GUWAHATI, Sep 1 - Cancer Research Foundation, India and DBT Centre for Molecular Biology & Cancer Research, Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati, in collaboration with the National Institute of Pathology, New Delhi, is organising an �Update on Advances in Cancer Research and Hands-on workshop on Molecular Biology Techniques� from September 10 to 12 at the BBCI.
Dr Sunita Saxena, Director, National Institute of Pathology (NIP) along with Dr Fauzia Shiraj and Dr Poonam Gautam, scientists of NIP will deliver talks on various molecular and immunological aspects of nasopharyngeal and oesophageal cancers, latest advances in in-situ hybridisation and proteomics. Prof Manab Deka, Head of Dept of Applied Sciences, Gauhati University will also deliver a talk on hepatocellular cancer.
According to a report published by the National Cancer Registry Programme, the age adjusted incidence rates (AAR) of cancer in the North-east range from 99.4 to 273.4 per one lakh population and 71.8 to 227.8 per one lakh population in males and females respectively.
�The incidence of cancers of tongue, oral cavity, hypopharynx, gall bladder in females of Kamrup (Metro) is highest in India. Also, the incidence of ovarian cancer in females of Kamrup (Metro) is highest in India. The incidence of gall bladder and prostate cancer amongst males of Kamrup (Metro) is highest in India,� Dr AC Kataki, Director, BBCI, said.
Again, the incidence of cancer of the tongue, hypopharyngeal, oesophagus in both males and females in different registries of the North-east is amongst the highest in the world.
�In the present context, molecular research on cancer is a key to improving cancer management. In the North-east there is a dearth of well-trained molecular biologists to efficiently deal with the current cancer scenario. Molecular biology is a subject area which mainly analyses DNA/RNA/ protein etc., using various modern tools and techniques,� Dr Kataki said.
The workshop will be conducted by Dr Avdhesh Rai and Dr D Das from BBCI and will focus on providing hands-on experience in molecular biology techniques like DNA/RNA isolation, PCR, and cDNA synthesis, which are the core of any molecular biology research. The programme will immensely help college teachers and young researchers (medical/non medical) from North-east India.
