August 8 :
New Delhi played home to the inaugural US-India Cancer Dialogue on August 5th and 6th. The gathering's stated objective was to forge closer ties between the two countries' biomedical research institutions. Participants included high-ranking government officials, subject-matter specialists, and academics from both nations at the National Institute of Immunology.
As US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti put it, "This exchange embodies the strength of the bond between our two great nations, built on a foundation of shared values, mutual respect, and a common vision for a healthier future; it's a tangible way to show how the United States and India are moving our partnership forward for health." This collaboration is significant, according to Garcetti, who emphasized the importance of the cooperation.
Topics covered included cancer and ways to improve global health and wellness through increased collaboration in biomedical research between the United States and India. Doctor Jim Allison, a Nobel laureate, gave a public talk with the working title "Beyond Checkpoint Inhibition."
Members of the US delegation, senior Indian government officials, business sector executives from both countries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), patient advocacy groups, Indian academics, and young researchers were all in attendance. There were also senior officials from the US Department of Energy, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Discussions were attended by cancer specialists and researchers from several institutions, including Harvard University, the Mayo Clinic, the American Cancer Society, the Indian Council of Medical Research, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, and Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai. "The Department of Biotechnology is committed to accelerating the discovery of innovative solutions towards cancer treatment through multidisciplinary approaches," said Rajesh Gokhale, secretary of the Department of Biotechnology in the Ministry of Science and Technology. The two-day scientific conversations that made up the India-US Cancer Moonshot Dialogue demonstrate our dedication to utilizing biotechnology developments to transform cancer cure and create a tomorrow free of cancer.
In addition, Rajiv Bahl, who is the Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Health Research, and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research, shared, "The two-day scientific deliberation was very fruitful and will foster collaboration between people, organizations, and between public and private entities to identify potential areas of mutual interest between the two countries in cancer research and management."
Cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment are the goals of the US-India Cancer Moonshot Dialogue, which was announced in June 2023 by President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Cancer genomics, precision medicine, clinical trials, innovative therapies, equitable cancer treatment, AI-enabled innovation in cancer care, and cost-effectiveness will all be areas where collaboration will be expedited by this program.
