Roche Pharma India awards prizes worth Rs 15 lakh for 2nd Edition of LEAP Scholarship Programme

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Roche Pharma India has announced the winners of the second edition of Leading Engagements to Advance Patient Care (LEAP) programme. The felicitation ceremony celebrated five outstanding oncology students, whose solutions addressed challenges in the field of cancer care.   

The second edition of LEAP invited all streams of final-year oncology students enrolled in super-speciality courses such as DM/DNB/MCh to provide solutions across clinical care, immunotherapy, patient care, and other areas such as innovation and access. This edition attracted participation from 100+ leading medical colleges and hospitals nationwide, with 256 innovative solutions being submitted.

The five winners from this year include: 

• Dr Beulah Elizabeth Koshy from Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, whose solution focused on palliative support and ethical decision-making, earning jury recognition for its emphasis on compassionate care and patient dignity 

• Dr Ruhi Kumar of Stanley Medical College, Chennai, who developed an affordable caregiving support model that enhanced treatment adherence and was lauded for its patient-centric approach 

• Dr Prabhu Pandian of Madurai Medical College, Madurai, who introduced a standardised MDT platform for personalised cancer care plans, enabling real-time adjustments, earning praise for its structured, evidence-driven methodology 

• Dr Athira Vincent of Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, whose AI platform for accurate cancer diagnosis, personalized treatment and real-time monitoring stood out for its potential to transform cancer care 

• Dr Soumya BM of Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru, whose solution focused on access programs, tiered pricing models and partnerships for affordable medications and technologies  

Each winner was awarded Rs 3 lakh scholarship, a certificate, and medal for their contributions to advancing academic excellence in oncology.  

LEAP is a unique programme empowering final-year DM/DNB/MCh Oncology students in India with a platform for learning, collaboration, and innovation in oncology care. The program is designed to foster innovative thinking and creativity in students, as they prepare to step into clinical practice. LEAP also creates a space for students to network, collaborate, and develop practical solutions to real-world challenges in oncology and cancer care.