatment for economically weaker patients.
Project Coordinator Prof. S. Mahalingam said the database will enable the identification of cancer-specific biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets tailored to the Indian population. He added that BCGA will also accept submissions from other cancer genomics researchers, fostering a national ecosystem for precision medicine.
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