Aster DM Healthcare, one of the largest integrated healthcare providers in India, has launched three noteworthy initiatives - Precision Oncology Clinics, the Aster Cancer Grid, and Onco Collect by the Dr. Ramesh Nimmegadda Cancer Foundation, marking a significant advancement in India’s cancer treatment landscape at the Aster Cancer Conclave 2024. 

The conclave, attended by leading national & international oncologists, researchers, and industry experts, highlighted the latest advancements in cancer care and treatment. The theme, PRISM: Precision in Solid Malignancies, underscored the critical role of precision medicine in addressing cancer. 

The Precision Oncology Clinics will focus on cancer care aligned with the genomic profile of the patient. Such treatment approaches are a departure from the commonly used treatment approaches in which cancer patients are treated uniformly based on the disease condition. Here the patient’s cancer therapy is customized, based upon the genomic mutations in the tumour using precise oncological approaches which in a way reduce the detrimental effects of treatment while enhancing efficiency. 

The Aster Cancer Grid will enable collaborative research, and multi-center clinical trials and standardize cancer care. In addition, it will aggregate data from all Aster Hospitals. The Aster Cancer Grid will actively seek partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and research institutions to advance cancer research and development. The network’s collaboration with international research centres will facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices on a global scale and lead the way for joint funding applications, grant opportunities and funded research initiatives in cancer.

The Onco Collect Software by Dr. Ramesh Nimmegadda Cancer Foundation was launched at all Aster Hospitals in Bengaluru and promises to revolutionise oncology data management. It is a platform that standardises practice management by placing all patient data in one location, creating a uniform database and providing outcome analysis thus ensuring evidence-based treatment by clinicians.