Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with North East Cancer Hospital and Research Institute (NECHRI), Jorabat, Assam, at IIT Guwahati. The collaboration between IIT Guwahati and NECHRI started in 2014.

Both IIT Guwahati and NECHRI have been engaged in identifying novel biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, therapy and recurrence. Both the institutes have also been engaged in identifying cancer susceptible population from North East India.

The MoU will enable IIT Guwahati and NECHRI to strengthen more collaborations and to help cancer patients from NE region.  

The institute has already obtained over 500 cancer samples from patients registered with from NECHRI. The researchers involved in this collaboration are currently examining these samples to identify novel prognosis, therapeutic and recurrence biomarkers for the better management of the patients from North East region.

Commenting on the MoU, Prof TG Sitharam, Director, IIT Guwahati, said, “This MoU would help both the institutions to conduct interdisciplinary research in cancer and share the expertise between clinicians and scientists.  The main aim of this MoU is to eradicate cancer from North East region, which is known as the hub of cancer in India.” 

Prof Kunnumakkara, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Guwahati, said, “This initiative will specifically focus more for the prevention of cancer in North East region and to identify the high-risk population.

Dr Munidra Narayan Baruah, Managing Director and Chief Physician, NECHRI said, “This collaboration with IIT Guwahati is historic and would help us to develop indigenous instruments, diagnostic devices and drugs that are affordable for our population through an interdisciplinary approach.”