AIIMS signs MoU with University of Liverpool for Cancer Research

The All India Institute of Medical sciences has collaborated with the University of Liverpool for “AIIMS Liverpool Collaborative Centre for Translational Research in Head and Neck Cancer – ALHNS”. The ALHNS will build upon the pre-existing collaboration and links between the Liverpool Head and Neck Centre (LNHC), University of Liverpool and the Head and Neck Cancer Unit at Delhi AIIMS.

The ALHNS will impact the care of patients with head and neck cancer by combining resources at both institutions in order to develop joint research and education programmes which will enhance the quality of research outputs and education. It also aims to develop common SOPs so as to access high quality clinical datasets and tissue repositories of two ethnically diverse populations whose cancer-causing aetiologies differ significantly – cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking and Human papillomavirus in the UK population, in contrast to smokeless tobacco products in an Indian population.

The union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya presided over the signing of the Collaboration Agreement between University of Liverpool and AIIMS New Delhi. He also virtually addressed the 5^th Foundation Day celebration of National Cancer Institute (NCI) of AIIMS Jhajjar, on Monday. Ms. Christina Scott, British Deputy High Commissioner to India was also present on the occasion.  “The way NCI has progressed over the last 5 years, is a testament to the skill and dedication of the doctors, nurses and other health workers involved in the day to day functioning of the institute”, said Mr Mandaviya.

The Union Health Minister also mentioned the Sickle Cell Elimination Program of the Indian Government in which sickle cell screening of about 7 crore people will be done in 3 years and medicines for sickle cell will be made available for free, on which the government will spend about Rs 910 crore.